I lean my forehead against the cool ss, watching the chaos unfold below. From my vantage point in this ridiculous tower, I can see everything. Including Niki barking orders at hisckeys before storming off to dig through storage units himself in search of a suitable toy for me.


    I can’t help but smirk. For someone who ims to be such a fearsome warlord, he’s certainly jumping through hoops over a simple request. Though I have to admit, there’s something almost entertaining about watching him frantically search like a man possessed.


    He’s trying so hard to distract himself. I can see the tension in his shoulders even from up here, the way he keeps running his hands through that stark white hair in frustration.


    My amusement fades as my thoughts drift to Azarel.


    Where is he?


    Why hasn’t hee for me yet?


    The rational part of my brain knows there could be countless reasons. Maybe he doesn’t know where I am. Maybe he’s nning some borate rescue.


    Or maybe… he really has abandoned me.


    He certainly hasn’t died.


    I’m sure I would feel that, somehow.


    I shake my head, refusing to follow that train of thought. Instead, I focus on the scene below, my eyes drawn inevitably to the pit where my nightmare has taken physical form.


    Except the pit looks different now.


    Where before it was roughly circr, now one section stretches out like a reaching finger.


    A big fuck you to Niki, perhaps?


    I’m not sure if the monster is even sentient enough for that—I don’t think sentient beings eat omegas, at least not alive—but I appreciate the artistry, either way. But the Knight isn’t wing at the earth in a random direction.


    He’s working his way steadily toward the tower.


    Toward me.


    Of course he is.


    I press my palm against the ss, watching as those haunting blue eyes lift to meet mine across the distance. Even from here, I can feel the intensity of his gaze. The connection that’s always existed between us, the one I’ve spent years trying to deny.


    Trying to fight.


    ‘You’re reallying for me, aren’t you?’ I whisper against the ss.


    The thought should terrify me. This is the monster that’s haunted my dreams for so long, the demon that’s torn me apart countless times in my nightmares.


    But there’s something different now. Something has shifted since I saw him in the flesh.


    The terror is still there, yes, but mixed with something else. Something that feels almost like… recognition.


    Like meeting someone you’ve known your whole life for the very first time.


    Which is so fucked up.


    I watch as his metal ws tear into the earth with renewed vigor, and I can’t help but wonder…


    Has he been dreaming about me too?


    Amotion below draws my attention back to Niki. He’s thrown something—probably at one of his men—and is now storming off toward another storage unit.


    Despite myself, I feel my lips twitch.


    For an alpha who ims not to care, he’s certainly working himself into quite a state.


    But my eyes are drawn back to the pit like a ma. To the Knight. To those glowing blue eyes that never seem to leave me. Even if he shouldn’t be able to see me from where he is, through these tinted windows, somehow, it feels like he can.


    I arrange the couch pillows in my makeshift nest, trying to get them just right. Nothing feels right. The fabric is too rough, the stuffing too lumpy.


    But it’s better than nothing, I suppose.


    My skin feels like it’s on fire, every nerve ending screaming for relief. I haven’t had a heat in… how long has it been? The pills my father forced on me kept them at bay for so long, I’d almost forgotten what it feels like. The desperate need, the aching emptiness, the way even the softest fabric feels like sandpaper against my oversensitive skin.


    I nce around the tower room, taking in my surroundings with fresh eyes. It’s not terrible, I have to admit. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the airfield below, if the memory of long haul travel is your particr kink. And there’s a certain stark beauty to the industrial architecture,plimented by asional salvaged statues and paintings that look like Niki might have taken them from museums. Raiders don’t usually go for art.


    But it’s far from the luxury I’m used to.


    Then again, Monty’s mansion is the height of luxury, with its marble floors and crystal chandeliers, and I hated every moment I spent there. At least here, I don’t have to pretend to be the perfect omega wife, politely epting whatever scraps of attention my ‘mate’ deigns to give me.


    A wave of need crashes over me, making me gasp. I press my thighs together, trying to find some relief, but it’s useless. My earlier attempts at self-pleasure left me even more frustrated than before.


    Something’s missing.


    And I know exactly what it is.


    Or rather, who.


    But Azarel isn’t here.


    Every hour that passes leaves me wondering if he ever will be.


    The elevator dings, but I barely nce up as Niki strides in. His scent hits me immediately. Blood and steel. I hate how my body responds to it, how it makes the emptiness inside me throb with need.


    ‘Did you bring what I asked for?’ I ask, deliberately keeping my tone bored as I continue arranging pillows.


