Bonus Scene #3
“We sent people out to round up her known followers as soon as we could after Astrea’s win yesterday, but they all seem to have disappeared,” Eriko explains, his paws clenching into fists on the table.
“Surely someone can track them.” I wrap my arm around Echo in an attempt to soothe him like Masi is for Jalin. He shudders against my chest, and I feel his tears drip onto my fur.
“Last night’s blizzard made it impossible. Even our best trackers were unable to catch their scents,” my mother admits forlornly.
“So what do you want us to do? I could give it a go,” I offer, but my mother shakes her head.
“No, this morning we got word from Eric Adams. His granddaughter recovered, and she was able to shed some light on the situation with information she gleaned from Natalia during their fight. Apparently, Domo is not the only male omega Mazlan has kidnapped. All of the male omegas who were presumed dead after they went missing are being held in a facility and are actively being milked for pheromones. Mazlan and her little group have been selling it on the black market. Eric said the warlock will return to Iceen to help us search and recover them. Apparently, he has magic that will be useful.”
Fury like no other blazes through me. That evil, conniving bitch.
I know of at least twenty male omegas who were thought to have been killed since I was a child, and all this time, she has been abusing them.
It is criminal, and I wish we could resurrect her just so we can make her suffer more than she did.
“Yes, it was his magic that allowed us to locate where you were contained as soon as we arrived. He will find them, I can promise you that,” I assure her, lightning sparking from my tail in anger.
My confirmation seems to help Jalin immensely, and she settles, swiping a paw across her face as she composes herself.
“Then the Galaxy Circus is a true friend to the lightning cats,” she murmurs reverently.
“Yes, which brings me to why I called both of you here,” my mother begins, but I interrupt her before she can continue.
“Echo and I have decided to leave the circus and live permanently on Iceen,” I announce, but Echo stiffens in my arms. He looks up at me, his mouth open in surprise.
“What?” he asks, but before I can reassure him, my mother growls, bringing my attention back to her.
“You will not,” she declares. “Lila Adams won the right to mate both of you when she stepped in for Echo, and we will honor her win, not to mention she is the first whisperer we have seen in many years. We would like to show any others who may be hiding that we will welcome any of them and would approve if they chose to join our society. I will allow you to stay until Domo and the others have been located, but you will journey to Skar as soon as possible and take your place by your new mate’s side. ”
My heart races, and a bolt of lightning spears from my tail.
Thankfully the room has a lightning rod in the roof, and the bolt dissipates into it, preventing damage to anyone or anything.
I bare my fangs and shake my head as I start to argue, but she holds up one hand and stares at me, her eyes narrowed fiercely.
“It will be my first declaration as matriarch, Maxsim, and I will hear no argument from you. We are creatures of honor, and I will not allow you to make us look bad. Get over whatever your issue is with the circus and be a good mate to Lila Adams. We owe them so much.”
Echo’s tears have dried up, and he struggles out of my arms and puts a paw to his chest, bowing his head toward my mother. “As you will it, Matriarch,” he agrees without even looking at me. I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the chest at how swiftly he agreed without even discussing it with me.
“Good, now go. The warlock will arrive shortly, and I want you to accompany him when he does.” My mother dismisses us, and Echo turns and leaves without even waiting for me.
I hiss at my mother, not hiding my displeasure before I follow after him. When I catch up, I scent his mood again. This time, he is pissed off and angry, and I grab his paw and pull him to a stop.
“What was that?” I ask, stabbing a finger toward the council building. “You didn’t even discuss it with me before you agreed to everything my mother demanded.” I can’t hide the hurt in my voice, but Echo just glares at me and yanks his paw away.
“Just like you didn’t even discuss staying on Iceen with me. I assumed we were making unilateral decisions for one another,” he spits out before shifting and loping off toward our den. I run a frustrated hand through my mane and groan.
Fuck, he’s right. I did make a decision without discussing it with him.
I guess I deserve everything I get. I’m a terrible mate, so it’s no wonder he’s open to being gifted to the Earth girl so eagerly.
I need to figure out how to make this up to him, and I don’t have much time before Xavier arrives to help us search for the male omegas.
I would really like to show a united front when he does.
I hurry after my omega in the hope we can make up before the warlock arrives, because he can sniff out emotions, and we aren’t going to be able to hide anything from him.