“Pack Radcliffe’s offer must have been too compelling,” she says quietly. “You really hate him, don’t you?”
“Father?”
She grimaces. “Radcliffe.”
I stare down at my lap, at the silk of the simple, chic sheath dress I wore to my lunch with Rad. “I do. I hate him so much it makes me sick. And I hate that Father is throwing me at him like prey at a predator, knowing I’ll be devoured. Willow, Rad tried to… to rape me.”
Willow swallows hard and looks out at the frothing waves, but she nods her understanding with a single sharp jerk of her head.
“He hexed my honor guard multiple times. He drove my friend, Trinity, to suicide. Stalked me. Broke into my warded cottage and destroyed my nest. And then tortured one of my closest friends with dark magic, nearly to death.”
My words stick in my throat, tears pricking in my eyes. An omega is dead because Rad wanted to show me what happened to omegas who don't behave, and I nearly lost Simon because Rad wanted to hurt me. To bring me to heel. And now I’ve seen that he’ll do so much worse.
“You could behave. Do what he wants so he won’t hurt you.”
“It would never be enough. It wasn’t for Father. I tried so hard to be the perfect daughter, and it’s never been enough. It won’t be with Rad, either. He can’t always get his way, even if he does with me. He’ll hurt me in one of his rages. Go into frenzy and maybe even kill me. Father knows what he’s like.”
“And he doesn’t care.”
“I’m a bargaining chip to him.”
“He’s sacrificing you for our family company. For power and money.”
“It’s what alpha fathers do with omega daughters.”
“It isn’t fair,” she mutters. “It shouldn’t have to beyou.”
I almost laugh at that. Life has never been fair to any omega I know. My friends have been attacked, hexed, taken by the Soldiers of Saint Aldous. My best friend was mated with her arm still in a sling after it was broken in the magical fight on Night of the Fallen.
“I’m the only one he wants,” I murmur.
“What he was saying about your magic… Juniper, if you do have an affinity, you mustn’t tell me. If I knew, I’d have to tell Father. It’s better for you if I don’t know.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She doesn’t believe my lie. I catch her thoughts and sheknowsbut wishes she didn’t. She knows what an alpha like Rad will be capable of with power like mine, even if she doesn’t know where my particular talents lie.
And she knows Rad will use my magic to further the Soldiers’ plans, their reign of terror, however he can.
“Juniper, if I had known…”
“You know now,” I mutter.
She shudders and chews on her lower lip, and I catch her thoughts once more. She wishes she could do something for me, but there’s something she wants even more. Something she would do anything to achieve.
“What does Father have on you? If you don't agree with what he's doing, why be part of it?”
Willow pokes at what remains of her milkshake with her straw. “Rose Pharmaceuticals is working on a new drug. A fertility drug for alpha women. He'll ensure me a spot in the trials.”
Desperate hope lashes through her, followed by a whisper of doubt. She wants a family more than anything, but she worries she’ll never be enough for Father either, that she’ll somehow disappoint him, and he won’t make good on his promises. A promise from my father is a dangerous thing. I grew up always wanting to please him, to make him proud. His promises tempted me, but now I know his promises for what they truly are: lies.
But if what Willow says is true, if Rose Pharmaceuticalsisworking on a fertility drug for alphas, the whole world stands to change. Alpha women are rarely able to conceive and carry to term. A trial like this would give Willow the chance at motherhood she’s always wanted. And if alpha women can bear children—alpha children—the world won’t need omegas to breed the next generation of mages.
I press my lips together to keep them from trembling.
The Soldiers of Saint Aldous will wipe us out like they’ve always wanted to. Do the Soldiers know about the fertility trials? Saints, is my family helping the Soldiers more than I thought?
Is this all part of Project Halcyon? Make us biddable until we’re no longer needed as breeders and then exterminate us, one by one?
