Page 79 of Unhinged Omega

Ipress closer to the window, unable to tear my eyes away from the carnage below as alarms from the last blast that hit the tower blare through the room. The Knight is methodically dismantling the tank like he's unwrapping a particularly stubborn gift, his metal claws tearing through armor plating as if it's paper. The sound of screeching metal carries even through the thick glass.

A flash of gold catches my eye as two figures tumble out of the tank. The pretty blond one and a much bigger alpha with shaggy dark hair.

The elevator's mechanical hum makes me jump. Someone else seeking shelter up here, no doubt. The barks echoing through the shaft, gradually getting closer as the car ascends, give me a hint as to who that someone is.

As if this tower is going to provide much protection if another blast hits it. What kind of absolute barbarian fires at a building with an omega inside anyway?

These people have no class.

When the doors slide open to reveal Lex, her faithful hellhound at her side as always, I can't help but curl my lip. Speaking of no class…

"Sorry, Princess," she drawls, striding toward me with purpose as her dog darts around the room, sniffing everything she can find. Her dog pauses at a pair of Nikolai's fancy leather boots in the corner and sniffs like she's thinking about pissing on them. "You're coming with me."

I dart away from her reaching hands, snatching a gaudy lamp from a nearby table. "Don't touch me," I snarl, swinging it at her head.

The lamp connects with a satisfying crack, but Lex barely flinches. Before I can retreat, she lunges forward and grabs me, easily subduing my attempts to fight back. In one fluid motion, she hoists me over her shoulder like a sack of grain.

"Put me down, you mongrel!" I screech in Vrissian, my nails raking across any part of her I can reach. "I'll tear your ears off!"

Bess barks excitedly alongside us, tail wagging furiously like this is just a game of Capture the Omega.

Lex grunts but doesn't loosen her grip as she carries me to the elevator. She jabs the button repeatedly, muttering curses under her breath.

Nothing happens.

"Shit," she growls, shifting my weight on her shoulder. "Gonna have to take the stairs."

I freeze mid-struggle. "There have beenstairsthis whole time?"

She moves toward what I'd assumed was a broom closet, fishing out a key ring with her free hand. "Where did you think we'd go if the elevator broke down?"

"I thought this was your boss's idea of a clever prison!" I snap, renewing my efforts to break free. "Let me go!"

"You want me to fling you over the rail, keep squirmin'," Lex barks as she adjusts me on her shoulder. If her hand gets any closer to my ass, I'm going to chop it off. "Just 'cause the boss told us to play gentle with you doesn't mean I'm gonna get ripped apart by that thing if I can help it."

Those words set off alarm bells in my head, other than the actual alarms that have been going off incessantly ever since the tank blasted this place.

I start thrashing and struggling with renewed earnest as a distant explosion rocks the tower, making us stumble. Lex's grip tightens on me as she steadies herself against the wall and Lex's dog resumes barking her hollow head off.

"Your men have shitty aim," I comment dryly.

Lex scowls, picking up the pace.

Another blast, closer this time, sends tremors through the building. Dust rains down from above, and I can hear the ominous sound of glass shattering somewhere above us.

"Wonderful," I mutter. "So instead of being eaten by the monster I’ve been having nightmares about for years, I get to be crushed to death in a stairwell with a woman who smells like motor oil and wet dog."

"You're welcome," Lex says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now shut up and let me concentrate on getting us both out of here alive."

I open my mouth to deliver another scathing retort, but the words die in my throat as an inhuman roar echoes from outside. It sounds closer than before.

Much closer.

And this asshole is delivering me right to him.

The sound of boots thundering up the stairwell makes my heart leap into my throat, but the steps are too light to be the Knight's iron-clad stomping. And I doubt he could even fitthrough it. Not that this is much of a relief, considering I'm still being manhandled and there's a damn warzone outside.

When Nikolai bursts through the door below us, I catch a glimpse of his face straining to look over my shoulder. I've never seen him look so enraged. Not even when I broke his nose. His slightly mismatched eyes lock onto us, and his entire body goes rigid.

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