Do I have to do that,too?
The door opens, and Ravina steps through with a few armed betas following her. “Tatiana, what are you doing?”
Who the hell is that? My eyes widen when Kitty seems to respond to the name. Oh… that’s herrealname.
“What areyoudoing, Ravina?” she asks, motioning with her hand for everyone to leave. “Go back out there, boys. Give us privacy.”
One nods. “Can do, Kitty. We’ll be watching from the window. She,” he says, motioning to me with his head, “can’t leave without Ravina’s orders, and then she needs one of us?—”
“I fucking know.Go.”
Once the door shuts, Ravina looks at Kitty with a smile, but her eyes are wide like she’s owed an apology. “Why, exactly, are you taking my omega?”
Gross. My body leans away from her, my lips curling up as I look her over.
“Didn’t Judge mention not to take her to any of these?”
I cross my arms and pivot my weight to one foot to makespace between Kitty and me as well, my lips parting as my tongue roams the inside of my cheek. What did that twat say? I can’t even go to these? As ascrap?
“Ah, actually. Hedid, butIam the overseer of omegas.” She looks at me as if to indicate something. “As you know, it’s a part of thedeal.”
Now my eyebrows raise, looking at Kitty because I’m definitely interested in knowing how this works.
“Judge—” Kitty begins.
“Judge,” Ravina interrupts, “gave Diana to me because he said she wouldn’t belong among the gilded. Is there something I am not aware of? He said to keep her away from the gatherings, but I have assessed that she would make anexcellentomega match. I do have my orders to match as many as possible. If he’s upset with that, he can bring it to me.”
Oh, so what’s this? SomeoneaboveJudge?
Kitty looks at me and then back out there, not responding for a while before sucking her lips to her teeth. “Alright, but I stay with her.Youcan deal with Judge when he makes it clear that Diana isnotto be a part of any of these.”
“And why is that?” Ravina asks with that same sickening smile, blinking rapidly.
“It’s matters that are private to Judge,” Kitty says, almost smiling like she would love to see Ravina get in trouble. “He’ll clear it up, don’t worry. But I will stay with her.”
Great. That fucker is determined to ruin my life. “Can we just go back out there?” I ask, desperate to get my ass back out there to try and catchsomeone’sattention. At this rate, I’ll be locked in a dungeon.
“Yes, great idea,” Ravina says, smiling warmly at me. Kitty opens the door and guides me back out into the cold. I immediately look at her, ignoring the stares of others. “What was all that about?”
She throws me a glare, the lines around her mouth looking deeper than the other day. “I can’t share that with you.”
I look at Kitty, who still has the thick eyeliner around her dark eyes. It looks like it needs retouching. The minute detail humanizes her to me, crossing my mind that maybe it’s worth pleading to her humanity… “Kitty, please,” I say, looking her in the eyes. “I don’t want to be traded. Or given away. Or locked away.”
Her eyes turn sad. “Honey, that’s not happening to you. Bayou’s Maw might do that, but not Dominion. We’re tough as nails here, but happy omegas make for a happy pack.”
I grunt, almost like a child might. My skin feels too tight, like my body can’t settle, caught somewhere between panic and exhaustion. I’m terrified, but I’m fed. Trapped, but not in immediate danger. It’s disorienting, this warped sense of safety amid captivity. I don’t trust it for a second, but the juxtaposition continues to mess with me all the same. “Well, fine, you can just follow me as I go find me an alpha.”
Her laugh is high-pitched. “You that eager, girlie? Plus, that’snothappening.”
“I’meagerto get away from Judge.”
I glance back at her when she doesn’t respond, the woman looking like she's covering a hundred replies. Shit, that’s not good. Judgedoeshave something planned for me.
An alpha.
I need an alpha.
I need one to fight for me. Immediately, I scan the area to observe those interested and if anyone catches my eye. There’s one up top on the railings that hasn’t seemed to remove his gaze from me.
