Page 63 of Queen of Diamonds

Horny and angry.

That’s what I needed—the stronger the better. Well, that’s what I convinced myself of as I leaned down, pulling her neck into a sharper arch and drawing my jaw along hers.

The low whine that rose from her stilled me, chest suddenly tight. Before I knew it, she shifted closer. Her bright chestnut eyes found me in the dim light from the lamp I’d set up beside my makeshift bed.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t take my eyes from her, and I knew she could feel my reaction to her body, pressed against mine like it was.

It had to be the scent match, but touching her was like taking a shock to my heart. I’d never experienced anything like it. I was drawn to her, unable to shake the feeling that she was made of a million cracks, and with each brush of my skin on hers, I was closing them.

Was that… normal, even between scent matches?

“There are better ways to get rid of that rut,” she breathed.

My fingers dug into her hips. I didn’t know when my hands had moved, but I was enveloped by her entirely for a second, imagining how easy it would be to hold her like this and make her cry my name like she had for him.

“Why…?” The word was rough, struggling on its way out of my mouth, every instinct demanding I claim her without question. “Why do you want us after you left?”

For just the briefest flicker, I saw a shadow cross her eyes, a moment of something pained. She was vulnerable. Wounded.

My girl.

The one Omega that biology had wired me to protect.

To fix or heal.

I’d reached up without realising, palm cupping her cheek, feeling my own energy shift to something gentle.

Then the flash of pain was gone, and her expression hardened. “It’s logical,” she said quietly. “You’re near a rut, I could crash into heat if I’m any more pent up?—”

She cut off at the hostile growl that rose in my throat, fury surging at the idea that this was just… business to her.

Kyan had fucked her.

Kyan, who I’d almost lost after she left.

Her lips parted slightly as she felt the vibration of my fury rolling slowly through me. Her whole body went still in response. The slow rise and fall of her chest came to a halt, and her eyes darted between mine for a moment as she calculated what that growl meant.

No longer a moment between rejected mates.

We were Alpha and prey.

I didn’t know what it was I wanted in response. Fear? backtracking? Just… anything to show an ounce of vulnerability, a crack in her mask.

“Don’t bait me, Glade,” I breathed. “You don’t want what’s on the other side.”

She shivered, then delivered me exactly what I wanted just in time to realise that it was far too much for me to handle. She tilted her head, lifting her chin and revealing her neck to me, eyes dropping. It was the most primal thing I’d ever witnessed, and my rut-fogged brain almost cracked.

My mate.

The Omega I loved, who’d thrown me away like I was trash.

Who’d ruined us.

And she was giving me everything. Permission to ruin her. I wanted to rip the cuffs apart just so when I fucked her she’d have a chance of fighting back.

Instead, I let her go.

“Knight…” Her pupils were blown, and her voice had a little edge of a whine—just like it had when she was getting railed by Kyan.

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