    I hear him growl, the sound sending an unwanted shiver down my spine. ‘I’m working on it,’ he snaps. ‘This isn’t exactly a shopping district.’


    Finally, I turn to look at him and see he’s carrying an armful of nkets. They look softer than the ones I’ve been working with, at least. Without a word, he dumps them onto the edge of my nest.


    ‘How thoughtful,’ I say dryly. ‘The warlord’s version of a care package.’


    His jaw clenches and I catch a glimpse of sharp canines. ‘You’re wee, princess,’ he growls. ‘Would you prefer I throw you back in the basement?’


    I blink. ‘Did you do those yourself?’


    His smug expression drops. ‘Did I what?’


    ‘The teeth,’ I say, pointing to my own incisors to show him what I mean. ‘Did you file them like that?’


    His eyes narrow and I can tell he’s not sure how to respond to that. ‘So what if I did?’


    I burst outughing before I can stop myself, which only seems to infuriate him more. At least I’mughing too hard to focus on the dull, increasing ache of my heat. ‘Oh, my god. You can’t be serious.’


    ‘Fuck off!’ he snaps. ‘They look good.’


    Now I’mughing so hard I copse on the edge of my nest. ‘Shit,’ I choke, doubled over. My eyes are brimming with tears, and I can barely see the furious expression on his face. I wipe tears from my eyes as I try to catch my breath between fits ofughter. ‘I’m picturing you with a nail file, trying to get them even… worrying you’ve gone too far…’


    ‘That’s enough,’ Niki growls, but there’s something different in his tone now. A dangerous edge that should probably make me stop.


    But I can’t help myself. ‘Did you practice your scary face afterwards? Give yourself a little pep talk about being the big bad alpha?’


    He stalks closer to my nest, his scent growing stronger with each step. ‘You’re ying with fire, princess.’


    ‘Am I?’ I challenge, tilting my chin up defiantly. ‘What are you going to do about it? sh those fangs you worked so hard on?’


    That strikes a nerve. ‘Careful what you wish for, little psycho. You might find out exactly how sharp they are.’


    ‘Is that supposed to be a threat or a promise?’ The words slip out before I can stop them, my heat making me reckless.


    The air between us crackles with something I don’t want to dignify by naming. Niki takes another step closer, close enough now that I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.


    ‘That depends entirely on you, princess.’


    ‘On me?’ I echo, hating how breathless I sound.


    His lips curve into a predatory smile that shows off those ridiculous filed fangs. ‘On whether you keep pushing me until I snap, or if you finally admit that you don’t find me nearly as repulsive as you pretend to.’


    I bare my teeth at him in return. ‘I’d rather kiss the Knight.’


    ‘Would you now?’ He leans down, bracing his hands on either side of me. His scent surrounds me, making it hard to think straight. ‘I think you’re just scared.’


    ‘Of you?’ Iugh, but ites out shaky.


    ‘Not of me,’ he purrs. ‘Of how much you want me. Of how good we could be together if you weren’t such a stuck up?—’


    He cuts himself off when I grab the front of his shirt, fully intending to push him away. But I hold onto him instead. ‘You’re delusional.’


    ‘Am I?’ His voice drops lower, rougher. ‘Then why are you pulling me closer?’


    I freeze, realizing he’s right. Without conscious thought, I’ve been drawing him nearer, until our faces are mere inches apart. I can feel the heat radiating off his body.


    ‘I hate you,’ I whisper, but the wordsck conviction.


    His smile widens. ‘Keep telling yourself that. Maybe eventually you’ll believe it.’


    ‘You’re insufferable,’ I snarl, my fingers still twisted in his shirt.


    His lips curve into that infuriating smirk. ‘And you’re not pushing me away.’


    Something in me snaps. Before I can think better of it, I lunge forward. My teeth catch his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. The taste hits my tongue—metallic and dangerous, exactly like his scent—and a shock runs through my entire body.


    I freeze, horror washing over me as I realize what I’ve done.


    I just bit him.


    Like some feral animal.


    I bit the most dangerous alpha in the Outer Reaches.


    He’s going to fucking kill me.


    But Niki doesn’t pull away in rage like I expect. Instead, his hand tangles in my hair and he crushes his mouth to mine. The kiss is bruising, desperate, filled with all the fury and frustration that’s been building between us.


    Maybe I should stop this, but I don’t want to. My hands move of their own ord anyway, tearing at his shirt until buttons scatter across the floor. My nails rake down his back, drawing angry red lines across his skin. He hisses against my mouth but doesn’t break the kiss.


    ‘Careful,’ he growls against my lips. ‘I just might bite back.’


