Page 99 of Queen of Diamonds

It was why I would never tell him the true plan. That I loved her—and she, us.

I realised as the red crept up his pale neck that it was too late. Far too late. “Go to your pack. Tonight, one of them will finish the job they should have finished three months ago.”

My blood turned to ice. “You want us to kill our own scent match?”

“I didn’t raise you to be soft.” His eyes were glacial, and his next words were like a knife to my heart.

“Prove you’re worthy of taking my place.” Back in the theatre, Ace spoke, echoing the final words of my father before he’d left the room. “See she’s dead by the end of the night.”

He laughed coldly.

“You were there?” My throat was dry.

If Ace had overheard that conversation with my father, and then followed me, he would have known what happened next.

“I’d seen her sneaking into your room one night. I knew you were about to screw up, the way I’d been waiting for. And sure enough, you made sure someone was dead by the end of the night…” Ace grinned. “And all of it, the perfect gift for me. Father was dead and I caught Kyan with that poison. I had a tape that would have seen you all murdered by the Brotherhood for treason that very day.”

My chest was tight as I looked from Ace, down to where Glade was chained. There were tears in her eyes as she stared back at me.

“I would have, too, until I realised there was one more thing of yours I could take.”

No…

“Your mate…” He shifted his foot, tipping his boot to nudge her chin toward him. She twisted away, and I staggered another step toward her, a growl in my throat. “… More intelligent than her designation should ever allow for. She was visiting you that night, and she found out what I’d seen. She offered me a trade. If I spared you, she would choose me.”

My stomach dropped, and I almost dropped my aim on him as I looked back to her, heart like a cold rock in my chest.

She couldn’t have… but I saw sorrow crest her fear for just a moment as she met my eyes.

I heard a flicker of static in my ear, as if one of my brothers were going to speak, but nothing came through. Or I didn’t process it as Ace went on, his voice faint beside the pounding blood in my ears.

“She would offset my claim, handing me just as much as that video would—my brother’s own scent match—key to an alliance that would do nothing but bring us strength, walking away from destiny to kneel before his younger brother. And in exchange, I would destroy the evidence, show you mercy and banish you instead.”

I’d… I’d handed him everything he needed to take her from me. Right down to the gift I’d given her—the chance to fall in love with us.

And she’d fallen so hard she’d done what no other Omega would have—not like an Omega bonded for alliance and nothing more.

She’d given everything for us.

And I’d… Bile burned my throat.

I’d believed, all these years, that she was the devil.

Ace continued, voice cruel. “I’ve never met a whore quite as stubborn. She never wanted me. Not really, but I’m not a complete monster. I won’t claim an Omega who doesn’t want me. I told her I would claim her, but only if she asked.”

My gaze drifted to the scars.

What… were they?

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen loyalty like hers. Heat after heat, she would suffer.”

My gun had never trembled in my grip before, but it did now.

“I admit to taking it a little to heart. She was in heat, I was right there and still, she never asked…”

Another numb step down the central aisle, and I was halfway to the stage.

Glade threw herself against the chains, turning again, more frantic. Her eyes were wide and terrified, glittering with tears as she tried to scream to me. For me?

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