Page 94 of Queen of Diamonds

“You’re coming back to me already, Omega,” he said. “I knew…” He trailed off, eyes too intense as he caught himself, as if he were about to say something he didn’t want to. My chest tightened, but instead of finishing, he lifted the four cards. “Choose one.”

I stared at them. “Why?”

“You’ll decide where we go.”

“You said there were three places I might be.”

“I did.”

“Then what’s the fourth?”

“The fourth is the same as their fourth. But choose the ace, and I’ll replace that hundred grand with three six-foot graves.”

“That’s not…” My mind reeled, trying to find something to argue with. “It’s not fair rules.”

“Fair rules?” He laughed. “You ran, Omega. Right into their arms. I’m offering far more than they deserve.”

He stood, cutting off any more argument.

I saw a flash of hatred in his eyes when he spoke. “You’re mine, but I do not have you, not completely. I cannot forget that if your mates die, you will have no one left but me.”

I caught another sob. “You could have killed them all this time.”

“Do you want the truth?”

“No.” My voice was bitter. Not that he cared.

“I don’t know that you’ll be a better toy once they’re gone, or if you’ll fade away.”

I swallowed, trying to shove back my terror.

Of the future that was coming for me—one in which he owned every minute, every nightmare, every dream.

Of a world where the beating hearts of my mates might not echo somewhere in this world, even if further away than I would ever hear.

“But this way is fairest,” Ace went on. “If they’re truly… over you, well, seeing your face, that will be a reward on its own. But pick right, and it won’t be so bad.” He cocked his head. “Three locations. Three Alphas. Only one has to die. That, I think, will suffice.”

I was trembling, nails digging into my palms as I tried to drag my eyes from him. “Suffice?” The word was faint and weak.

“I’ll leave the others so that when I bring you home, you’ll still fight me like you always have.”

The world was going dark, blinders closing my vision. A fist crushed my windpipe, making it hard to breathe as Ace lifted the cards again.

“Choose,” he said. “Or I’ll choose the ace. And if they don’t arrive, I’ll hunt them while you watch.”

I could fight him on this. Could sink to my knees and beg. I could swear to give him anything he wanted if he didn’t do this.

And none of it would work.

He didn’t want anything I had to offer because I’d handed it to him. He wanted to win it.

Was it possible that Kyan, Knight, and Zed would choose the ace?

Would they leave me behind?

I had never wanted them to hate me so badly.

Breath tight, I reached for a card, trying to contain the tremor in my fingers. But there was no hiding from this.

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