My guts curdle. I want to hurl.
It’s like looking into a mirror.
I bare my teeth. I’m shaking. Tremors wrack my wings.
Fuck the Blood Court, the Scarlet Temple, and everyone who uses their power to control the weak.
I leap to my feet, struggling to hold myself back because if I fight Nebet now, then I may reveal my true nature.
Who I am.
My mission.
“I see now why I was sent for. You are a savage beast without redemption.” Nebet shakes Barnabas, and he howls. When she backhands him, blood explodes from his nose. “Stop that awful noise. It appears no one has taught you manners yet. Such a waste when you are so pretty. You would have made a beautiful toy for one of the Fang Born.”
Barnabas growls, kicking her.
Nebet’s ribbons whip out like snakes binding his tail and cruelly wrenching. Tears involuntarily glisten at the corners of his eyes, as he grits his teeth in pain.
“Behave now, Hart,” Nebet commands, “unless you want your father to be demoted from his position as Lord of the Manor, your family exiled from the kingdom, and your sister to take your place here as a Blood Lover.”
Instantly, Barnabas stills. “Please, please, don’t…”
“Better,” Nebet purrs. “It’s a start. Although, both of you are the reject Blood Lovers who I doubt anyone will claim. I never thought that I would see such sacrilege as a Hart refusing to do their duty to their god.”
“You. Are. Not. My. God,” Barnabas replies, slowly and deliberately, despite the pain that is making him shake.
Oh, fuck.
Nebet’s eyes widen.
She’s going to kill him.
My feathers quiver with her intention to kill. I can feel it on my prickling skin.
As a trained assassin, there is a type of stillness just before any killing blow.
It’s not bloody happening to this Omega.
Without even thinking about it, I push on Barnabas’ back hard. It takes Nebet by surprise, unbalancing her. Then I crouch, knocking out both of their legs with a leg sweep.
It’s messy, but I do it without thought.
Anything to stop her killing him.
Nebet shrieks, as the two of them fall in a tangle to the floor. Her ribbons withdraw in a furious, hissing wave around her, as if she can’t work out who has attacked her.
Her mistake for underestimating me.
At least it means that my disguise as Dove has been effective.
Have I just made a bad move?Revealed myself?
Nobody hurts Omegas, however, who feel like they belong to me, or friends and rebels who fight for freedom.
They’re all on the side against the tyranny of these bloody courts.
Barnabas scrambles on his knees to shelter behind me.
