Page 67 of Trick Knot Treat

He frowns, thinking about that. “Why are you traveling alone? And how are you handling your heats? Where is your nest?”

I feel a pang so sharp that I actually lift my hand to my chest and press against it.

“I don’t have a nest.” My voice comes out strained, aching. “I’m not staying. I didn’t figure I’d even go into heat with the suppressant patches chaining my omega up. Even being able to smell scents was fading. I’d been on them so long.”

“You don’t have a nest?” He grabs my upper arm before I can take a step back from him. “You’re an omega, you have to have some kind of nest.”

The distress on his face stops me from freaking out. He cares, deeply.

“No, I mean,” I stop and collect my thoughts before I try again. “Look, it was only a year. Then, I go home. So, you know, if I didn’t have a heat, then I wouldn’t need a nest.”

I inhale and almost weep. Leather and iris. It’s a crime that the suppressants mess with your ability to scent alphas, but I can smell them now, and he’s making my mouth water. The waft of distress is just making me want to soothe him all better.

“A nest is psychological. It’s a comfort. Going a year without one is like self-mutilation. It’s not healthy. It’s incredibly dangerous.”

I huff. “I’m fine.”

“That’s what the alcoholics I take to hospital or lockup say to me.”

“I’m not…I’m not like them. Why aren’t you asking Felix about his nest? Don’t you care about him?” I snap and step back, trying to breathe air that isn’t pure temptation.

Jace’s ear tips turn red.

I ponder them for a long moment, trying to put the puzzle pieces together, but I can’t figure it out.

“We are not talking about this,” Jace says and grabs my wrist.

“You could be asking him!” I protest as he drags me up the beach.

“I don’t need to.”

“Why?” I shout. “Because he’s a guy?”

“No.”

“Because he’s lived here forever?”

“No.”

“Because you already gave up on him?” I snarl, bristling with righteous rage. The others are watching our argument intently.

“No! I know where it is. I checked it out. I go there once a week and make sure he’s safe,” Jace shouts at me.

A bomb could drop on Sunshine Cove, and I wouldn’t be able to look away from this alpha. His whole face is red now, and he won’t meet my eyes.

“Oh.”

He lets go of me and turns to Felix. “I’m sorry. I just…needed to know that you were safe.”

Felix swallows hard and scowls even harder. “How did you know?”

“I followed you. Wasn’t difficult. You don’t pay attention to your surroundings when you’re reading.”

The moment stretches, the air thickens, tension makes it thrum. Jace clears his throat, turning away. He rocks on his heels and shields his eyes as he looks out to sea.

I glance at Felix and the small yet satisfied smile and think today has been worth it.

“Spectre, no!” Felix shouts.