Page 17 of Deadly Sweet

Duchess grins. “Very much so.”

Lucy groans, burying her face into Duchess’ chest. Her hair shifts, and I can see a bite mark on her neck.

My hand itches to touch my own neck.

“Please, Alpha. Bite me.” I hear my pathetic plea over the video recording as I kneel on the ground in front of Corbin. I’m naked, hair a mess, blood dripping from the wounds he inflicted on me. I don’t have any memories of this, I never do. My heats are always so intense that I black out, lost to the frenzy. That doesn’t mean I’m not forced to watch every little fucked up thing he does to me during that time. “You’re worthless. Nothing. I’d never bite you. You don’t deserve to be bonded. You're nothing but a stupid whore. A hole to fuck. A toy to be played with.” He laughs cruelly before slapping me across the face.

“Savvy?” Duchess’s voice brings me back to the present. “Are you okay?”

“Haven’t we been over this?” I force a smile. “Technically, no, I’m not okay. I’ll do that a lot, by the way. Drift off into thoughts. Memories.”More like nightmares.“Also, I do hear voices in my head sometimes, so if you hear me talking to myself, that’s why.” I throw out in warning. “The guards called me crazy. I mean, I am.” I snort a laugh. “Years of being locked up with no one around all day, every day will do that to a person.” I shrug.

Lucy smiles, but it’s not a pitying one.

“I get it,” she says.

“You do?” I tilt my head to the side.

She nods. “I wasn’t gone as long as you, but I was taken, too, and put into the Omega trafficking ring. I’ve been beaten, drugged, raped—all of it.” She holds her head high, not ashamed of any of it. Good. She has no reason to be. We didn’t ask for this shit to happen to us. She looks up at Duchess again with that same look on her face. “But then she came along and saved me.”

“I’d burn the fucking world down for you, baby doll,” Duchess growls.

“I know,” Lucy replies softly. “I would, too.”

I sigh heavily. “I’m really trying not to be rude, but god, you two are so sickeningly sweet, and I am beyond jealous.”

“Sorry,” Lucy says again. “We can’t help it.”

“No, it’s fine. I love it. I’m happy for you. Just reminds me of what I’ll never have.” Okay, I’m sounding like a big baby, but this is the most affection I’ve ever seen in person.

“You will,” Duchess reassures. “Not all men are evil like the ones who kept you locked up. I believe there’s a pack for everyone, even if it’s not your scent matches.”

“Really?” I hate how hopeful I sound.Now is not the time to think about true love and fated mates, Savvy. We have a job to do. That can wait.

“Yeah, I do,” she says. “Also, if you so much as glance at Lucy with anything but a friendly look, I’ll gut you in your sleep,” Duchess adds in.

Lucy’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh my god!” she gasps. “You can’t say something like that to someone like her.”

“Why not?” I laugh, and Lucy looks at me like I have three heads. “I mean, I’d question her if she didn’t.” I’m not some meek little Omega that’s going to piss her pants by one little, measly threat. The guards promised to kill me all the time. With them, they would do it for a buck. With Duchess, she would have to have a good reason to. I know she’s only being serious to an extent, and I respect her possessiveness. I’d be the same way if I were an Alpha.I wonder if the hope-inspired packthat Duchess thinks is out there for me will be like that?

“I knew I was gonna like you,” Duchess laughs. “Come on. Bed time for everyone.”

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