The Defiant Omega's Secret Contract of Rejection

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oor of the shri

I had so carefully constructed. Cold wind rushed in, carrying the metallic tang o

afternoon light, a figure I knew as well a

ooked like fresh blood. In his arms, he held another warrior, slighter

morial tablet of my mother, Eleonora Allison. The silk cloth in my hand stilled. I instincti

for an apology, for any sign that he

oration, were now filled with a frantic impatience that cut me deeper than

ot a request. "Stop kneeling! Get ove

va

unknown origins who had joined the knighthood six months a

ough the thin soles of my slippers. "Creed," I said, my voice dangerously

reasonable. "I know that, but it's an eme

as heading for the long, narrow table where I had laid out offerings of incen

, raw and unfamiliar. I lunged forward, spreadin

d. He stopped short, and the person

ane? Move!" Creed's f

ge I hadn't known I possessed. "Do you intend to defile my

frame trembling before the force of Creed's Alpha p

gue with you!" Creed gro

with the other. I grabbed his arm, my nails digging into the hard leather

s arms shifted. The helmet, alr

e. The force of it sent me stumbling backward, my sh

, the warrior's helmet

sto

spilled out, cascading over the s

dged with dirt and blood, was revealed. Deli

d. My eyes widen

vage... wa

ger on his face melted into shock,

ce to lock onto Creed's. I saw the terror in his eyes. I saw the w

ing truth explo

een lyin

the "brother-in-arms" he ch