Page 166 of Bliss & Her Idols

“He’s waking up.” My pulse races. I scramble around on my knees to peer down at Jin. “He’s in pain. He still has a fever. What should I do?”

Cricket launches himself onto the bottom of the bed. He rests his arms on Jin’s calves, massaging gently.

Torin marches to the thin drapes at the windows, yanking them shut. “He may have a headache. The light will hurt his eyes.”

Slowly, Jin’s eyes open. I’m distressed at how unfocused they are. He darts his gaze around the room not seeming to recognize any of us.

“S-s-sorry, yeah?” Jin rasps. He sounds scared. His cheeks are flushed with heat. “Am I late? I’m getting up. I’m not ill. I can s-s-still practice. Please don’t p-punish Zero.”

My chest is tight.

I try to keep my voice level. “You’re not late. You’re unwell. So, no practice for you today.”

Jin appears confused, scrunching his brows. “The twins say Idols use illness as an excuse for laziness.”

Those twins have a knot crushing coming their way.

“The twins also say that they’re the best looking Alphas in our family.” Torin strolls to the bed. “So, let’s take their opinions with a grain of salt.”

Torin looks startled, when Jin cowers away from him.

“I’m up,” Jin pleads, throwing the blanket off himself, before I can stop him.

Then he tries to struggle out of the bed, despite the fact that he can hardly hold himself upright and is delirious.

I glance at Torin for help.

Torin gently grips Jin by the shoulder and guides him back under the covers.

Jin goes placidly, as if he’s forgotten why he got up in the first place.

Just for a moment, his gaze sharpens.

He sniffs. “Charming?”

Torin smiles more softly than he normally does. “The one and only, anamchara. Now, rest.”

“Work?”

Torin fusses with the cover, tucking it around Jin. “You’re taking the day off.”

“I’ve never had a day off. Betas can’t be lazy.”

I push my nails into my palms not to say what I want to.

Jin is barely conscious or aware of what’s going on. It wouldn’t help for me to show anger at his mistreatment.

But inside, Iamangry.

I’m raging.

When I think of how many years Jin has trained in this camp and how many times he must have had flu, injured himself, or been overworked to the point of exhaustion and needed only a single day to sleep, take medicine, and get better but has been denied it, I know that I’m going todestroythis elite family of Alphas.

A family who have become billionaires off the hard work of Betas who they calllazy.

“Well, you’re taking one now.” Torin keeps his hand pressed to Jin’s chest. “I’m the boss. What I say goes.”

I have a sense that Torin is at least enjoying the fact that he gets to say that without being challenged.

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