Page 86 of Knot All is Crystal
Because it would mean that I didn’t fall into a trap.
That has to be what it is.
I rub the back of my neck, feeling the fading blighted bond. It seems to be disappearing faster than before, and I wonder if it’s exposure to my Alpha’s pheromones.
Is there a way to subtly ask Dr. Knight if he knows anything about them?
Eventually, I give up waiting in silence and knock again. This time, I hear Kieran exhale heavily and call out, “Come in, Queenie.”
Why does he sound annoyed with me if he’s the one who called me here?
He’s sitting behind his desk, the corners of his eyes crinkled, dark bags underneath them. He looks old. Much older than he has before. His suit is still impeccably pressed, and not a single hair is out of place, but something weighs him down. I don’t think others would notice, but it’s abundantly clear to me after all these years working for him.
Something is bothering Kieran Cobb.
“You wanted to see me?” I ask quietly. It feels like I’m standing in front of a grizzly bear, and one small step out of line could have him attacking me.
“The corset looks nice,” he says dismissively.
I wrap my arms around my waist absentmindedly. He picked out an authentic, steel-boned corset for tonight that is periwinkle and ruffled at the top. Matching hot pants with ruffles on the ass and white knee-high boots complete the outfit.
It’s almost sweet compared to many of the things he has me wear.
“Thank you. It’s very luxe,” I say after a beat. “Though I must admit I cannot picture what crowd this is for.”
“Do you know why I like having you work for me?”
The question jars me, and I take a small step back. It takes me a moment to swallow down the lecture I want to give about how he stole me and indentured me to him under false pretenses.
“Because I took on a debt owed to you.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “That’s not why I like it.” He picks up a crystal glass from his bar cart and fills it from a decanter full of brown liquor. “You provide a certain status to the club—the Omega Queen. As an Alpha without a pack or a bonded Omega, I always risk being seen as feral. Society has this false belief that an Alpha needs an Omega to be whole. Unfortunately, I am unable to change that. That type of systematic overhaul is impossible with just a few people.”
“The revolution begins with a single brick,” I say quietly.
“Ah, yes, it does. But it ends with one, too. Except this one leaves your brains splattered on the pavement.”
I take another step back.
He can’t possibly know that Puck told me everything, can he? That I’m going to try to find a way out of this?
But the way he looks at me with a knowing glint in his eyes has my stomach bottoming out.
“You understand, then, why I need you? Having an Omega by my side lends credibility to my business dealings. It gives strength to our cause.”
And because I’m a fucking idiot, I can’t hold my tongue at that statement. “It’s not my cause, Kieran. I never asked for this! I didn’t ask to be your trophy.”
He’s around the desk in a blink, hand around my throat, a growl rumbling from him that leaves me whining in fear. “I don’t care if you asked for this. When will you get it through your stupid fucking head that I own you, Crystal?” His face is wild and furious, and his pupils are blown out, making his eyes appear black. His pheromones are aggressive, making his scent sour.
“I have made you the Queen and given you so much freedom, but you continuously test me.”
I feel vindicated after his little speech. Four years of fear and worry, and secretly hoping he drops dead, is all justified.
Not that it wasn’t before.
But it’s easier to excuse when he’s morphed into the monster I knew he was hiding.
“There he is,” I snarl, “the real Kieran Cobb. The one you show to everyone else. I’ve wondered for so long why you treat me with kid gloves, but I haven’t wanted to ask for fear you’ll drop all pretenses. But now I see. You needed me happy, compliant, and docile. Or as close to it as you could get me.”
