Lance crossed his arms, shaking his head. “He was tired. I was fine.”
Kai wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up, taking me to the bed. “Great, gangs all here.”
I yelped along the way until he put me down on the bed. “Did I ask to have a seat?”
He winked at me. “Nope, but I wanted to sit down, and I wanted you near me.”
“You could have asked.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He clapped his hands as the others walked further into the room. “Okay, so word on the underworld street is that someone wants you as their omega, and they put out a bounty or something like it to capture you.”
Okay, well, that was terrifying. That meant this would not end. “Who put out the bounty on me?”
Kai scrunched his face with displeasure. “That I don’t know yet. It’s either an alpha who is a demon or one who has conjuring power to access demons for the bounty. Either they could want you for themselves or want to sell you off.”
Any of those scenarios could be true. Unfortunately, it wasn’t unheard of for omegas to be captured and sold to alphas. Or, just as bad, sold as sex slaves since some people wanted to have sex with omegas, especially ones in heat. The thought made me sick. It was exactly the type of thing I had feared that kept me in hiding. Only how could anyone have known what I was? Until a month ago, my omega status had been hidden. Then, as soon as the magic wore off, demons came around. It was all too quick.
I rubbed at my forehead, a slight headache worming its way into my head. I’d been getting them more and more lately, along with what felt like heartburn. The stress was getting real. And, you know, the impending heat. “I’ve only officially been an omega for such a short time. How could anyone know?” Outside of Chilli and these guys, Lila and now my job, who else? I didn’t want to believe it was anyone I knew. There had to be another option.
Daniel scratched his chin, beginning to pace. “It could be someone at your job or in your coven. Or it’s simply that your magic was wearing off and others scented you.”
Kai nodded, sitting beside me. “You had been scenting slightly before you officially turned. A strong nose searching for an omega might have picked up on it. Or it could have been as soon as you turned. It only takes one time to have an alpha set their sights on you. Luckily, you’ve been around us the whole time. So, it’s possible that whoever ultimately wants you isn’t strong enough to fight us. That’s why they’re sending these demons instead.”
That was a slightly comforting thought. Slightly. As far as I knew, it could be anyone, including people I knew, who were out to snatch me to my doom. The only way to end it was to get the person behind it all. And to prevent it in the future, I’d have to be claimed by an alpha. Most alphas didn’t want a claimed omega. They no longer became attracted to the scent, and having to deal with the alphas who were connected to the omega was bringing trouble. There were a few who pushed past it and being a claimed omega didn’t stop one from trapping us in sex trafficking. The claiming took the threat down significantly, but it didn’t make it disappear.
It just sucked that for so long, I’d hidden from this life only to be immersed into it in such a threatening way. “Why am I the lucky woman to have this happen? I’m not any more special than any other omega.”
Ty scooted up the bed and rested his back against mine, supporting me. It was much appreciated. “You are beyond special, beautiful. You’re not only an omega, you’re a powerful witch.”
I looked down at my lap, lacing my fingers together. I knew that. It just pissed me off that some asshole thought he or she could use me like a slave. I was my own person, omega status or not, and I would do with my life as I pleased. I’d die before I bowed to anyone. “I’m going to kick the ass of whoever is behind this. I hate being a victim.”
Ty squeezed my shoulder. “You are no one’s victim. I’m sure the five of us can figure this out. We are prepared to fight with you, and we don’t plan to let you down.”
I knew they wouldn’t. I wanted to have doubts about them, but my gut was telling me they were perfect for me. And with everything going on, that scared the hell out of me.
CHAPTER18
BILLIE
Imet Chilli at the coven headquarters downtown the following Monday. Because none of my alphas were witches, they weren’t allowed in, so Kai had to wait for me in the car.
Kai, of course, did not listen and followed me to the high-rise building. To no one’s surprise, the guards would not let him pass the lobby.
Kai crossed his arms in his human form, looking up at the two burly guards standing in front of the reception desk. “Okay, fellas, you’re going to let me on the elevator with my woman because I go where she goes.”
I itched to remind him that I wasn’t his woman, although my traitorous heart did quicken its beat at the declaration. I guess moving in with them was all Kai needed to claim me in his head, regardless of my insistence that this was all temporary. “He’s my bodyguard,” I added with a smile.
The guards were unmoved. One guard, a woman, built like a wrestler and who I believed was a werebear, took a step toward Kai. “No demons in the building. We don’t allow evil in.”
Kai raised a finger. “One, that’s discriminatory as hell, and I’m not evil.” He lifted another finger. “Two, I’m clearly not a threat as your wards didn’t go off when I came in this far.”
They looked at each other, exchanging unimpressed looks. The other guard, a man with long black hair in a braid, shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Out.”
Kai tilted his head and looked at me. There was something a little off center in his eyes, and they bled red. This was not going to be good. I hadn’t seen the fully unhinged Kai, but I’d heard a few short stories. “Cool, cool. So, you either let me up there, or I rip out your spines, grind them into a fine powder and snort them up like cocaine. I might get a high.”
What in all the hell? Really, this guy did not know how to play it cool. If he kept talking like that, not only would he not get in, but he might get killed. I had to defuse the situation.
I started to chuckle, holding my grin nervously. “He’s just kidding. I keep telling him about his sick sense of humor.” I turned to him with wide eyes. “Yeah, so, it’s horrifying statements like that that are the reason we don’t let demons in anywhere. They don’t know you are just kidding.”
