Nolan glances at me, eyebrow raised. I wave him off. “It’s fine.”
He doesn’t leave the suite, but melts into the background, retreating to the kitchen.
Raelynn sits on the couch, legs crossed, and withdraws her tablet from her bag. “You look like hell.”
I peel the undereye patches off my face. “I feel like hell.”
She taps the tablet without looking up. “We need to talk about last night. The gala performance was amazing, as always. But Piper, are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
I meet Nolan’s gaze over Raelynn’s shoulder. If she’s not going to let this go, then maybe she needs the truth. It might help to have another person in my corner on this. Or it might bloweverythingup. Visions of me doing interviews for omega-only shows or pack-focused lifestyle magazines freeze me in place.
Raelynn just says, “Hmm. Okay. I may have the doctor check you over one more time. Fainting after a performance isn’t a usual thing for you.” Her words show concern but the tone in which she’s speaking is an accusation.
Prince Kellen is a known alpha.
Maybe Raelynn’s already figured it out.
Fuck it.“The truth is I am feeling better now, but last night my suppressants all failed.”
Nolan closes his eyes and holds them shut for a long moment.
Raelynn finally looks up from her tablet. “Your what?”
“Suppressants,” I say again. “Raelynn, I’m an omega.”
For the first time since I signed my deal with Reverie Rest, I watch Raelynn fall silent.
Okay, maybe shehadn’tfigured it out.
“An omega,” she says slowly.
I nod. “Yes.”
“Since?”
I blink. What does she mean? “Since I presented—a few years before signing with Reverie. But I’ve been on suppressants to the max this entire time.”
Raelynn’s finger still hovers over her tablet. “I thought you were a beta.”
Nolan shifts uncomfortably.
“I mean, I basically was until last night,” I answer. “My only theory is that since I, uh…” I trail off as a heated blush creeps across my face. “I scent-matched with Prince Kellen last night. I think my suppressants failed when met with that scent-match. They’re supposed to be a rare, fated-mates kind of things.”
Nolan crosses his arms like he’s pissed. Did he forget I scent-matched withhim, too?
Raelynn sets the tablet aside and places her hands in her lap. “This is information I really should have had much earlier than now.”
I shake my head. “It’s not relevant to my music career.”
Raelynn loudly clicks her tongue. “It is now.”
“I didn’t want it to be a part of my story.”
“Again, it is now.” Raelynn gestures to the space beside me. “You swooned for the Prince in front of a myriad of press outlets who now think the two of you are dating. If it got out that you are also an omega, I can’t even begin to imagine how this will play out.”
My heart sinks to my feet. “That we’redating?”
Raelynn nods curtly. “Yes, Piper. Because the press has no qualms making up whatever story they want when they have aphoto as great as a world-famous pop star swooning into Prince Kellen’s arms.” At this she stands and places her hands on her hips. “The Royal Family is requesting our presence in less than an hour to discuss how to handle this. Forbidden romance is quite the story but we still have the chance to spin this favorably for everyone.”
