“Juniper,” he breathes, as though I’m the answer to all of the prayers he never even thought to pray.
When I hiccup out a short, sharp sob, his own voice breaks. “Juniper, what is it?”
It’s everything. Too much crowding around in my brain, and through my tears, I tell him all of it. From Rad’s dire warning to my father’s, to everything I heard as I listened outside the door to his study.
He listens so quietly I have to check if the call has dropped and when he finally speaks, it brings fresh tears to my eyes. “We have to get you out of there, princess.”
How does my heart soar at that one word while it sinks, while it plummets lower than I thought possible?
“I can’t,” I manage. “But I just… I couldn’t keep it all in. There’s no one here I trust.”
“Not even Hawthorn?”
I shed a few more bitter tears. “He’s been acting strangely. I thought he had my back, that he wasn’t like them, but after everything he’s said… after the way he’s treated me all break, Luca, I just… I don’t know. I feel so very alone right now.”
“I hate this,” he growls. “I hate that your own fucking family makes you feel like that. I hate that there isn’t a single fucking thing I can do about it.”
“Just… just talk to me? Distract me? What did you end up doing for Yule?”
He huffs out a laugh. “I thought I’d end up spending it alone, but Cassian made me come clean to Darika and she hauled my sorry ass to her family’s for Yule. And you’ll never believe—”
He pauses.
“I’ll never believe what?” I press.
“I… can’t tell you.”
That same sharp stab of betrayal pricks at my heart. “More secrets?”
“It’s notmysecret, princess. It’s Alyssa and Darika’s and I promised I wouldn’t tell you. Alyssa made me swear.”
“Oh saints, are they going to get mated?”
“Junie, I swore.”
“They are!”
“They did,” he finally mutters, but I can hear the smile in his voice and it’s like the first ray of spring sunshine after the longest winter. “But act surprised when Alyssa tells you, all right?”
“I will,” I promise. Saints above, there’s still goodness in this world after all. My best friend has found her mate. “That made my day. Everything is horrible here, but just that and… and hearing your voice.” My own voice cracks. “I’ve missed you.”
He lets out a ragged breath and his voice is choked with tears when he says, “I’ve missed you too.”
“We’ll talk after Yule?”
“Anything. Juniper, there’s nothing in the world within my power that I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I know,” I murmur, as one by one, the cracks in my heart begin to mend.
CHAPTER17
Our New Year’s Galas have always been a sight to behold, an invitation coveted by those in power in mage society. Alphas and their packs come from around the world to mingle in our manor, to drink from our wine cellar and my father’s scotch collection. To talk business.
And just like I have every year before, I play the obliging omega hostess. I speak softly, smile wanly, and I bare my neck to all the powerful alphas that step through my father’s door. I make eye contact only with other omegas as I circulate throughout the ballroom, murmuring pleasantries, asking after mates and children, clasping hands with the other omegas but never lingering long.
And to think, I used to think I enjoyed these events. I used to take pride in my ability to make meaningless small talk with my father’s guests. I used to take pride in being the perfect omega: vapid but charming.
I’m assaulted by a potent bouquet of alpha scents as I mingle, but under all of them is the unmistakable spicy tang of anise and orange. I clench my teeth against my nausea, pretend to sip from my champagne to hold the glass beneath my nose to block the scent.
