16. Alina

Strawberry cupcakes are amazing.

It took me a while to finally eat the one Reaper brought me this morning, but once I did, I became obsessed.

I've now had four of them.

Fourcupcakes.

All of them brought to me by a grinning Reaper.

While he might be a bit terrifying, he's also kind of… sweet.

He's lounging on the floor now with his arms tucked behind his head and his long legs crossed at the ankles, his eyes closed. He muttered something about having a nap in his new bed before lying down, then didn't say anything else.

Flame is in the same chair from earlier.

And Orcus is taking a shower.

It's quiet. We've eaten twice. Talked a little bit more. Admired the view from the windows. And discussed possibly seeing more of the city.

Because apparently the Monster City Queen can't meet with the fae until next week.

"She's otherwise indisposed at the moment, sir," Emissary Jones said in the doorway a little over an hour ago.

"Otherwise indisposed when she's the one who requested this meeting?" Flame replied, his incredulity clear in his tone. "Does that mean we're free to go?"

The Emissary cleared his throat. "Our Queen kindly requests patience. She values the opportunity to meet with you and is willing to offer whatever amenities you might require, in an effort to extend your stay."

"And if the amenity I require is freedom?" Reaper drawled.

"You're more than welcome to wander the tower—as I believe you've already done several times now—or venture into the city. Our Queen simply asks that you remain within our municipality until your meeting."

"And if we don't want to stay here?" Orcus asked, his arms folded over his chest. He didn't sound upset or even interested, just bored.

"Then I fear the relations between our two dimensions may not remain as amicable as we all might like."

The words vibrated through the room, causing all three men to stare at the Emissary for a long, tense moment. Even Reaper wore a serious expression, one that bordered on intimidating.

But Emissary Jones didn't startle. He simply stood there, clearly waiting for some sort of verdict from the three fae.

"Please thank the Queen for her ongoing hospitality," Orcus finally said. "Perhaps your concierge could provide a map or a list of local activities for us to enjoy during our visit?"

Emissary Jones grinned. "Yes. I definitely think that could be arranged." He bowed then and took his leave.

All three men studied the door for a beat before exchanging glances.

"We need to remain on friendly terms," Orcus said. "There are more Omegas here. I can feel them. We can't leave until we learn more, and we might need to return."

Flame and Reaper nodded, while I sat on the couch—a spot I seem to have claimed—and pondered what that meant.

Some part of me hated that Orcus wanted to find the other Omegas. It was a part I didn't understand.

A part that still feels miffed now, an hour after the conversation.

Does he want to take these other Omegas as mates?

No. He already said he didn't.

But what if he changes his mind after he finds them?

Who are they? What are they?

Am I really one, too?

The questions all swirl inside my head, making me dizzy.

If I had another cupcake, I would eat it.

Instead, I… stare at the table and continue to volley thoughts back and forth.

"Little panther," Flame murmurs. "Want to go for a walk?"

I blink and glance at him. "What?"

He cants his head toward the suite door. "Want to go explore with me?"

"Us," comes a groggy voice from the floor. "If you're going out, so am I."

"You've been wooing her all day with your damn cupcakes and that cappuccino. It's my turn to romance her," Flame tells him, his gaze returning to mine. "If you want to go."

Reaper grumbles something from the floor but doesn't protest.

And I suddenly find myself very interested in Flame's version of romancing.

I probably shouldn't entertain it.

But what else am I going to do? Sit here and stew in all my uncertainties?

No. I don't want to think anymore. I just want to do something. Be distracted.

And hey, maybe we'll find a proper map while we're out wandering.

Granted, these fae say they know where Chicago is, and Orcus also promised to find out more about it from the Queen.

Can I trust him? Can I trust any of them?

They haven't given me a reason not to thus far. However, we've really only just met. But…

I push to my feet, tired of second-guessing myself and beating up my brain with all these churning thoughts. "Yes," I tell Flame. "I would like to explore."

He smiles. "Excellent." He hops up out of his chair with an elegant grace that I can't replicate. But I join him in standing anyway.

His violet gaze runs over my shirt and jeans—an outfit I changed into earlier, after my second cupcake—and nods. "Just need some shoes. Let me grab them."

He disappears into the bedroom, presumably heading toward the closet.

"Are you sure you don't want to join me for a nap instead?" Reaper asks, gazing up at me from the floor. "Maybe a little cuddle in the bed?"

"If you want to sleep in there, you can," I tell him.

His silver-blue irises sparkle. "Yeah? You don't mind?"

Something about the way he says that seems like it might be a trap. But I really don't see any problem with him resting in there. "No, I don't mind."

He grins. "Beautiful. Thank you."

He disappears before I can respond to his obvious excitement, his propensity for teleporting about no longer fazing me very much. Primarily because he seems to do it every few minutes.

I'm partly hoping he'll return with another cupcake.

But Flame is who I see next, a pair of boots in his hands. He holds them out for me. "Let me know if these don't fit and we'll call the concierge again."

I take the boots and see some socks tucked inside. Something about that makes my lips curl. Maybe because it's a thoughtful addition.

Sitting down again, I slip the items onto my feet while Flame watches, his gaze on my hands. Goose bumps prickle the back of my neck, his observation stirring something inside me.

It's not a sexual look but a protective one. Like he's making sure the boots don't harm me.

When I'm finished, his eyes slowly travel up my body to my face, a flicker of black overtaking the purple irises. It's there and gone so fast that I almost think I imagined it.

"Shall we?" he asks, a smile in his voice.

My lips curl in response, a flutter of excitement touching my chest. It's accompanied by a sensation of relief, too. I'm not trapped. I'm free to leave.

Something about that is instantly gratifying. The fae haven't exactly made me feel like a prisoner, and they've certainly seen to my every comfort, but deep down, I've felt a little caged in.

Because I've spent the last week being told what to do, where to go, and how to dress.

And I was sort of forced to come here, too. Not by the fae, but by the Emissary.

Flame holds out a hand, which I accept, and he leads me out of the room to the elevator.

It's not until we're downstairs and nearing the exit that I finally say, "Don't we need a map?" The Emissary said he would provide us with one, but we haven't received it yet.

"Nah. This might be a different version of the city I know, but the street layout seems to be similar to this area in our Human Realm." He holds open the door for me, a pair of dimples flashing in his cheeks. "Besides, getting lost might be kind of fun."

I'm not sure I agree with his definition of fun, but his enjoyment is infectious.

So I reply with a small smile and step through the door. "Let's go get lost."