“I want your attention,” he articulates very slowly. “This has nothing to do with revenge.”
I pant as my lips wordlessly move, trying to process that. His eyes are so pale against the darkness of night, almost reflecting like an animal’s when the moon hits him just right. “Why?”
“We’ll discuss it shortly.” Again, slower, calculated words.
“Why nothere?” I squeak.
“You don’t want to leave?”
I grit my teeth. “I want to leaveallof this.” I lower my gaze when I can’t stand to look into his eyes any longer. “Where is Selene, if you even have her?”
“In a holding cell, but a decent one.”
“Inprison?” I ask, trying to thrash. His grip tightens, pulling on my hair as I wince. I’m about to use my hands, but as soon as he senses that, his body stiffens like he’s ready to physically restrain me, so I stop.
I don’t want him touching me any more than he is now. I think back to what Juno said about alphas and the effects they have on us, and how I need to make sure I don’t get saturated with his scent again.
He tilts his head. “She’s in the best place for observation. She’ll be taken out frequently and is fed. Her room is warm, her water fresh.”
“I want herfreed,” I demand.
“That will happen if you willingly come with me.”
I press my lips together before mumbling, “Just drug me.”
“No.”
I give a little tug of my head, only to wince again at my hair pulling. “Why not!”
“That was a necessary means to get you here safely. It has no purpose now. You will come on your own this time.”
“Don’t hurt her,” I beg, still not looking into his eyes. “I know I might as well be speaking to a brick wall, but please don’t hurt Selene.”
“She’s uninjured and will remain that way. She hasn’t done anything wrong. Her freedom is the only thing you have any control over.”
I still don’t believe him. I shake to try to tug out of his grip one more time, and I’m shocked when he pulls his hand back like I didn’t have to be so dramatic about wanting space. What the fuck kind of game is heplaying? “I might have been sheltered a lot of my life, but Ihavelived among the wastes. I’m not dumb. I know what’s going to happen is I’m going to go with you, thinking I’m helping Selene, and then you’re going to use me, and then come back andnotfree her. Keep her and use her, just to mess with me further.”
He looks around, still acting like he’s totally unfazed. “Are the omegas here not taken care of?”
I glance around like I’m arguing with someone in a dream. “Technically, yes.”
“Then why would I tortureyou?”
“Because I knocked you out and bruised your ego,” I say, grimacing slightly at mentioning his ego, afraid it might have crossed a line.
His laugh is genuine, warm against the cold air. “On the contrary,nurse. Omegas like you make for strong mates. That’s not to be punished.”
He’s a fucking liar. Why wouldIbe allowed to get away with accosting him? “Why did you hunt me out then, instead of just letting me go?”
Something sharp and alive flickers in his eyes, and for a moment, he looks almost human, like maybe he’s about to say somethingvulnerable. His head dips, a slow, deliberate bow of consideration, like he’s choosing which truth to set loose. When he finally looks back up at me, it’s with that quiet, terrible certainty that always makes my ass cheeks clench tighter.
“You are my scent match, Diana.”
The words land like a physical blow. The air vanishes frommy lungs; my skin prickles with goosebumps.No.No, that can’t be?—
But it’s so goddamn obvious.
His scent.
