Page 103 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

Seth gave me an odd look, as if he had no idea what to make of me. I supposed that was fair if his last experience in a nest was the one that Haru had come from.

“What about the wards?” Logan asked. She scooped up Seth’s hand and pressed it to her cheek.

I brushed my fingers over her hair and cut off the start of Caden’s growl with a sharp look. “You topped up your own reserves, yes?”

Logan nodded.

“And you filled up the amulet, too. You should be able to boost the wards with your current reserves and you’ll be free to rest and recharge at your own pace afterward until we need you again.”

“She’s not a fucking battery,” Caden snapped.

I couldn’t help the roll of my eyes. “Darling, are you going to be this fussy for the entire duration of your stay? It’s getting exhausting.”

He bristled like a spooked kitten.

I sighed. “I’m not afraid of you, nor do I have any reason to be. I have no intention of harming any of you, so I’d prefer if you’d curtail your attitude.”

“He’s just…” Logan paused. “It’s hard to trust after our reception and what we’ve heard about nests.”

“I recognize that but if he’s going to be hissing at me all day long I’m going to have to put him elsewhere.”

“No.” All three of them said it at once.

“Please don’t separate us,” Logan begged, her eyes watery.

“That’s up to Caden.” I leveled a firm glare on him. “I’ve been patient with his threats, but if they continue I’m going to take the same actions I would if anyone else behaved that way toward me.”

Logan turned to him, hand soft on his shoulder. “Caden,please. We need you.”

I caught the first hint of another growl, but he smothered it quickly and took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ll work on it.”

“Good.” I held out my hand for Logan’s and she put it in my grasp. “Come, precious. I’ll show you where the wards are based. Haru will keep your panthers company.”

Before we left the suite Yelena put a collar—thick black leather with a plush inside and her name inscribed in gold on the side—around my throat. I was breathless as she did up the buckle, goosebumps rippling over my skin when her fingertips brushed my neck. Caden watched closely, and, while he was obviously displeased, he didn’t try to stop Yelena or talk her out of it.

“The residents are less likely to bother you if they know you’re mine,” Yelena explained, turning me to face her and adjusting the collar. “And the Protectors will think twice since they’ll have no deniability as to your identity.”

I didn’t mind the weight of it—or the idea of being safer if everyone assumed I belonged to the woman in front of me. I should probably mind the concept of her owning me, but Haru seemed happy and we weren’t intending to stay long-term so maybe it wouldn’t be a bad experience.

“Haru doesn’t wear a collar?” I asked, glancing at him before she tugged me out of the suite.

“He did for a while,” she replied, punching the button for the elevator. “In the early days it had the two-fold benefit of protecting him and preventing people from gawking at his scars when they were new. Now he doesn’t care as much about questions and all the permanent residents have gotten used to him. It’s only worn for playtime in the suite as of late.”

I toyed with the gold ring at the front.

Yelena’s eyes fell on my fingers. “Is it uncomfortable? Do you need me to loosen it?”

“It’s okay. I’ll get used to it.”

She nodded and the elevator doors opened with a ping. “Tell me about yourself, and your panthers.”

“What do you want to know?”

Yelena leaned against the mirrored walls and watched me. “What do you think is relevant to share?”

Heck if I knew. “Um, well, Caden and I have been together about five years now. I adopted him and Seth when I thought they were regular cats.”

“You’re with both of them, though?” Yelena asked.

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