“He nearly killed you.”
”He will. Eventually.”
But before he does, he’ll retaliate for what I’ve just done, even if I didn’t intend to hurt him. He pushed me so far, took me to the very edge of life and death, and my affinity saved me. He won’t see it that way. He’ll only see the shame I caused him. How will he hurt me this time? Another attack? Will he come after my men? Will he tell my father about my affinity, or will his bite on my neck be enough to sate his devious appetites?
Willow strokes my hair away from my forehead. “You were very brave, Juniper.”
If only my bravery meant anything. “What will you tell Father?”
She quirks an eyebrow. “What I told Radcliffe. Your affinity test was inconclusive.”
“Rad’s going to try to mate me at Yule.”
Willow sits back on her heels, her lips pursed. “He wouldn’t go against Father. He’ll wait until he has Father’s blessing. Saints know he won’t have to wait long.”
I shake my head, pain radiating through my skull. “He won’t. He’ll bite me and deal with the consequences. Father won’t be able to do anything once his bite is on my neck, anyway.”
I curl deeper into the blankets, wishing I was back in my nest at the pack house.
Willow sighs and strokes my hair again. “You should get some rest. We’ll be home in a few hours.”
I nod, and she disappears to the front of the plane, her shoulders slumped.
Because there’s nothing she can do. Nothing I can do.
Rad will mate me, and that will be the end of it.
The last time I used my affinity like this, I was tapped out for days.
I’ll be defenseless when Rad arrives for Yule, unable to cast the wards and spells I’ve been practicing for the past few weeks.
I was going to fight. I trained to fight, and I promised my men I would.
But all the fight, all my magic, has been drained from my body.
Leaving me helpless.
Leaving Rad furious and ready to retaliate.
Despair crashes through me, dragging me under, drowning me until my whole world goes dark.
The very last thing I hear before I lose consciousness is Willow talking on her phone from the front of the plane.
“The omegas, are they safe?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Graeme.”
CHAPTER23
My affinity trickles back before my magic does, and the moment I hear Willow’s thoughts, I’m so grateful I could cry. We’re in her sports car, on our way to our annual Yule volunteering. This year, my family and Rad will be volunteering—quite publicly—at a gift and toy drive, collecting, wrapping, and distributing gifts.
It’s the first time I’ve felt well enough to leave my room since returning home, and the first time I’ve felt even a glimmer of my magic in days.
Frustration radiates from her, and I tentatively reach out with my affinity, startling when I catch her thoughts.
“You’ve disappointed me, Willow.” Father’s words echo through her mind. “Twenty omegas have escaped from your facility! Find the resistance interloper and turn this situation around or so help me… Close ranks. Fire everyone if you have to.”
An image flicks through her thoughts, an omega in a hospital gown looking up at her, gratitude shining in her dark eyes.
Saints above, is Willow helping omegas in her research facility escape? The very facility where she’d been tasked with testing omegas for affinities?
