Page 145 of Pretty When She Breaks

A partial truth. One that he’d take as a victory and not press further on, I hoped.

Dax’s face split into a grin. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?” he said, removing his hand from my shoulder. “Since you’ve proved you can play nice, I’ve got a deal for you. Soon, you’re going to be mine. And I can promise you a lot more pain if I ever catch you lying to my face again.”

“Is that so?” I asked mildly.

“I’m sure Madison would be delighted to see that happen. But we’ll both have a lot more fun in this little game if you play by my rules.”

“So, you only call off your mutt if I’m a good little omega?”

“Oh, I can’t promise that, darling.” His smile grew. “But I can keep you high as a kite so you don’t feel a thing.”

I could sense Kaos’s anger and disgust mirroring my own but forced myself to calm. His threats weren’t worth a response—not tonight, anyway.

“Your choice, sweetheart,” Dax said, turning back to his drink.

SEVENTY-NINE

FINCH

I was sitting at a table next to Soren, watching my mate being felt up by someone else. I had no choice but to sit quietly, even though I was itching to take Laurel out of here. That was probably a bad plan, though, considering how I’d lost it in the back room.

I didn’t know what had come over me.

Just before the party, I’d practically been blasted by lust and ecstasy through the bond. Kaos had been giving off a good mood all day, better than I’d ever felt from him, but I hadn’t realized it was because he’d embraced Laurel until that moment.

I’d been just about to step out the door, but had been stopped in my tracks, distracted by unbidden thoughts of them together.

Tonight, she didn’t look like the Crimson Duchess. She looked like herself—gorgeous, face glowing, golden hair tumbling down her shoulders. Like a goddess, and I’d lostcontrol in that back room, surrounded by her scent and the reminder of her arousal.

And she’d shut me down.

Of course, she had.

The fact it made sense didn’t make the disappointment any less bitter. The first time I’d let myself consider a future with an omega for years, and I’d messed it up.

“What a cute little party,” Soren commented, drawing me from my thoughts. “You should smile, Daniel, or people might think you’re not having fun.”

Soren seemed to be very much enjoying the pretence that we knew each other, and I had to play along. If I risked offending him, he could ruin my cover.

“What are you even doing here?” I asked him. “Isn’t this kind of event way beneath you?”

“Oh, hush,” Soren said. “Laurel’s a dear friend, and I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

He caught Thaddeus’s eye from across the room and waved. Thaddeus gave a single nod back. Soren leaned back, crossing his legs.

“Oh, that slimy bastard hates me,” he said gleefully, taking a sip from his glass.

“He does?” I asked, confused. Wasn’t I here because Soren had asked Thaddeus a favour?

“Oh, yes. His poor little brain is a touch undeveloped, and he never really grasped the concept that male omegas are supposed to exist. And there’s no power in the world quite like knowing someone absolutely despises you and yet has to make nice. Isn’t that right, Wilder?”

He shot a smug look at his bodyguard, a young alpha with dark curls who had been standing stifflybehind us the whole time.

“I wouldn’t know,” Wilder said in a carefully neutral tone. “You’d be better off asking Ebony.”

“Touché,” Soren said, sourness seeping into his voice for a second.

It was gone when he turned back to me.