Page 7 of Slow Heat

“Shh,” his omega soothed him. “He’s a friend.”

Jason didn’t like the sound of that, but his omega’s calming hand on his shoulder was almost as soothing as the alpha-sedative the guards had hit him with.

“How is this possible?” the other alpha asked, and Jason lunged again, but his omega stilled him by pressing him back onto the stretcher. “He can’t be old enough for you.”

“Apparently, he is, Urho,” his omega murmured, stroking his thumb soothingly against Jason’s wrist. Jason shuddered at the lush, velvet heat of his omega’s voice, and he offered up a grateful smile that felt like it was going to melt off his face and slide to the floor. His omega smiled back tentatively, his teeth white and straight, his eyes still glinting with fear. “It’s fine. Don’t say anything more right now.”

Jason tried to get a good look at his omega, but the world was hazing in and out now. He gripped his omega’s fingers and let his eyes fall closed, listening hard to what he could make out around him.

“Name and address where you can be reached for the next few days?” a security guard asked, and Jason peeled his eyes open to see the beta standing close, a notepad in hand, and a serious expression on his face.

“Vale Aman,” his omega said.

Vale.

Such a beautiful name. Jason’s heart constricted and released, a twisting ache that made him gasp.

“You don’t have to give them any information,” Urho interrupted, placing his hand on Vale’s arm, until Vale flinched back from him with a pointed look down at Jason.

“But I do, don’t I?” he said. “It’s the law.”

“He’s just a child. He can’t be yours. He’s too young.”

“Don’t you mean I’m too old?” Vale sighed and closed his eyes, releasing Jason from their spell. “I’m still of child-bearing age. His claim is valid.” His cheeks reddened, and Jason was on fire for him. “Now let me get this over with. I’m Valendo Aman, known as Vale, of 981 Oak Avenue, and I’ll be happy to entertain this young alpha’s parents as the law commands.” He swallowed hard and squeezed Jason’s hand reassuringly. “Is that all?”

“Don’t you want to knowhisname?” Xan asked.

Vale glanced his way, startled. “Yes. I suppose I do.” He gazed down at Jason appraisingly. “And who are you?”

Jason opened his mouth, but the alpha-sedative had made his tongue numb. His lips trembled on an inarticulate groan.

“He’s Jason Sabel, son of Yule Sabel and Miner Hoff. A good family.” Somehow Xan’s tone implied that Jason’s family was better than his omega deserved, and Jason tried to shoot him a glare of warning, but his eyes could barely stay open.

As the guards secured Jason to the stretcher, preparing to take him out of the library, he fought to stare up at Vale, mesmerized by his green eyes.

“And here I thought I was in the clear,” Vale murmured, almost to himself, but Jason heard him clearly through the mess in his head. Vale pressed his bow-shaped mouth into a line and cleared his throat. “It’s not the first time I’ve been wrong. It won’t be the last.”

“You mean you thought you were free,” Xan said, a little nastily, crossing his arms over his chest. Jason slurred a snarl at him, but Xan ignored him. “You hoped your alpha was dead.”

“Hope isn’t quite the word,” Vale said softly, his gaze gratifyingly fixed to Jason’s. “And it appears he’s only slow to arrive.” He smiled down at him, a bitter-tinged, sad thing that Jason wanted to erase and replace with radiance. “Took his time.”

“In what? Getting born?” Xan sneered. “Or maybe you were fast. I bet you’re one ofthoseomegas. I bet you’re not even pure.”

Jason launched at Xan, tugging against the restraints the guards had secured only moments before. He’d pummel his friend, pound him, break his face for his insults.

“Take him,” a security guard called out.

Jason clung to Vale’s fingers, tugging him along, until Vale bent low and whispered, “Let go now.”

Eager to please, Jason dropped Vale’s hand and then crowed in misery as the guards ripped him away, carting him out into the blinding afternoon sun.

CHAPTER THREE

“You deserve better,”Xan said, clenching his jaw. He lounged in the chair beside Jason’s bed in the university health clinic waiting for the alpha-sedative to be cleared from his system and for Jason’s parents to show up. “He’s old. Used up.”

Jason shoved the mop of blond hair off his forehead and glared at Xan. “I will end you if you don’t shut your mouth.”

“Didn’t you see him?” Xan’s lips curled up disdainfully.