Page 73 of Gold Sector

Frowning, I look down.

And remember that I’m naked.

“Oh. I…”

“It’s fine,” she says, waving it away. “I know the signs of an oncoming heat. And besides, we’re all shifters here.” She starts to leave, then pauses. “Do you need anything? Blankets? Water? Food?”

“Um.” My frown seems to deepen. “No, I think I’m okay. But thank you.” All I really need is Oros, wherever heis. I glance at the balcony platform, almost hoping he’ll appear.

He doesn’t.

“If you change your mind…” Bell trails off as she jots something down on a paper that she pulled from her purse. “That’s how you reach me.”

“Oh, thank you.” I don’t bother telling her that I have no idea how this number works. I’ll either figure it out or ask Oros.Assuming he comes back.

Bell mentioned being told that he wasn’t here.

So where is he?

I don’t ask Bell. Instead, I say goodbye, then head back up the stairs to his suite.

Why isn’t he here?I wonder, looking at the nest I’ve created and experiencing an unexpected sense of dread. I’m not sure where it comes from, maybe my own insecurities.

But I suddenly feel like something is very wrong. To the point that my insides begin to churn.

I walk over to the nest and crawl inside, my limbs beginning to shake.

Deep breaths, Tali, I tell myself. But all that does is worsen the sensation.

I’m clearly panicking.

It’s ridiculous.

I just need to be patient.

Wait for Oros.

Also known as the Gold Sector Prince.

CHAPTER TWENTY

OROS

A Few Minutes Earlier

“You’re right to be pissed,”Riordan says, reminding me that I never hung up our call.

He’s been watching me pace for the better part of ten minutes.

I go to hang up on him when he adds, “If you care about your Omega at all, you’ll let Keegan live.”

My eyebrow lifts at that. “My caring about her is why I want to fucking kill him.” The bastard threw his daughter into my Royal Court without a single care as to what we might have done to her. He didn’t deserve to breathe.

“Keegan loves his daughter,” Riordan tells me.

I snort. “He has a fucked-up way of showing it.”

“He knew she would be safe in Gold Sector.”