Page 216 of Bliss & Her Idols

Rory scrambles to get his feet underneath himself, as Torin drags him higher, until he’s hanging in his grip.

Alarmed, Rory’s eyes widen. “I’ve been searching for…” His gaze flicks to Immortal. “I heard the twins talking about what was going to happen to him. But he was missing from solitary.”

“Why would you visit him?”

Rory licks his dry lips. “I was going to break him out.”

“Bullshit.” Torin tightens his hand around his brother’s throat.

Yet there is something in Rory’s tone that tells me he’s telling the truth.

The question is why.

Cricket moves to wrap his arms around me, watching the exchange with a wary expression.

“Ease off,” Immortal says, looking uncomfortable. “Your brother can’t talk, if you’re choking him.”

Jin has defended Rory, and now Immortal is as well. I expected these Betas to hate the man, but they don’t seem to.

Slowly, Torin lowers Rory back to the floor. “Wasn’t me taking the beating from Mena enough?You smashed my fucking guitar.You know what it meant to me. But now, you’re trying to do something to—”

“I was trying to save an Idol,” Rory bursts out in frustration, before his shoulders slump in defeat. “Why should you believe me? Fine. Get it out of the way. Hit me. I deserve it.”

Torin quirks his brow.

To my surprise, Immortal scrambles to the end of the bed. “Don’t. He’s my prince.”

“Yuck.” Jin scrunches up his nose.

For the first time, Rory looks amused. “Not likethat.”

Immortal rests his hand dramatically over his heart. “He rejected me. Can you believe that he doesn’t want to hit this tight arse? I’m heart broken.”

Torin appears blindsided. “What’s going on right now? Am I having a stroke?”

Immortal grins. “Nope, you’re just discovering the identity of our dashing secret savior.”

Rory is the undercover agent…?

Torin lets go of his brother, taking a sharp step backwards. He stares at Rory like he still can’t believe it.

Rory just about manages to get his feet underneath himself, tentatively rubbing his throat.

“You’re still the one who told Mena that you saw Jin and me kissing.” Tremors run through Torin. Words that he hasn’t been able to say for years are finally spilling out from behind melted walls. “I thought that you actually liked me…maybe loved me…unlike the others. But then, you had me separated from Jin and the other Idols. Had me exiled forfive fucking years.”

Rory runs a shaky hand through his hair. “I do love you. You’re my little brother. I’ve watched you growing up, while trying to look out for you. Yet I knew that I was doing a shit job because I could barely protect myself. But I did try.” His eyes gleam with tears. “I really tried, okay? I’ve been manipulating and calming down Mena in every way that I could since I was adopted.”

“Like getting me kicked out of the pack?”

“When I saw you with the Idol, I thought that you were copying the twins. They bullied and mind fucked you. I was frightened that they’d made you think the way theyusedthe Betas was normal too.”

“I wasn’tusingJin,” Torin snarls. Then his troubled gaze snaps to Jin. “Right?”

“We were in love,” Jin reassures. “I made the first move, remember?”

“You never tried touseme,” Immortal grumbles.

I pat his knee. “Don’t worry, I have a brother that will.”

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