Page 160 of Bliss & Her Idols

The only possession on display is a single cheap, scratched acoustic guitar that’s leaned against the wall underneath the window.

At least I’m looking around now.

In the early hours, when we first arrived after traveling through the night from Pack Bonds island, I was too panicked to notice anything about the Idol Estate.

I’d already had endless, panicked calls from Piper checking that I was okay. Then just as many from Chase threatening creative dismemberment methods of Torin, if Cricket or I were harmed like Jin had been, while we were under his protection on the estate. Then both my brothers, as well as Lionzio, offering to drive and take all of us to a secret, safe house.

I refused because Jin needed immediate medical attention.

Also, because terrifying as it was to see Jin unconscious, this situation had placed me exactly where I needed to be for my PBU mission.

I couldn’t miss this chance.

I know that I should be paying more attention to the details of this mysterious estate.

Every music journalist would kill for the chance to be allowed into this manor. It’s buried in the forests on the mountainside halfway between the towns of Haven and Sanctum.

The entire property is shrouded in mystery and ringed by high fencing and security cameras.

For a horrifying moment, I didn’t think that the iron gate was going to swing open for us.

Finding out the Idol Estate’s location, giving me the chance to actually find the Idol’s camp, where their brutal training takes place, should be the best chance in my journalism career.

I could make my name for every Omega who wants to prove that they can be a journalist in the future.

I could also work out a way to save the Idols.

Except, I didn’t expect on this journey to find something that matters to me more than that:my own pack.

And one of them right now is sleeping under the dusty sheets of the bed with too flushed cheeks.

I reach to stroke a strand of white hair off Jin’s fevered forehead. The rest of his hair is splayed over the pillow, freed from clips and decorations. His face is wiped clean of makeup.

Jin looks younger like this. It makes me protective.

My throat is tight with tears.

I helped Torin to change Jin into a cool pair of gray pajamas, which are too large for him and must also be Torin’s.

The rest of us are still dressed in our costumes from the masked ball.

The train of my dress spreads around me like waves on the bed. I’ve torn one of the flared sleeves and stained the blue silk down the front.

I look like a fallen Dragon Queen now.

Somehow, Torin is still immaculate in his outfit. Even his hair is still covered in tiny glittering snowflake clips.

He’s pacing agitatedly from one side of the small room to the other, while his silver cape swirls behind him. He looks even more like a Disney villain gone bad.

The family doctor has just finished examining Jin.

The prejudiced Beta doctor, however, wouldn’t tell Torin anything in front ofthe Reject Omegas, insisting that we Rejects wait outside in the corridor.

Torin slammed the doctor into the wall.

Cricket and I immediately obeyed the man’s orders, however, because all that mattered was that he helped Jin.

When the doctor finally scurried out of the room looking suspiciously like he was hiding a fat lip behind his cotton handkerchief, and Cricket and I rushed back into the bedroom, Torin was silently pacing.

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