Page 109 of Gold Sector

Seeing him like this is almost amusing enough to distract me from our impending meeting. He just left hismate after spending nearly ten days in bed. Yet he’s clearly eager to return.

“We need to organize a coronation,” he says, changing the subject away from Rio’s arrival. “I want to crown Taliana in front of the sector.”

I arch a brow at him. “You never wear a crown.”

“No. But I like the idea of Taliana wearing one.” The coin speeds up between his fingers. “I’ll make one and add gold diamonds, like her belly ring.”

“Belly ring?” I echo.

His eyes light up. “I pierced her.”

“Oh?” Perhaps I am a bit more distracted now. “With gold?”

“Yes.”

“How many times?” I ask him.

“Several,” he replies vaguely. But I can tell he’s pleased. “She’s very thoroughly marked.”

“I have no doubt that’s true,” I drawl, glancing at the crescent scar on his neck and the matching one on his chest. Taliana likely bears similar claiming indents in her fair skin.

Two weeks ago, that would have bothered me.

But I’ve embraced my brother’s choice. He fell fast and hard—something I’ll never understand. However, he’s pleased. And that’s good enough for me.

“Perhaps once this babysitting assignment is finished, we can host a coronation for my mate,” he says. “Assuming we’re not pulled into a battle with Obsidian Sector, anyway.”

“As long as Rio upholds his promise not to share our involvement, we should be fine.” Unfortunately, I’m concerned he won’t uphold that promise at all.

Obsidian Sector is currently awaiting his arrival, their expectation being that he’s bringing them a covetedOmega Princess. Rio fully intends to arrive empty-handed, a fact no one other than the three of us—me, my brother, and Rio—knows.

Well, the sister will know soon, too. But she left Jasper Sector thinking that her brother had finally seen reason and was taking her to Wes.

From what Rio has said, the Omega feels strongly about upholding the blood vow her father made with the royal Alpha bloodline of Obsidian Sector.

“She’s dutiful to a fault,” he told me a week ago. “So getting her on the plane won’t be difficult. She’ll be pleased to play her part, out of respect for our father.”

His tone indicated how he felt about that.

Just as my tone told him how much I disapproved of his plan to trick his sister.

I only just filled Oros in on everything yesterday. I put off Rio’s arrival for as long as I could, wanting my brother to be available in case this meeting went sideways.

Because it would only be the four of us today. No Royal Court. Just me, Oros, Rio, and the Omega Princess.

“He’s here,” my brother says a second before I sense the power shift.

Glancing out a nearby window, I frown. “Where’s his pla?—”

I spin as Rio materializes in the room with a struggling female in his arms.

My gaze widens.

Then an explosion sounds somewhere in the distance.

He growls. “You’d better hope that didn’t crash into anything important, Mari.”

The pink-haired female growls right back at him, clearly unfazed by the Alpha’s manhandling. “I hope it took out part of the sector so you’ll be forced to clean it up!”