    When his hands settle on my hips, he pauses to look down at me, his gaze darkening as he takes me in. A hint of curiosity enters it as he brushes his fingertips over my omega mark on my right hip. “I was wondering where this was. Figures the ice princess would have it somewhere unique.”


    ‘Shut up,’ I snarl, dragging my nails up his spine just to spite him.


    The rumble that escapes his chest is more animal than human. His hands grip my hips hard enough to bruise as he presses closer. I can feel how much he wants this—wants me—and the knowledge sends a thrill through me that I refuse to examine too closely.


    ‘Make me,’ he challenges.


    So I do, capturing his mouth again in another savage kiss. There’s nothing gentle about it. Nothing sweet or romantic. This is a battle, like everything else between us, and I intend to win.


    His hands slide up my sides, cooling everywhere he touches, but only briefly. I arch into his touch without meaning to, and feel his smirk against my lips.


    ‘Shut up,’ I growl again, even though he hasn’t said anything. His smugness is radiating off him in waves.


    ‘Still haven’t heard you deny wanting this,’ he purrs.


    I grab his stupid red sses and throw them across the room. ‘I’m not making out with a man who wears sunsses indoors,’ I say when I see the rage sh in his eyes.


    Well, one of them.


    The other is too ssy and perfect, even if it’s nearly the same exact color as his right. My eyes widen slightly as I realize the extent of the jagged scar that cuts down through his eye and all the way through his mouth on the other side.


    ‘You have a ss eye?’ I ask, surprised.


    ‘Anyone ever tell you you suck at forey, princess?’ he asks, pinning my wrists to the bed.


    My breath rushes out as he pins me with his body, too, his hard muscle pressing down on my soft curves. I’m squirming against him in spite of myself, my dripping wet pussy grinding up against him, desperate for more than whatever toy he sent his minions out to procure.


    Not that I’m going to let him have it.


    Alphas take what they want. They’re all the same. Maybe Azarel isn’t, but he’s always been different. Weird. Like he doesn’t even belong on the same. But I like to know where they stand regardless. Up here in his tower, Niki can do whatever he wants to me, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop him.


    Why the fuck do I want to find out if he’ll stop?


    I know he won’t.


    He’s an alpha.


    ‘It was an observation, not an insult,’ I say, more breathless than I’d like. ‘Don’t tell me the infamous Niki kov is sensitive.’


    That hits its mark, too. Good. I want him angry. I want to see that carefully constructed mask of control shatter.


    Before I can taunt him further, his mouth crashes down on mine. The kiss is bruising, punishing. His teeth nip at my lower lip, then my throat, just not hard enough to draw blood. As if he wants to taunt me with control Ick.


    ‘If you fucking mark me—’ I growl, pulling away.


    He gives me azy grin, shing a sharp fang. ‘I didn’t.’


    I wrest my hands free from his grip and shove him off me.


    ‘You’re certainly feisty,’ he says, swiping at the blood on his mouth with the back of his hand.


    My hand flies up to my neck instinctively. Did he bite me that hard? But there’s nothing there. Not on my lips, either.


    “Rx. I didn’t mark you,” he mutters, sounding genuinely irritated as he sinks onto the bed beside me. The bulge in his pants is obvious. So why isn’t he being pushier? He’s plenty cocky enough to try.


    ‘You sure came close,’ I say, checking again.


    Just in case.


    My heart’s hammering in my chest as it sinks in just how close he came. Alphas can take everything else from me, but so far, none have tried toy their mark on me. None have tried to im me.


    Then again, neither has Azarel.


    ‘I may not have a toy yet, but I could help take the edge off,’ Niki says, watching me like a hungry wolf. A hungry arctic wolf, to be specific.


    ‘I’d rather wait for the toy,’ I say dryly.


    His eyes narrow slightly, but to my surprise, he doesn’t immediately attack me. Before I can process it, a distant cry echoes through the tower, making us both freeze.


    What the hell was that?


    ‘Pants!’


    I look up, hearing the frantic shout getting closer, seeminglying from the direction of the elevator.


    ‘Pants!’


    The sound is closer now, more distinct.


    And desperate.


    Like a ghost rising up the elevator shaft.


    ‘Is there someone in the fucking elevator?’ I ask, bewildered.


    Niki curses under his breath, leaping off the bed and straightening his rumpled shirt as the elevator doors slide open to reveal Lex, who has her hands dramatically pped over her eyes.


    ‘PANTS!’ she yells again.


    ‘Are you fucking serious?’ Niki snarls.


