The world burnsaround our secluded academy campus. Another mated omega goes missing, this time in Chicago. No ransom comes. We hear nothing about Grace or Trinity. There are only the anguished howls of their loved ones, fading into the void.
Finals are approaching and there’s nothing to do but study. Leigh steps down for the rest of the term, though we won’t escape our written exam for the course.
Most often, we all gather in the basement of the library, a chaotic mess of books, notes and coffee cups spread out on the café tables as we quiz each other and review our notes.
Bitsy, Ellie, and Darika work through stacks of advanced transmutation circles, drawing them until their hands ache, while Alyssa and I review every single scientific property of magic we’ve been taught by Professor Hayes. Ellie tells us we’ll ace Dr. Spencer’s final, no sweat, though Alyssa still frets over her history notes.
And Simon? Simon somehow holds us all together. In between his own studies, he grabs coffee refills and pastries, and when no one is looking, he slips me mini Milka bars, sweet and silly little notes, and stills from our scavenger hunt videos. I stick the photos to the pinboard over my nest and spend more time looking at them than I probably should.
But it’s official: I’m falling well and truly in love with Simon Monroe.
* * *
I arriveat Ciel before the rest of our study group and step up to the bar where Ellie is washing glasses to order s’mores frappes for me and Simon. The sophomore omega dries her hands, makes the two frappes and a third for herself.
She hesitates, looks around the empty café and then slips her apron off over her head.
“Can we talk, Junie?”
“Of course. Oh, saints, are you okay? Is something wrong?”
She shakes her head and takes one of the tall stools as I take the other. “I just… fuck, this is hard. I wanted to talk to you about Simon.”
“Isheokay?”
She rolls her eyes. “His dorky ass is fine. I just want it to stay that way. Look, I’ve noticed the two of you getting close and even though he swears worrying is his job, I can’t help it. He’s in love with you, Junie. You make him so happy. Shit, I haven’t seen him this happy ever. But if you lead him on and then break his heart, you’ll destroy him.”
All those almost kisses, those lingering touches… Simon’s in love with me? A blush splashes across my cheeks, a glowing warmth fanning through me, pulling out the brightest smile I’ve smiled in weeks. “He is? I mean, I wouldn’t. Break his heart, that is. I, um, I’m falling pretty hard for him too.”
“But you can’t have a future with him. He’ll never be part of your pack. Your father wouldneverlet you mate a beta.”
I fiddle with my straw and then look up into the other omega’s eyes—hazel, like her brother’s, flecked with gold, where his are studded with flashes of mossy green. “I know. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my father since coming to Fairhaven. Your brother was actually one of the first people I told about what my father did to me. He was there for me in a way no one ever has been before. I don’t… I don’t want the pack my father wants for me. Simon knows that.”
“But omegas don’t always get to choose,” Ellie finishes glumly.
“No, we don’t.”
“Please be good to him then? For as long as you can? Shit hasn’t been easy for us—for him especially, not before our father went to prison and definitely not afterward. He saved me, Junie, and I love him more than anything. I just want him to be happy.”
“So do I,” I murmur, as the beta in question comes bounding down the stairs. He sweeps Ellie into a huge hug and then does the same to me, spinning me around until I’m dizzy.
Dizzy enough to fall, but truthfully, I fell months ago when he dashed into our study room for our very first tutoring session.
* * *
Simon declaresa ban on studying the Sunday before finals, claiming we’d already worked our asses off and declaring us more than ready to face our exams—my very first finals at Fairhaven.
In truth, I feel prepared. With Ian and Simon’s help, I’m casting at a higher level than my peers, and I’m well into next term’s readings in all of my classes, save for Omega Seminar. So, when Simon suggests the two of us have a pizza and movie night? I’m happy for the break—and to finally be alone with him after our week of group study sessions.
“You’re on fort duty,” he says as he calls to place our usual order.
I may nest as well as most omegas, but forts are a bit beyond my capabilities. For one, I’m not even close to tall enough to hang sheets from the post at the foot of his bed. He comes up behind me, sets a hand at my waist to steady me as I try to reach the top of the post, and takes the sheet from me. His hand lingers, just long enough to embolden me. I turn until he boxes me in against the post, one arm over my head, the other still at my waist. Saints, he’s so close. My breath catches and I lean forward.
His throat works as he swallows hard, and he drops the sheet, drops his eyes to my lips, parts his own… and I press up on my toes and I kiss him. His hold on me tightens and he draws me close until nothing but our clothing separates us. His lips move against mine for one blissful instant, the tip of his tongue meeting mine in a tentative dance.
And then he draws back, regret in his green-flecked hazel eyes. “I can’t, kit-kat. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, trying to back up but bumping into the foot of the bed. “I, um, I misread that situation…”
