Page 84 of Queen of Diamonds

“Why we’re drawn to you all the time. Why it feels so…” He looked around, searching for the word. “Right, when we touch you.”

“We’re mates,” I said, forcing a smile through a few more escaped tears.

“It wasn’t like this before.” He shook his head. “Not even close. You said you used drugs through all your heats, but were there any that you didn’t?”

“You mean, did I skip the drugs and find a pack?—?”

“No.” Knight was firm. “I mean, have you had heats where you didn’t have drugs or Alphas to get you through?”

My breath caught at the question, and I fought to keep my expression straight, pleading with the tears to stop.

So many… Over and over for years…

“No drugs or Alphas?” I asked, as if the question was insane, but my forced smile ached and sickness twisted my stomach. “Who would do that?”

“…You can make it stop, Omega. One word from you, and this will all be over…”

Knight was staring at me, though, gaze fixed as though he was processing every inch of my features, searching for a lie—one he’d find with ease if I couldn’t pull myself together.

“Tell me the truth.” The words were low, but his Alpha bark seized me. I clamped a hand over my mouth in shock, just managing to halt the words before they tumbled out. I slipped from the counter, eyes wide with shock, but the power of the bark was already fading.

“Glade—” He cut off, looking almost horrified at himself.

“This was a mistake,” I whispered.

“What?”

“This was a mistake!” I could feel panic constricting my throat as I reached for the necklace—no. Collar. “Take it off.”

“Glade—”

“Take it off me!”

Zed was there at the bathroom door, ice-blue eyes wide. “What’s happening?”

“You said I could choose.” My fingers were tight around the collar, the world blurring with tears. “I want the room. Take me back to the room.”

“Why—?”

“Take me back!” The world was shutting down around me. I couldn’t look at Knight as my feet hit the ground, and I stumbled toward Zed.

He caught me, frowning, but all I could see were his eyes: ice-blue, just like Ace’s. I clung to that, needing to find my steel, even as tears fell from my eyes, making my vision swim as I repeated the only words I knew to say.

“Take me back.”

30

GLADE

“Tell me, Omega.”

I woke to another nightmare, as predictable as it was frightening. His breath tickled my neck. A monster in the flesh and made of smoke all at the same time.

“Have you failed at last?” Ace asked. “Failed to protect your mates for what? A rut?” His laugh was low. “That’s all it took to make you crack? Disappointing that in the end you’re as weak as your designation.”

I shut my eyes.

“Tell me,” he whispered again.

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