Chapter 20
TWENTY
JEWEL
“Happy birthday,” Dax said, dropping down onto my bed. Ascend had gotten a lot more tolerable since I’d earned my own room, despite the fact it only locked from the outside.
As usual, Madison lurked silently behind him. What was not usual was that he was watching the conversation with interest. I raised an eyebrow at him. Prince slunk in, a nasty smile on his face, his phone in recording position.
Great.
Prince’s phone plus Madison actually paying attention?
That meant something particularly unpleasant was about to happen.
“Haha,” I replied, turning back to my magazine.
“No, seriously. Prince told me. June ninth, right?” He pulled a box from his pocket and held it out to me. It had a bow on it and everything.
I eyed it suspiciously.
Every single scrap of comfort I’d gained since coming to Ascend had been hard-won, and I doubted Dax had got me a present out of the goodness of his heart.
“I don’t even know how old I am.” I put the magazine aside and took the box.
“Twenty-three.” Prince sounded smug.
Well, shit.
That meant I’d been stuck in here for almost four years.
I tried not to think about that. I was planning my escape, but it was taking so fucking long.
Laurel had been on her own that whole time. She probably thought I was actually dead at this point. Prince loved telling me about the scene she’d made at my funeral, accusing Father of making it up.
And Jade?
Four years of thinking what I’d said to her was true. Four years for her to move on, to fall in love with someone else.
If she had, I’d fucking kill them.
Jade was mine, and I would do whatever it took to have her again.
“You gonna open it?” Dax asked.
I realized I’d been staring at the box. “Just trying to guess what it is.” I ran my nails into the sides of the box to cut through the tape and gave him a smile. “A puppy, maybe?”
If it was, I’d strangle the thing myself.
Spare it the misery of rotting away in this little slice of paradise.
Dax chuckled as I flipped open the box. It was a little syringe of dark fluid, the label written in some European language.
“What’s this?” I asked, picking up the syringe. A narcotic? Maybe Dax had decided he wanted to try and get me hooked again. Or maybe it was some hallucinogenic, and Prince was here to film me tripping out.
“This is going to make you into a proper omega,” Dax said, his infuriating little smirk playing on his face.
I sat up, a sharp edge of fear piercing my heart.
It was one of those rare times when I had no fucking clue what he was talking about.
That scared me.
I was supposed to anticipate Dax’s every move. I was supposed to know him inside and out, so I could stay one step ahead of him.
Why didn’t I know what he was talking about?
“This.” Dax took the syringe from my hands. His eyes slid to mine, a dangerous gleam in them. “Will trigger your heat.”
I froze and could feel the blood drain from my face. Madison’s smile deepened.
Fuck, no.
That was the one thing I had left.
The one favour my body had done me since I’d perfumed. Physically, I was all omega, but something didn’t work right. I’d never had a heat.
“Come on,” I said to Dax, sliding over to him and nipping his ear. I trailed my hand up his thigh. “We don’t need that. You know your wish is my command.”
Madison’s hand was on my face in a second, his aura splitting the air as he slammed me down into the bed. He wasn’t pressing hard enough to suffocate me, but I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t talk.
My heart was rabbiting in my chest, and my scent was souring.
I hated this. That I had to pretend to be so weak.
Madison grunted, eyes raking up and down my frame. Dax laughed and leaned over me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“You’re such a fucking tease, Jewel,” he said in a low voice.
My breaths were coming in pants, and I wanted to tear his fucking throat out; what did he mean, a tease?
I’d given them everything.
My fingers twitched, itching to try and claw my way out, but I couldn’t fight them. I needed to keep playing Dax’s game, so he’d take me back to Laurel.
Back to Jade.
He stared down at me with his sunken eyes.
When he spoke, it was in a whisper. “You think you’re so good, don’t you?
That I don’t see your act. But I do. You come so close.
So close, but you never truly give me what I want.
I want you desperate for me, Jewel. I want to see it in your eyes.
I’ve waited so patiently for your heat, but it seems your body needs a little push. ”
He nodded to Madison, who moved his hand off my mouth. I was still pinned by his forearm across his chest. I could only watch as Dax picked up the syringe, tapping it on my shoulder.
“I think you've forgotten your lines. This is the part where my little omega whore submits. Flirts. Tells me how much he looks forward to having his heat.”
He was right—words had been dancing in my mind, ready to appease him.
But this time, they got stuck in my throat.
“No? Nothing? Shame. Here we go, Jewel.”
The needle sank into my arm.
?
Dax had locked the door behind him after he’d given me the shot.
I could feel it burning in my bloodstream, making my head pound as it gripped me. I was dripping with sweat, desperately hoping it wouldn’t work.
I gritted my teeth and started pacing, trying to work off the jittery energy building inside me.
It was starting, I knew it.
The twisting of my stomach and the tightening of my muscles. Everything felt sensitive; light was getting too bright, my footsteps were too loud, and suddenly everything I was wearing felt like sandpaper against my skin.
I held out as long as I could, but eventually it was unbearable. I tore off my clothes, squeezing my eyes shut. The cool air hitting my skin was a brief reprieve, but it didn’t last long.
My dick was throbbing, heat building in my core. I felt so empty. It was all I could think about.
I needed some relief. I cried out as the first wave, the cramps forcing me to my knees, stabbed into my abdomen. Slick was dripping down my legs, and my cock was painfully hard.
This was my worst nightmare, trapped here with these wolves.
Sex was power.
And if it wasn’t mine, it was theirs.
I couldn’t let it be theirs.
I lifted my head, my eyesight blurring. The room radiated wrongness. I was far too exposed, far too uncomfortable.
