Page 17 of Prodigy & Tybalt
“I’m not, but there were only four fiction books in the sanctuary and I read them all,” I replied, my tone sharp even as I tried to soften it. I kept telling myself I was leaving this place and going home, but my nest was here, and… and my mate was here.
I sighed, my shoulders drooping. That was depressing. The reason I couldn’t leave was Sweetie lived here? I used to be an independent bad bitch who didn’t give a shit about any man, and here I was, despising one and wanting to kill him on sight but unable to pull myself away.
“Put those down,” Prodigy murmured, approaching slowly, carefully. Wise man; I wasn’t above punching him in the dick this time. “I have something better.”
I turned, eyed him suspiciously. “Like what?”
“Trust me.” He held out a hand; I narrowed my eyes further.
“I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you. And I don’t reckon I can throw you very far, buddy.”
His eyes softened, turning my stomach into knots. I bared my teeth in response, my shoulder blades itchy and not just because of the heat. He took another slow step, engulfing me in the sweet, smoky earth of his scent. My senses drowned in that fragrance until I wanted to purr. He smelled too good. I was trying to keep my head clear, and here he was smelling so good I wanted to roll in his damn scent, wanted it on every inch of my skin, wanted—
Nope.I cut that thought off dead. It was the heat messing with me. And probably a result of the trauma of being kidnapped, auctioned, and sold.
“Tybalt was in a dangerous state when I first met him,” Prodigy said without prompting, catching my gaze and holding it. “He struggled so badly we nearly lost him, and I don’t want the same to happen to you. And Tyb—” Prodigy sighed, running a hand through his rumpled red hair. “He sees himself in you, and it’s his instinct to take care of you. He’s worried, which makes me worried about himandyou.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, books clutched to me.
“I thought it might help you trust me if you understood why I want to take care of you. You’re safe with me, omega.” A little twinkle entered his hazel eyes, lighting up the green specks until they glowed. “Your name would be safe with me, too.”
“I don’t know why everyone’s so obsessed with learning my name,” I muttered, more guttural than I intended.
“Because calling you Omega is dehumanising. It breaks you down to your designation, and leaves no space foryou.”
That… wasn’t the answer I expected.
I sighed. “You’ve done this a lot, haven’t you? Taken in omegas who’ve been treated like shit. You know exactly the right thing to say.” It wasn’t a compliment.
His head cocked to the side, a little smugness in the movement. “So I finally said the right thing, did I?”
I groaned. Damn Prodigy and his mischievous eyes and that smile that crinkled the freckle on his cheek. Damn his stupid scent and his calming, self-assured nature and the sleek muscles that strained against his tight-fitting black T-shirt.
“Get out. This is my room now,” I grumbled, shoving at him with my arm, a tingle moving through my whole body at the warmth and strength of him. He didn’t even waver. Damn. He was about half the size of Giant, and yet every bit as immovable.
“If you want to be left alone with a room full of classics and reference books, I’m happy to leave,” he replied, that cocky alpha gleam still in his eye. I burned with irritation at how good he looked, how much I wanted to punch him and then kiss the stupid smile off his face, in that order. “But if you come with me, I can promise you fiction.” His voice became a caress, spiking my temperature, my heartbeat. “Adventure. Romance. Fantasy.”
I swallowed. Tried to glare and didn’t quite pull it off. “What makes you think I’ll agree to that?”
His smile sank deeper in one side of his face. “You didn’t come here for non-fiction. You came here for escapism. Youneedit.”
My heart clamoured, a hard, messy collection of beats. “Propositioning a girl who escaped captivity a few days ago. Classy.”
“I know the meaning of the word no, sweetheart. Say it once, and I’ll back off. And just so we’re clear, I’m serious about the books. Tell me what you need, and it’s yours. We all have our ways of dealing with trauma, and isolation only ever hurts in the long run. Connection is a healthier way of dealing with it, and we’re here for you.” He paused, then added in a way that made my blood hot, “Both of us.”
This is not the way I thought my morning would go. “Why?”
“Because I’ve never once seen Tyb connect with anyone the way he has with you. Because he’s been obsessing over you since the night you met and gave him hell.”
“He’s been stalking my nest door,” I muttered.
“He likes you,” Prodigy said with a softer smile, though I was no less aware of him physically. My hands itched to touch him, and my gut cramped. “And I trust his judgement, so if he sees something incredible in you, then I’m intrigued. Curious.”
“Are you gonna stalk me too?” I huffed, then glared. “Is that why you were conveniently around when I left my nest this morning?”
His smile widened into a grin. “I just had to see for myself how beautiful you are when you scowl. Tyb won’t stop talking about the sparkle of murder in your eyes.”
I rolled those murderous eyes. “You’re full of shit.”