    I grab the nearest nket, wrapping it around myself as I scramble to my feet. The cool air hits my overheated skin, helping clear my head slightly.


    ‘I tried to warn you I wasing,’ Lex grimaces. ‘Ew, god, I hope you weren’t?—’


    ‘I wasn’t,’ he snaps.


    ‘But you weren’t answering your fucking radio!’ Lex cries.


    Niki lets out a hiss of breath through his teeth and rakes a hand through his disheveled white hair. ‘What do you want?’ Niki demands. ‘If you thought we were fucking and you still blew in here, it’d better be the most important news of your life—and by that, I mean more nukes are dropping.’


    Lex gestures hastily toward the window. ‘We’ve got a code silver.’


    Niki blinks, his brow furrowing in confusion. ‘What the fuck is that?’


    ‘See for yourself,’ Lex says grimly.


    Niki stalks over to the window, and I watch as all the color drains from his face at whatever he sees below. ‘Holy shit,’ he mutters.


    Curiosity gets the better of me and I join him at the window, clutching my makeshift toga closer. It doesn’t take long to realize what they’re freaking out about.


    The Knight is much closer to the tower than before.


    ‘Wow, he’s made a lot of progress,’ I observe casually.


    Niki spins on me, his mismatched eyes zing. ‘You knew about this and didn’t say anything?’


    I shrug, affecting an air of innocence. ‘You didn’t ask.’


    ‘Didn’t ask?’ he splutters. ‘How long has he been doing this?’


    ‘Since this morning, I think?’ I tap my chin thoughtfully. ‘It’s been entertaining to watch, actually. Not that there’s been anything else to do but look at your shitty art.’


    ‘Entertaining?’ Niki’s voice rises an octave. ‘He’s trying to tunnel his way to the tower!’


    ‘Well, yes, obviously,’ I say, as if exining something to a particrly clueless child. ‘He’s not digging his way to the market to find a toy for me, is he?’


    I give a satisfied smirk as Niki’s face contorts with barely contained rage. His scent spikes with alpha pheromones, making my head swim despite my best efforts to appear unaffected.


    Fuck, I hate this alpha.


    ‘We’ll finish thister,’ he growls before grabbing his sses and stalking toward the elevator.


    I’m honestly not sure if he means getting me out of my heat, or him fighting with me for not telling him about the Knight. That’s one thing I never thought I’d do. Fight with an alpha. At least not in an arguing way. They usually just find some other way to shut me up.


    To Niki’s credit, he didn’t hit me.


    It’s bare fucking minimum, but still. Credit.


    I arch an eyebrow, keeping my voice deliberately light. ‘Will we though?’


    He ignores me, turning to Lex instead. ‘Are youing or not?’


    Lex takes an exaggerated step back. ‘I’ll catch the next one. You’re pumping out enough alpha musk to choke a bear, and I just had nachos I’d like to keep down.’


    Niki’s jaw clenches so hard I can hear his teeth grinding. Without another word, he steps into the elevator. As the doors slide closed, I catch onest glimpse of his furious expression.


    An awkward silence falls over the room as the elevator hums, Lex not-so-subtly mashing the call button to the point I wouldn’t be surprised if it jams.


    Now that’s a thought.


    I’m acutely aware that I’m still only wearing a nket, and that the entire ce reeks of arousal—both his and mine. My heat isn’t helping matters, making every nerve ending feel like a live wire.


    Lex clears her throat. ‘So… sorry about interrupting whatever freaky shit you?—’


    I cut her off by wordlessly pointing at the elevator doors as they slide open again. She takes the hint immediately, slipping inside with onest awkward stare in my direction before the doors close.


    Finally alone, I let out a frustrated growl and throw myself back onto my nest. The impact sends Niki’s scent wafting up from the torn pieces of his coat woven throughout the nkets and pillows, and I have to resist the urge to bury my face in it.


    What the hell was I thinking?


    On one hand, I should be relieved the interruption came when it did. Getting intimate with my captor is probably not the wisest move, especially when said captor is the most dangerous warlord in the Outer Reaches. Not to mention the fact that I hate him.


    My body throbs with unfulfilled need, the ache between my thighs almost unbearable now. I can still taste his blood on my tongue from when I bit him, still feel the ghost of his fangs on my throat.


    ‘Fuck,’ I groan into the empty room, pressing my thighs together.


    This is torture.


    Part of me hopes the Knight seeds at tearing down the tower and puts me out of my misery, because if I’m actually desperate enough to crave Niki fucking kov’s cock, I’ve passed the point of no return.