Page 153 of Bliss & Her Idols

Our Alpha needs to be calledgood Alpha.I’m going to make sure that I praise him as much as I do the rest of my pack.

The tips of Torin’s ears turn red. He blinks, as if coming back to himself.

“But you’re at risk of being arrested…?” Torin’s lips become pinched with concern.

“It doesn’t feel nice to learn that type of secret does it?” Cricket says.

“Touche.”

“While we’re talking about being at risk of being arrested…” I cross my arms, wishing that I’d pulled on my clothes before this conversation. Fuck it. I could make this my thing: the naked rebel. “…I’m actually also at risk of being executed.”

Torin’s scent becomes burned in his shock. “Hey, are we playing badass criminal one-upmanship? Because I don’t like this game.”

“I’m a member of the Omega resistance,” I get out quickly. “I’m part of a unit that investigates forced bonds. In fact…”Here goes. “I’ve been investigating the Idols and your family for years. Cricket here has been my source. We turned up at the arena to start putting a mission in place to rescue Jin.”

“Both of you…?” Torin’s gaze swivels between us in shock. “You’re fucking with me.”

I chuckle. “Now you know our secrets too. Scared?”

“Turned on.”

Cricket gives a sweet smile, reaching to finish doing up Torin’s bow tie for him. “Small is dangerous. Omegas are powerful. And now, let’s go win our Beta in the Pack Bonds final.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Ballroom,Pack Bonds Island

Iadjust my half face dragon mask. The ornate mask is metallic with blue, delicate scales and fluttering ribbons.

It feels strange — alien — to be looking out from behind the slits and to have my identity hidden.

Scent canceling products have even been worked into the wooden floor of the ballroom to enhance the illusion of mysterious strangers.

Yet there’s no doubt who the different packs are.

The Idols are dressed up like dragons with matching masks.

Of course, we also have three members in our pack.

We may be Rejects but we have strength in numbers.

I’m standing between Torin and Cricket in a line with the other contestants at the bottom of a grand, sweeping staircase, which leads down into the ballroom.

Zoe sourly ordered us to take our places. She’d already come round to the bedrooms early this morning to collect our phones and any electronic devices.

Am I paranoid, or are the staff’s attempts to isolate us a red flag?

Also, it’s meant that I haven’t been able to read anything Lionzio may have sent me about Easter.

I’m more nervous than I was before.

None of us know what we’re waiting for or what happens next.

There’s an air of tension and anticipation hanging over the room.

It’s suffocating.

My skin is prickling. I can taste the electric charge in the air like before a thunderstorm hits.

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