Page 125 of Pretty When She Breaks

Me.

Kaos.

Rogue.

Demon.

Monster.

Protector?

Soother?

Safe?

Kaos.

Me.

SIXTY-EIGHT

LAUREL

I woke in the dark, eyes gritty and back aching.

Where was I?

It was dark and warm, and someone was breathing next to me. It slowly came back—getting caught stealing the rofetamine.

Madison’s torture.

As soon as I could slip away, I’d come up here because I needed my nest. Only, someone was already in it. Kaos had been here, staring at me with his dark, orb-like eyes, covered in my blankets.

I should have been furious, but instead, one breath of the way his absinthe and static had mixed with mine in the nest and I’d broken.

I’d practically thrown myself at him, and rather than pushing me away, he’d pulled me close. Held me. Purred. My cheeks heated as I thought of it.

I sat up and looked down at his gaunt face. He shifted, mumbling something in his sleep before settling again.

Whatever. Now we’re even, I thought, edging away from him and hissing in pain with every shift of my arm. I was all right, but I had no idea what had happened to Ocean after his fight. If he was okay.

Finch and Kaos were both quiet in the bond, but Ocean was not. His bond was tense, spilling with a barely contained rage. I slowly made my way down a side passage and dropped into the Duchess Suite. I staggered to my dressing room and fumbled for my first-aid kit, downing some heavy painkillers. I needed to go and see if my alpha was okay, even if it was the middle of the night.

I made my way down to the alpha cages, and a tired-looking Casey let me in.

Ocean was crouched in the corner of his cage, occasionally letting out a keening whine. There was no recognition, no intelligence in his eyes as his head snapped up at my approach. He was acting like the other wounded alphas in here, mind gone and nothing but animal remaining.

As I came closer, everything else seemed to recede.

My world was only him, and he was gone.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

He cocked his head at the sound of my voice, and my chest tightened as I saw his eyes fix on my face. He slowly moved forward in a low crouch, then stood as he approached the bars, never looking away.

He seemed…cautious.

“Ocean?” I asked, pausing for a moment before I stepped up to the bars. He came right up to me, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent.