Page 17

“He’s awake now, though, right?” Lindsey asks.

Quinn nods. “The security feed showed he woke up a few minutes after Horek made sure he was still breathing and wasn’t visibly injured in any way.”

I trip, but right myself before falling on my face. Security feed? Has Horek known all this time that I’m visiting Alik? Does the queen know?

“You okay?” Lindsey places her hand on my arm, and I wave her off.

“Klutzy moment. I’m good.”

Now I can’t stop thinking of all the times I’ve snuck into the pit. Has the commander watched me? Can he hear me talking to Alik? All the secrets and embarrassing moments I’ve shared, like today when my mouth was faster than my brain and I confessed to not having sex for so long? My face heats. Shit. I’m never going to be able to look Horek in the eyes again.

“Seriously, are you sure you’re okay?” Lindsey asks again as we finally reach the main entrance and step out into the sprawling courtyard where the small contingent of guards have gathered to escort us through the city.

“I’m fine. Just tired, I think.”

She doesn’t look like she believes me but thankfully lets it go. We take our time meandering through the streets, doing our best to ignore the guards that trail us. Until Mohneek and Orvak are taken into custody, Janik keeps a number of males with his mate—which in turn, means us as well—when she leaves the palace. She reluctantly submitted after some sex agreement they had that none of us asked for further details on.

“Did you hear Cadence found a mate?” Lindsey asks softly. “You won’t believe who it is, either.”

“Who?” Obviously it must be someone we know.

Olivia and Quinn exchange a weird glance before our friend answers. “Bannik.”

I gape. “For real?”

Lindsey nods. Of course, she would be the first to know since he’s her brother-in-law, despite the fact he and Carrik are still barely on speaking terms. But Bannik is friendly to Lindsey which is all we care about.

“I’m so happy for them both,” Quinn replies.

The funny thing is, even though Bannik courted her from the beginning—before she fell in love with Horek—Quinn really means what she says. We all felt bad for Cadence, too, when it came out that her former suitor had been Rvyik. Not only had he been part of the rebellion, but he tried killing Carrik. Instead, Ryvik—the only lead to Mohneek and Orvak’s whereabouts—had been killed by Bannik during the altercation.

“Bannik’s a good guy,” Olivia adds. “I’m glad they found each other.”

“Me too.” I truly am, but I also can’t help but feel some sort of way that another woman found a mate, and I’m still single. What’s wrong with me?

As if sensing my thoughts, Lindsey leans in closer. “Your day is coming.”

I give her a half-hearted smile and nod. I’m lucky that my friends know when to push and when to let things go. This is one of those times, and Lindsey doesn’t say anything else about it.

We turn at the next block and reach the outer perimeter of the market square. It’s been fully put back to rights after the massive explosion set off by the rebels that destroyed nearly all of it a couple months ago. The attack was actually what brought the rebellion down. At least the fully organized version of it. Hundreds of rebels were arrested, some even exiled from the planet. I heard rumblings that some were killed, but I try not to think about it too hard.

While I would never wish for it to happen again, one good thing—maybe the only good thing—to come from it is that Horek and Janik discovered who the real masterminds behind it were. Of course, the two people are still in hiding and no closer to being found today then they were a two months ago. Hence, the guards walking with us.

“I told the queen I’d bring her back some of those sweets she loves,” Olivia says over her shoulder.

“We can say goodbye to my self-control then if we’re stopping at the booth.” Lindsey groans half-heartedly and rubs her belly.

“Feed that baby something sweet without any guilt.” I nudge her with a grin.

“I’m planning on enjoying every indulgence during this pregnancy that I possibly can,” Quinn adds. “I already warned Horek I may gain a ton of weight and he’s probably going to have to help me put my shoes on at some point. He didn’t even bat an eye.”

“Of course he didn’t. That man worships you.” I shift my gaze to include Olivia and Lindsey. “All of your men worship you and not one of them will complain about helping.”

They get all heart-eyed because they know I’m right, and that little green demon stabs me in the chest. Quinn sighs with a dreamy-look on her face. We continue wandering through the market, but I find myself lagging behind while the three of them talk about their mates and babies. All the things I came here for and told myself I’d consider taking the first kind and thoughtful guy I could just so I could have them. And yet, I’m still alone.

Chapter 9

Alik