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“Umbra.” The word came out of my mouth before I could think it through.
I didn’t know if I regretted it.
What if I picked Dusk and let him get his stupid punishment over with and then I could have the nest?
What would the punishment even be?I’d been too afraid to ask.
But I wanted the nest. I wanted it so bad.
Not because he’d made it, but because I’d realised today that he wasn’t letting me go. I couldn’t get away and take a breath. I needed my space and my haphazard tilted squares. Earlier I’d even spotted Dusk dropping off a stack of thetextbooks in it today, as if he’d noticed me sifting through them during the lecture…
“Well.” Dusk stood, putting his dishes in the sink. “I’m turning in, then.”
I glanced at Umbra, whose intense sandstorm eyes were fixed on me as he got to his feet. I jumped as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, taking a deep breath and huffing me like paint. “When will the scent blockers wear off?”
“Ask Dusk,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “He drugged me.” Still, even while I said it, dread seeped into my bones.
When he finds out what that scent is, he won’t hold you like this…
Umbra’s scent might be wolfsbane and blood, but as an alpha, he could weather a scent so cruel. Itevensuited him in a twisted way.
Umbra shrugged. “I just want my omega time before bed.”
Omega time?
Before I could protest, he picked me off the chair with ease and tossed me over his shoulder. I let out a squeak of shock, cheeks blazing as I scrambled to push myself upright, knowing he’d exposed my butt to the room.
Umbra wasn’t quite as unnerving as Dusk, but I still felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach at the sheer size of him. He easily held me and hauled my suitcase up the stairs to the balcony corridor that overlooked the rest of the apartment. Up here were two doors, and both had been locked when I’d checked yesterday.
I couldn’t help peering over his shoulder and meeting Dusk’s gaze as Umbra carried me to his room at the far door. As he watched, his darkness was gone, and for the first time, I thought I saw what might be softness in his eyes.
Once inside, Umbra set my suitcase down and put me on my feet gently. Then he stood back, crossing his arms and examining me like I was a brand new kitten he’d brought home—which, by the way this was going, wasn’t far off.
I had never felt as small as I did staring up at him now. He didn’t just have a broad frame, he had muscle to support it.
“Get ready for bed.” He nodded toward the bathroom door. “And lose the contacts.”
“What? No.” I didn’t sleep with them unless my circumstances were dire, but this qualified. I wasn’t showing any of them anything I didn’t have to.
But it wasn’t just that. Why would hewantto see the true colour of my eyes? To remind him how easy it would be for them to dark bond me? Of how little power I really had?
His brows drew down, gaze calculating.
“You have a picture,” I added. “Look at that.” I braced, wondering how much like Dusk he was.
Unexpectedly, he grinned, and it was quite genuine. “Alright, omega. A deal?”
I frowned. “A deal?”
“Coin toss. If I win, you do whatever I want you to.”
I blew out a breath, taking a step back. I opened my mouth to say no, but caught myself. “What uh… What do I get if I win?”
Umbra’s grin widened. “I’ll unlock the nest for you tonight,” he said. “Behind Dusk’s back.”
My lips opened in shock, my mind flashing to the nest—to what it had looked like… it had only been a few brief seconds in which I’d seen it, but that had been enough.
“Okay.” My throat was dry, desperation getting the better of me. “Deal.”