I didn’t move to fix it, though.
It couldn’t be fixed.
I needed to surrender, and that was impossible here.
My face was wet with tears as I curled in on myself.
I closed my eyes, wishing I could be somewhere else.
Years ago, we’d made our own secret place in the rafters of the Blood Well.
The only place completely free from my father’s reach.
I could almost feel the soft cushions we’d piled on the benches.
It had always been dim, lit by dull Edison bulbs and string lights.
The only place in my life that was marked by warmth and laughter.
But most important of all, it was where I’d see her. My lips moved in a prayer. “Jade.”
Lounging on the couch cushions or curled up in the hammock.
Sitting next to me, resting her feet in my lap.
Hands combing through my hair. We’d flirt or tease, ever dancing along the edge of admitting our feelings.
It had been a competition, just like everything with her.
Daring each other, seeing who could push the furthest. Not wanting to be the first one to say it. So stupid. I’d wasted my time with her.
“Jade,” I whispered, my voice shaking.
My life had been divided; the times I was not with her had been dull and lifeless, waiting for the vibrant breath of life she’d bring. Yet now it had been so long without her.
“Jade. Jade. I need you.”
She’d come if I needed her. She’d complain and grumble, but I could always count on her. I needed her now; it had been too long without her.
She’d soothe me. She’d run her hands over my skin and push me back onto the cool floor. She’d slide down onto my aching cock and help me find this relief.
I would surrender to her, and everything would be alright.
Only she could be my salvation.
“Who the fuck is Jade?”
My head whipped up at the sound of the voice. I wasn’t alone anymore; there were alphas in the room with me. Their scents cut through the air, and I whined as I was ripped from my safe place. Alphas weren’t safe.
Never.
Alphas were that sick knot of tension in your gut, the feeling of always looking over your shoulder.
I had no power here.
“What do you think, Jewel? You good and ready for me now?”
A figure crouched in front of me, hand outstretched toward my face.
His fingers brushed my cheek.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” I snarled, scrambling backward until I hit the wall. Panic was coursing through me. The cramps were like a knife, twisting inside me and dragging a scream from my lips.
“Get the fuck away! WHERE’S JADE!?”
The alpha grabbed my arm, his aura splitting the air as he dragged me back over to him. “You’re in heat. You need me,” he growled.
My nails scrabbled against his skin, drawing wet, sticky blood. I twisted and bucked, and when that didn’t work, I sank my teeth into flesh.
With his hands off me, I felt like I could breathe again.
“JADE! JADE!” I screamed, the words scraping out of my throat. Where was she? Why wasn’t she coming?
A weight pressed down on me, and I howled. The scent of copper and smoke burned my nose, making me gag.
I was nothing but need. I was so hot, I was going to burn up. I was sure of only one thing; I could not yield without her. Perhaps I would die because of it. I felt like I was dying.
“GET THE FUCK OFF ME! JADE!” I couldn’t breathe, and my skin was burning hotter and hotter. A tingling sensation tore through me, like my body was being shocked and every nerve ending lit up. My stomach turned because I was falling and falling and I felt so tense…
My vision blacked out.
I blinked awake, my eyelids feeling gritty.
Now, along with the unrelenting pain, every part of me felt heavy. I tried to thrash but only managed to twitch my limbs.
Someone stumbled toward me, and I couldn’t make them out in the light. They weren’t built like an alpha.
“Jade?” I croaked.
The face swam into view. Not Jade. Another omega, with golden eyes and rich, brown skin. His scent was familiar, though, and non-threatening.
Cold fingers pressed against my neck. He looked slightly panicked.
“Fuck! We gonna need an IV. How many seizures you said he had?”
His voice was familiar too. I knew him. There was a prick in my arm, and then a blessed coolness spreading from that spot.
“Synth?” My voice slurred as my vision swam. I wasn’t sure if my face was wet with sweat or tears. I swallowed and tried again. “Synth. It’s all wrong.”
A cool hand rested on my face. “I know, I’m sorry—”
I struggled, coming to a bit more. “I need Jade.” I tried to sit up.
“Hol’ up babygirl. Don’t try an’ get up now, mmkay?”
“No, I need her.” My voice was growing ragged. Desperate. “Get her. Jade.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
The alpha’s voice again. Fucking Dax. It was hard to breathe, now, as terror sliced through me.
Right now, I was alone and it wasn’t safe.
“What’s wrong is you trynna play god. There’s a reason he ain’t had his heat,” Synth snapped.
There was a sharp crack and an inhale of pain. I whimpered.
“Careful, whore,” Dax growled. “You’re here to treat him, not run your mouth.”
Synth’s breathing was ragged, and I felt his hand on my arm again.
“Then how ’bout you leave me to it? Instead of getting in my way.”
I wasn’t sure what was happening, but Jade wasn’t here. Every second without her was agony. Another wave of cramps hit me, and any lucidity I’d had escaped me.
I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but the golden-eyed omega didn’t get Jade.
I slipped in and out of consciousness, and sometimes a cold numbness would spread up my arm and give me peace for a while.
“Dammit, Jewel.” Hands were shaking me. “Stay with me.”
“Synth?” I croaked. My eyes felt heavy and scratchy.
“That’s it, darlin’. Don’t you dare die on me now. You think I want Prince come cryin’ to me every time he gets drunk?”
A smile twitched on my lips. “He cries so much. It’s really pathetic.”
“I’d kill myself. I don’t know how you deal with that.”
“I’m pretty special,” I slurred.
“Yeah.”
Something soft pressed against my cheek, there and gone in a moment.
I was drifting into the blackness.