Perfect. He’s an option that won’t disgust me. At least, not physically. I turn to look at Kitty, wanting to confirm something first. “So, is Judge an echo?”
“Oh, yes,” she answers easily.
“What does it mean for him?” I ask, hoping that sounds natural. I’m not sure how one usually asks those questions. “As in, what does it do for him?”
She shrugs. “He’s exceptionally strong, so don’t get into a fight with him.No onewins those. And injuries don’t affect him like others. Even for an echo, he’s hard to kill. It’s why he’s where he’s at. He’s survived a lot of shit that would have killed other men.”
Oh, really? “Then why did he come to the Enclave?”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, I’m not stepping in that shit.”
Good to fucking know. This isalla trap. A setup. “Where are the omegas from the Enclave?” I ask. “Shouldn’t they be here, too?”
“They’re still being assessed,” she replies more carefully.
I motion to myself. “Why am I with the scraps, then?”
Her face tightens, like she’s tired of the questions. “Judge already assessed you.”
My jaw drops, lips parting. That stings, for some reason. “I see.” I motion over my shoulder, that information confirming everything for me. “How do I get up there? I want to interact with one of those alphas.”
She looks like I actually betrayed her. “Diana, you just got here. Judge still hasn’t even spoken to you since the car ride?—”
“Since hedruggedme. What’s going on with me? What does he have planned? I have a right to know.”
She nods carefully. “I don’t blame or disagree with you. But you’re not supposed to be here at this gathering, which means I don’t want to say things that otherwise wouldn’t have been said ifthishadn’t made you bring it up.”
Calm down. I need to calm down. The need to find a way out feels like life or death, my gaze scanning the alphas above again until I see the one whostillhasn’t removed his gaze from me. He has his hair braided down the middle, shaved around the ears, and replaced with tattoos. Okay, if Kitty says I’m notsupposed to be here, then maybe thisisa life-or-death situation.
What if I can’t come back out here?
“Diana, you don’t need to fight your way out today, girl. You’re alright. Truly. Sure, Judge could honestly use a lesson or two on romantic etiquette.” My brows narrow at the mention ofromance. “But darlin’, you would have been torn to shreds by the alphas out near Trinity, not even to mention that place we stopped if Judge hadn’t made it very clear you’re all to him during your heat. I’m not saying it’s not traumatic, but you gotta let it go for now because tension is high around here because we’re dealing with stuff. Please don’t make it worse for yourself by trying to stir shit up because you think your life is in danger. I can confidently promise you it isnot.”
I don’t know how to feel about hearing any of that. “So I won’t be taken away after this and locked in a prison, or traded away? I’ll get to comeback?”
She smiles slightly. “Judge is well known fornottrading omegas. I don’t think Dominion has even traded a single one since he took both daggers—it means adding that second dagger on his neck, making him in charge. Just keep that in mind, alright? You’re not going anywhere. I know all this shit is true because I’m his right hand’s Iron Lady. Just keep your head high and try to relax after everything you went through, alright?”
Those words sound really fucking nice, don’t they? Which is exactly why I cannot trust them at all. I raise my brow to show interest in the alpha watching me, to which he turns his full head at me. I’m shocked when butterflies flap in my stomach. What is this? I’ve never fully flirted with an alpha before, and it’s like a floodgate of possibilities has opened up. If Kitty won’t let me go up there, maybe I can entice him to come down to me. Or at least make him think about me, ask about me. Request to Ravina that he wants to visit.
The way I can see him looking my body over makes methink it will be quite easy to get him to act on my behalf. In all my years of hatefully avoiding alphas, I never imagined what would happen if I everflirtedwith one. It’s rather easy, actually…
Kitty moves around so she’s between this stranger and me, pushing me to a corner. “You got a rusted band for a brain? What are you doing?” She looks me dead in the eyes. “They’re thinking with their knots up there. Don’t make him a dead man. Colt is a good guy.”
Colt? That’s not a bad name. “I want out of this littlegathering,if I can’t even use it for its intended purpose.”
“How I fucking wish I could yank your desperate ass right out of here.”
I look back up at the balcony, and that alpha is now leaning over, like he’s curious that I’m curious. What if he can tell I’m upset? He should want to tend to an omega, right?
The alpha looks to the side, along with all the others. The energy of the place changes, and a few more alphas walk through, all clad in leather or jeans.
Including Judge.
My spine stiffens when I see his stupid face, and I can’t stop watching him. He licked so much of my body, bathed me, and then knocked me out again. The alphas above move more in their stances, like competition is here. It seems so volatile, even though supposedly there are tranq darts.
Mate them right away.
My eyes widen in understanding. Right. That’s why they all get biologically locked down.
