“He could never hurt me, Elles. What is he even thinking? That’s so… that’s so dumb!”
“It is,” she grants. “Genius though he may be, my brother has rocks for brains. If he can get out of his own way and if youcanbe with him, you’d both be so damn happy. And I want that for you. Saints above, you know I adore the shit out of you both. And you’restupidlycute together. But hurt my brother, Junie? I’m swinging first, worrying later.”
CHAPTER20
Ellie and I reach a new understanding, find our footing with each other again. Now if I could only do the same with her brother, I muse as I grab the presents from my cottage.
Bitsy and Alyssa have completely transformed the omega lodge. Long pine garlands hang along the walls and drape from the ceiling, dripping with colorful twinkling lights.
A tall Yule tree sits at its center, filling the space with the bright, spicy scent of pine, and there are boxes upon boxes of ornaments and glittering garlands waiting for us to deck the tree with.
“Bet your weirdo family hires fancy-pants professional Yule tree decorators,” Alyssa says with a roll of her eyes. “And you’ve never gotten to decorate a Yule tree before. So that’s the first thing we’re going to do.”
“Not since my mother left, at least. I can’t wait.”
“What else have you got planned?” Ellie asks, entering the lodge, laden down with wrapped boxes.
“Lots and lots of Yule snacks and opening presents, duh.”
Bitsy pops her head out of the kitchen, brandishing a bottle of cherry brandy. “And spiked cocoa! Let’s get this bash started!”
* * *
“So, I have an announcement,”Alyssa says, and we gather around her. She hangs a shimmering bauble on the tree and then turns around to us, sweeping her soft, frizzy curls back from her neck, revealing the healing double crescents of a mating bite.
Ellie, Bitsy, and I squeal, but Alyssa rounds on me. “That little shit told you, didn’t he? After I explicitly told him not to!”
“Whoa, whoa, what little shit?” Bitsy asks.
“Um… Luca.”
Bitsy turns to me, her mouth falling open. “Wait. ‘Fuck that guy’ Luca who we all agreed to hate because he broke Junie’s heart? Dideveryonehave a more eventful break than I did?”
I flop down on the sofa and hold out my mug for a top-off of brandy. Bitsy happily obliges, though she snaps her fingers. “That’s the face of an omega with details.” She squints at me, stroking her chin with her first finger and thumb. “And maybe a freshly-fucked omega?”
“Oh saints, Bits! Just details. Jeez. Wejustgot back together on New Year’s.”
“And yet, not freshly fucked?”
I roll my eyes. “Not freshly fucked.”
“Then what on earth are you doingherewith us? Why aren’t you getting dick?”
“Chicks before dicks?” I offer weakly. “Also, he’s working today. But tonight…”
Bitsy cackles and claps with glee. “So, how’d you sort your shit out? The lies and betrayal and all that?”
I pull the other omega down beside me and we clink mugs.
“Darika already knows this, so I’m guessing Alyssa does too, so I think it’s safe to tell both of you, but keep it quiet, alright?”
“Oh saints, I am dying of suspense. What does Alyssa know?”
“Luca has been spying on the Soldiers of Saint Aldous.”
Bitsy stares blankly at me. “Say that again, because I’m pretty sure you just said your former ex-alpha is spying on the Soldiers of Saint Aldous.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I… didn’t exactly find out in the best way. In fact, on All Saints’ Day, we were in his dorm, and I went to grab a tee shirt. Instead, I found a Baphomet mask.”
