Page 56 of Unlikely Omega

“Yeah,” I croak and at the sound of my voice, he lurches toward me and grabs me in his arms. He wraps them around me, saying nothing, but his body is shaking with unleashed fury.

“How did you get out?” I whisper.

“Cut through the tent. What the hell did this bastard want?”

“They kept talking about the prophecy,” I whisper, burying my nose in his bare chest, taking in his scent, familiar, sexy, comforting. “The Synod, back at the fort. About the planets aligning and the signs. They acted all scared that it might come to pass. Same as this army priest.”

“What did he plan to do?”

“Sell me, he said. Or trade me.”

“That means someone out there is looking for someone like you.” He pulls back, slides his hands to my waist. “And that he was confident he’d find aid in his flight with you close by. He wouldn’t flee with you on foot, alone, through the countryside. The army would capture you both quickly.”

“True. He said there were horses waiting for us.”

“Fuck.” Something draws his attention, and he cocks his head. Then he puts one foot on the priest’s back. He’d started to crawl away. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re a disgrace to the gods.”

“Says the apostate,” the priest grunts. “In league with a Fae-blood omega.”

“If I can’t kill him,” Finn grinds out, “may I at least cut off his tongue?”

“I’m afraid that might hinder the questioning somewhat,” I say with regret.

The priest stills under Finn’s bare foot.

And then there’s the pounding of many feet and a familiar voice roars:

“You! Back away from her!” The Commander is coming at us, sword drawn, armored men behind him. “Release her.”

Finn doesn’t let go, only his pale brows draw together in a scowl. “A bit late to the show, aren’t you?”

“You! Priest.” The Commander strides up to us and grabs his arm, but Finn yanks it free—only to do so, he finally releases me. “What the fuck are you doing here? I left you in my tent to rest.”

“Did you really think I’d stay there, knowing she’s in danger?” For a blind man, Finn gives a good death glare. “And good thing I came, or else that priest would have vanished along with her.” He nods at the priest who’s groaning on the ground. “Caught him right on time.”

“Fuck.” The Commander’s dark brows knit. “That’s our army priest. What’s the meaning of this?”

“Ask him. He was making away with her. Told the guards something about a ritual, but it was all a lie.”

“You should have told me,” the Commander growls.

“You think I trust you?” Finn growls right back. “Fuck you.”

Two of the soldiers jump forward, grabbing him. “You don’t speak like that to our Commander,” one of them says.

I jerk forward, but the Commander grabs me, holds me back. “Let him go!” I shout. “Tell them to let him go!”

“How did you know she wasn’t with the General as I thought?” The Commander is still frowning at Finn. “Answer me.”

“If you can’t figure it out yourself, you’re stupid,” Finn snaps, ignoring a rough shake from the soldiers holding him. “I told you, the two female guards who took her talked about a priest. Of course, when two more guards arrived after you left looking for her, to take her to the General, then I knew for sure that something had gone wrong.”

“He’s right,” I breathe, looking over my shoulder at the Commander. “Don’t punish him, please. If not for him, I’d be far away by now. Won’t your General be happy about that?”

“Dammit all to Typh’s depths!” The Commander doesn’t sound like he’s laughing anymore, his voice a low rasp. “Men, bring him, bring them both. The General will decide their fate.”

He tucks me against his side, turning me around and hauling me back to camp with him, and helplessly I draw in his scent, that smoke-and-spice perfume that seeps into my senses.

This man… so arrogant, so annoying. So frightening. Our fate is in his hands, and he’s an instrument of the Empire, a tool, a hand of the Emperor.

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