“I’m working on it,” I say.
Esme
My body feels like I’ve been put through the mother of all training sessions. Certain intimate parts of me are still sparking and tender—I could definitely do with a nap, or a healer, or just some old-fashioned pain relief that comes in the form of a pill.
But, you know, getting off this rollercoaster is taking priority.
I’ve felt worse… Not often, but nothing is broken, and I can deal with this.
Only, now that I’m dressed and we’re about to leave the room, there’s no avoiding looking at him. The visual conflicts with the sensation I feel in the center of my chest. It presents as a mind-bending experience, like you’re trying to look into a spinning vortex.
I’m not really seeing him; what I’m seeing is his aura, a kaleidoscope of swirling colors.
It’s the most spellbinding aura I’ve ever seen, and it reaches out from his body like arms seeking to wrap around me.
Protective. Just like Zeb.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”No, I’m freaking out.
His eyes narrow, but then his lips twitch. “Stop looking at me. I’m pretty sure it’s freaking you out.”
Well, damn!
“You ready?”
“Yes.”
His lips twitch again like he sees right through the lie, and somehow it reminds me of Zeb, theotherZeb… the alpha version I knew. “It’ll be okay.” And then he opens the door and hustles me out.
Two armed guards, complete with exoskeletons, are standing directly outside. My heart goes into my throat.
“I’m taking her to medical,” Zeb says evenly.
One of the guards gives me a suspicious up-and-down look. He’s wary. Jord looks like he could crush both of them without breaking a sweat, even with the exoskeleton advantage.
I guess if you’re going to pick a body to fake, this is a pretty damn good one… Also, where is the real Jord? A service closet somewhere with duct tape over his mouth, about to be discovered?”
“We have orders to escort you to monitoring for a complete evaluation,” the left guard says. “There are some anomalies in your behavior since rehabilitation.”
Zeb grunts but otherwise appears unfazed by this development.
“This way,” the guard says. “We’ll drop the omega at medical first.”
Zeb’s fists my arm. We start walking.
He’s got a plan, hasn’t he?
I didn’t ask him if he had a plan.
Why didn’t I? It’s an important piece of information. I mean, he can’t be just winging this, can he?
He gives me a side look as if he can sense my agitation. I widen my eyes and shrug as if to say,What are we doing?
His lips curl up on one side in a smirk that reminds me of Zeb, the real one… is that the real one… why do I suddenly suspect that it’s not? What does he even look like?
Oh, my God! I’m in love with a man, and I have no idea what he looks like.
