Page 96 of Queen of Diamonds

It was rare for his scent to give him away. I’d never known an Alpha who could keep such tight control over it, but I caught the edge of pure thrill, an acid bitterness to his roses.

“And we start these games again,” he said.

I turned back around the theatre, eyes wide, but when I looked at Ace again, he’d glanced down at his phone, a smile spreading on his lips.

“Someone is outside.”

No…

I shook my head, adrenaline making the world around me spin.

He’d won.

I threw myself against the chains as the world swam through tears. I had to make him understand.

He didn’t need to do this.

“I can only imagine what you’re trying to tell me,” he breathed, leaning down and gripping my chin. Tears tracked my cheeks.

He’d won.

I would never leave again.

But my pleas died at my gag and he let me go, leaning back with a cruel smile. “Which of your mates will die today?”

KYAN

The bond was tense and locked down.

I had an earpiece in to communicate with my brothers, but we hadn’t spoken in a while.

I was in a dim hallway of a vast theatre, gun at the ready.

One of three locations.

My heart thundered in my chest, guilt setting me on edge. Ace had so much more intel than I’d realised.

She was alone.

Afraid.

My mate.

Just like I’d suspected, we’d found the traces of nesting in the cupboard beneath the sink in her bathroom. A bowl, my bracelet, and one of Zed’s rings. A piece from each of us. The beginnings of a nest. Omegas didn’t begin building a nest like that unless they felt safe.

And now… I’d failed her—left her to be taken from the place she should have been safe.

I had known, always, that I loved her, no matter the choice she’d made. She was my other half. A piece of me I couldn’t leave behind, or hate, not like the others had.

I flinched as a voice crackled in the intercoms above.

“You know, she swore to me you wouldn’t come for her…”

That was Ace.

This was it. She was here.

I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath before I readied my weapon, whole body tense as I edged up to a corner. Around it was a flight of stairs. I’d entered through the basement, and the main floor was above.

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