Page 24 of Night Sector

I cringed at how pitiful that plea sounded, but it had to be said. This was our literal sanctuary. Our safe space. Alphas didn’t belong in an Omega’s nest unless invited in.

I won’t disturb them or yours, Kyra.

My responding snort couldn’t be helped. I knew better than to believe that. Especially since I could scent his wolf’s interest.

Alphas couldn’t help themselves.

They were programmed to crave Omegas, just as we were programmed to crave them. The moment my first heat came about, he’d be there ready and willing. And I’d accept him because my body wouldn’t be able to say no.

Dining hall is on the first level,I gritted out, needing a distraction. Just hang a right at the bottom of the grand staircase and follow your nose. Meals are served all night. Day snacks are limited.

He said nothing, just listened.

Probably because this wasn’t what he wanted to know, but it seemed appropriate to give him the full tour on our way back outside.

There’s a gym, indoor pool heated by magic, and several other amenities on the first floor of the palace. There are also numerous courtyards, some of which are more temperate—again, because of magic.

I started detailing the greenhouses we had as well, the variety of foods we grew there, and how it was all possible through a myriad of enchantments.

Every Omega in the Sanctuary has a job or a role. Protection, agriculture, food preparation and cooking, cleaning, midwives for our heat cycles, and many other trades. A lot of us achieve our tasks by using our supernatural traits, but there are those who do things the old-fashioned way.

Not all Omegas had special abilities. X-Clan Omegas, for example, didn’t have access to magic. As Lorcan would already know all that, I didn’t elaborate.

Instead, I led him outside and passed a group of gawking Omegas.

He ignored them, dutifully following me as I explained the sentry positions that he’d noticed upon our arrival.

Then I took him to the perimeter to show him the boundaries of the barrier spell.

Neither of us spoke aloud, all the details streaming from my mind to his while he listened and analyzed everything around him.

It was almost unnerving to hear him picking apart every layer of our security, yet part of it proved to be enlightening as well. Every item he mentally noted as a potential weakness, I filed away to discuss with Fritz later.

We needed to remain a step ahead of Lorcan. Because I didn’t trust him.

His mind might imply that he wanted to protect the Sanctuary, not harm it, but I’d learned long ago that thoughts could be deceiving.

Especially when those thoughts belonged to a powerful Alpha.

Lorcan paused and looked at me, his expression darkening. “I think I’ve seen and heard enough,” he told me. “I’ll be back.”

With those ominous words, he vanished once more, leaving me gaping at the vacant spot on the ice.Where the fuck did you go?I demanded, looking around.

He didn’t reply, forcing me to dig into his thoughts for the answer.

Blood Sector, I realized, my eyebrows lifting.Does that mean you’re not staying?

Silence.

But his thoughts seemed to echo his last words at me—I’ll be back.

Perhaps as a taunt.

I shook my head and muttered, “Fine.”

“It’s very muchnotfine,” Fritz retorted as he shadowed into view. He must have been watching us on the security feeds, thus witnessing Lorcan’s disappearing act. “He’s going to be a problem, Kyra.”

“No shit,” I grumbled. “But it’s my problem. I’ll take care of it.”