Page 79 of Our Deceptive Heat

“What do you mean? Tyr, what does he mean?” Claudia whispers. “Surely, no, you said you haven’t spoken to her in a year.”

“Things change, Ma,” Tyr spits bitterly and sits down heavily at the kitchen table.

“Ryn knows we have an omega,” Digs explains without lifting his head.

“So you told her, right?” Claudia says. “You did tell her?”

“No! And risk her getting in more trouble. No way, I’m not putting her in danger,” Tyr hisses and rubs a hand over his face. “If you knew just how bad Typhor could be, you wouldn’t even be asking me.”

“Son, you have to tell her.”

I turn away from them and meet Envy’s eyes. He’s still fuming. Hasn’t said a single word in the whole time we’ve been here.

He pushes off the wall in disgust and walks out onto the balcony. I follow him, needing space from Sita’s spiteful vitriol and Claudia’s excuses.

“Envy?” I prompt gently.

“Is all this worth it? I mean, it used to be, but is it still?”

“I can’t answer that for you, Envy. For me, there is no better place than being on stage, but lately, it’s become…”

“A drain? A bore? Depressing? Repetitive? Empty?”

“All of those.” I walk over to him and rest my chin on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Truly? No. Typhor’s control over us is toxic. We need to get out of his clutches,” Envy whispers. “Even if it means we give up the stage.”

I close my eyes. “Okay.”

Digs comes outside. “Our car is here. Let’s go.”

I walk back in and grab Sita by her shoulder. “Let me make things crystal fucking clear, Sita. If one more word hits the press about my pack from your mouth, you won’t have to deal with Tyr. You’re going to be dealing with me.” I pause, staring into her wide, terrified eyes. “You remember that incident in the barn?”

She nods her head frantically.

“You go with your mum, you stay at this new facility, and you do your rehab or, after all this, I will have you committed for a year.”

“You can’t do that.”

I bare my teeth at her. “I can and I will, and no one will stop me.”

She starts to cry. “You’re so mean.”

“Yes. I am. And you’ve just cost me my pack’s happiness. So you’re going to see a whole new side of me.”

Claudia walks me out of the house she owns and gives me a hug.

“Fix things with her.”

“We’re working out a plan now,” I promise.

She bites her lip and glances back at the house. “Will-”

“I’m going to do everything I promised if she skips out, Claudia. It’s time she learns.”

Her shoulders drop and her face falls. “I don’t know how to help her.”

“A team is coming to admit her into a hospital now. How about instead of giving her an option, we let them take her? Sign her over to me so she can’t convince you to sign her out.”

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