Page 113 of Bonds of Pain
I nod, memorizing their preferences as I move to the bar cart in the corner. My heart pounds against my ribs, but I keep my movements casual, unhurried. With my back to them, I set the glasses down and reach for the various bottles.
The bag of blush feels heavy in my pocket. I wait until I hear their conversation resume—something about security protocols for the upcoming coronation ceremony—before slipping it out. My fingers tremble slightly as I measure a small amount into each glass, just enough to loosen inhibitions without making the effects too obvious.
I pour the liquor over the powder, watching it dissolve instantly, leaving no trace. I add a few ice clubs, their clinking as cover for the spoon I use to ensure the blush is completely mixed.
For myself, I pour a small amount of lemonade, keeping it well away from the doctored drinks. I can’t risk clouding my own judgment tonight.
“You need some help over there?” Ares calls back, sounding impatient.
As I turn back toward the men, balancing the tray carefully, I plaster on my best Omega smile—demure, eager to please. Logan watches me approach with mild curiosity, clearly puzzled by my sudden helpfulness.
“Here you are,” I say, distributing the glasses. “Bottoms up.”
Logan takes his drink with a pleased smirk. “This is nice. I might have you serve us drinks all night.”
“Just drinks?” I tease in reply, making him nearly choke on a mouthful of whiskey.
I settle into an armchair across from them, sipping my lemonade as they all take long pulls from their doctored drinks. Now I just need to wait for the blush to take effect—for walls to come down, for secrets to spill.
For the cracks between them to widen into chasms.
After enough drinks that even I lose count, I help Logan stagger to the bedroom. He is heavy against me, his normally graceful movements reduced to clumsy stumbling. The blush has taken effect faster than I expected, already turning their speech slurred and their emotions volatile.
It took careful calculation to get the dosage right—enough to loosen their tongues but not enough for them to immediately notice the drug’s effects. Too much, and they’d realize they’d been drugged. Too little, and I’d never get them to the state of inebriation I need.
“Careful with the wall,” I grunt as Logan bumps against it hard enough to leave a dent in the plaster. He turns to blink at me, golden eyes unfocused and pupils dramatically dilated.
“You’re so pretty,” he mumbles, reaching to touch my face with uncoordinated fingers. “Even when you hate me, you’re beautiful.”
I ignore the uncomfortable flutter in my chest at his words. It’s just the blush talking, breaking down his arrogance to reveal whatever lies beneath. That’s what I wanted, isn’t it?
“Let’s get you to bed,” I say firmly, steering him toward the bedroom.
“Bed,” he repeats, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “Our nest.”
The word makes me cringe. A nest is something sacred, something an Omega builds with care and intention. What Logan has is just a bed, nothing more.
“It’s not a nest,” I can’t help but correct him.
“It is,” he insists, suddenly grabbing my shoulders with surprising strength. “Our nest. Where we belong.”
I shake my head, trying to disentangle myself from his grip. “My nest is in the basement,” I remind him, the memory of that violated space helping me steel my resolve. “Remember? Where you found me and Cillian?”
Pain flashes across his face before the blush smooths it away. “We’ll make a new one. Better one.”
I finally manage to get him onto the bed, where he sprawls gracelessly across the covers. His limbs are loose, his expression softened by the drug in a way I’ve never seen before. Without his perpetual mask of arrogance and control, he looks younger, almost vulnerable.
I turn to leave, but his hand shoots out to grab my wrist. “Stay.”
“I need to check on the others,” I say, carefully extracting myself from his grip. “I’ll be back soon.”
His lips form a pout that would be comical if it weren’t so uncharacteristic. “Promise?”
“I promise,” I lie smoothly.
As I back toward the door, I watch him struggling to keep his eyes open. The blush is working faster than I anticipated—perhaps because they’d already had a few drinks before I added the drug. He’ll be unconscious soon, all of them will be. That should give me plenty of time to search the apartment for anything I can use against them.
“Maya,” Logan calls as I reach the doorway, his voice slurring. “I did it for us. All of it. You’ll see.”
