Page 34 of Tied in Knots
“I understand that more than you know,” Xander’s voice interrupts my musings.
I want to ask why, but it doesn’t seem like the time.
“Do you want to go back to your nest, and I’ll come and get you when he’s awake?”
I debate that point for a moment. What if they use my absence to get rid of my brother in a permanent sense?
“He’ll be safe from us, I promise,” he adds with a soft smile. “We would never do anything to hurt you, Faith.”
Taking him at his word, because I actually do believe that they won’t hurt me. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything but I’m a relatively pretty, unmated omega about to go into her heat. What’s not to like? Even if their objective is just to use me, which I don’t think it is after all the trouble they went to because let’s face it, unmated omegas are ten a penny, hurting me would go against what they are trying to achieve.
“I can bring your duvet and pillows down if you would rather stay with him,” Xander concedes when he sees me dithering over this quandary.
“Can you bring him up to my room?”
His green eyes flash with danger and his heart starts to beat faster again.
“Uhm, okay, it’s okay, I’ll stay down here with him,” I stammer, trying to backtrack and fucking fast.
Clearly having a strange alpha in my room, even if he is my brother, does not sit well with him.
He nods stiffly and leads me into what appears to be a massive, fancy drawing room type affair. I look up at the frescoed ceiling and the pretty covings with wide eyes. There is a huge chandelier, bigger even than the one we were standing under out in the hallway. Gilt edging all around the walls and doors and thick, gold fabric curtains hang at the enormous bay windows. Three of them, I count, that look out onto the perfectly manicured lawns to the front of the house. Mansion. Whatever it is.
My mouth drops open in awe as I look around. I feel Sebastian’s gaze on me, so I meet it and he smiles at me. He is pleased that I find his home so lovely. Bless him. It’s important to him for some reason.
I spy Derek on a straight back chair with Harvey binding his wrists behind him with a curtain tieback.
“I don’t think that’s necessary…”
“Intruders are all dealt with the same until we determine if they are a threat or not,” Sebastian states, his blue eyes darkening slightly.
I would be a fool to argue with him, and I ain’t no fool.
Usually. I have my moments, but this isn’t one of them. I lower my eyes and accept he is the prime alpha in charge of this situation.
ChapterTwenty
Harvey
After about ten minutes, I see Faith’s eyes start to close again. She is curled up on the comfiest couch in here, which isn’t saying much. This room is very much an old country manor room. I prefer the informal sitting room further down the hall.
“I’ll take her back upstairs,” I murmur, taking a step forward.
Sebastian gives me a nod of confirmation. I think he would rather she wasn’t here when Derek wakes up. He wants a clear run at him without her influencing the way he deals with it.
I scoop her up gently and cradle her against me, inhaling deeply, her scent filling my nose and falling over me, almost putting me in a thrall. She is one of the most amazing people I have come across. She has taken all of this in her stride so far. I’m guessing though she is processing, and it will all come out at some point in the near future and our arses will get kicked. I’m quite looking forward to it.
I smile to myself and carry her up the stairs, enjoying it when she snuggles in even closer to me, her face pressed against my chest. Her instinct is definitely telling her she belongs with us. I just hope her head catches up soon.
Entering her bedroom, I make my way over to the wardrobe and lower her gently to the nest. The urge to curl up with her is overwhelming, but I straighten up after tucking her in. Hesitating, I bite the inside of my cheek. Sebastian’s blue tie is on her pillow, and I think that’s Benjamin’s white t-shirt next to it.
I glance at the door and then back to her. “Fuck it.”
Stripping off my green and black plaid shirt, leaving me in my green t-shirt, I drape it over her like a blanket. Just as I’m about to close the door, I see her grip it and turn over, bringing it up to her nose with a soft, sleepy smile.
My heart nearly bursts with joy.
Closing the door enough to make her feel safe, but not all the way closed so she can get some air, I cross over to the sash window and open it a crack. The cold winter air seeps in but she will be nice and cosy where she is.
