5. Orcus

Don't do it,I tell myself. She's just a girl. She means nothing. Just an Offering.

There are more important things at stake here. Tasks that need to be handled. Other items to focus on.

And yet…

I can't shake the vision of that dark-haired beauty from my head. Those stunning near-black eyes are engraved in my memory.

Fuck.

I close my eyes, determined to forget her. But that only makes this craving worse. It's like she's haunting me, her features so Goddess-like that I'm questioning my own sanity.

She's a human. Not an Omega.

Maybe it was her petite frame that has my knot pulsing with this foreign need. That too-pale skin—an alarming contrast to the sun illuminating her alluring form.

I rub my temple, wishing I could somehow erase the female from my mind. But it's impossible. She's been lingering in my thoughts all fucking week. Showcasing in my dreams. Dancing around in my mind during my waking hours.

It's an obsession.

A curse.

I wince, my fingers curling into fists.

What is with this female?I wonder. It's like I can already feel her dainty fingers stroking my cock, her lips imprinting on my neck, her teeth sinking into my skin.

It's fucking lunacy.

"She's not mine," I say to my reflection in the mirror. "No fucking way. It's impossible."

My eyes flash red in response, overtaking the black hues and allowing my Alpha traits to shine through. I can almost hear a purr rumbling to life, my baser instincts threatening to take over.

Hunt. Mount. Claim. Rut.

My teeth grind together as I fight the urge and again tell myself that she's human.

I haven't even scented her yet.

Only seen her.

Yet that seems to be enough to scatter my instincts and send me into a mating frenzy.

"This is ridiculous," I mutter, shaking my head and shoving away from the bathroom mirror.

I'm naked.

Because of course I'm fucking naked.

It's too damn hot for clothes, and all I want to do is stroke myself to completion. With thoughts of that woman staring up at me with those deep, dark eyes. Taking my cock between her plump lips. Sucking me all the way to my knot.

A groan strangles my throat as my palm lands on my marbled wall. "Enough."

I need to prove to myself that this girl is just human. And not fucking mine.

That voice in my head—the one demanding just minutes ago to not do this—is instantly drowned out by my whispering the portal incantation. Only, I add a subtle flare to the magic now, one that has my magic seeking out the female tormenting my every thought.

That I'm able to bring her into view so easily is… damning. Because I shouldn't be able to do that. I should have had to search the village for her and trace her essence to wherever she is now.

However, my ancient power found her with ease.

And now that vitality is throbbing with fury.

Because she's naked and exposed and surrounded by a bunch of men in fucking white coats.

Her full bottom lip is tucked between her teeth, her gaze holding a mix of irritation and discomfort as the men discuss her as though she's a display animal, not a human fucking being.

It's a good thing these assholes can't see me, or they would all run screaming from the bloody room.

Actually, maybe I should let them see me,I think darkly. Pull down the veil, give them a peek at what's coming for them.

Because they're staring at my Omega with a little too much interest.

Not my Omega, a small voice whispers from the back of my mind.

But I ignore it, my possessive instincts far too loud for that inconsequential reminder to take root. Because all I want to do is reach through the small window and yank off one of their coats to give it to her.

"Definitely fertile," one of the doctors is saying, making me snort. "It's a shame she's not heading to the compound instead. She would make a fine breeder."

"Duke Nightingale made his declaration clear—she's an Offering," another replies, his long finger pushing a pair of glasses up his nose.

The other man sighs long and loud. "A shame, really. The Duke is so consumed by thoughts of the Immortality Sector that he's lost sight of the long game."

"And what long game would that be?" a deep voice demands, the English tones reminding me of my own. They're regal in nature. Crisp. Borderline arrogant.

The source of the voice pushes open a door, revealing a male wearing a strangely modernized version of Regency Era attire. Or I assume that's what he's going for with his pressed slacks, flowy dress shirt, and tailored vest.

He pulls out a pocket watch and grimaces. "Never mind. I don't have time to waste on an irrelevant topic. This Offering's labs are excellent. The monsters will be pleased."

"Yes, Your Grace," two of the men reply, bowing slightly.

This must be Duke Nightingale,I deduce.

He ignores everyone in the room and continues like the others haven't spoken. "I need Ms. Everheart properly rested, groomed, and dressed, and we only have two days before Monsters Night. So give her something to help her sleep and move on to the next phase."

The Duke doesn't wait to be obeyed; he simply leaves the room.

A few of the men in lab coats exchange glances while another stares a little too long at my female's exposed breasts. "I'll handle her sleep lab," he says, his pupils flaring. "The rest of you can move on to the next set of Offerings."

No one disagrees, just nods and leaves this creep with my Omega.

She narrows her gaze at him, her lips pulling into a tight line. But she doesn't say anything, just watches him warily as he bends to press his lips to her ear.

"You really don't know your place in this world at all, do you, Alina?" he whispers, his voice loud to my predatory hearing. "Don't worry. You'll learn soon."

She shivers in response.

"The Viscount looks forward to seeing you again soon," he adds before straightening his spine.

My female's eyes widen. "What?"

But the man doesn't say anything else, his focus falling to a tray of tools.

When he picks up a needle, my Omega sits up. "What did you say about the Viscount?"

He doesn't reply, simply grabs a tube connected to her arm and sticks a needle into a cross section.

She makes a move to stop him, but he easily catches her wrist and finishes upending the contents into her IV. He tsks as he moves her hand down to her side, the gesture deceptive because I can see how tightly he's holding on to her.

My fists clench, the urge to create a portal door hitting me in the chest.

This guy needs to die.

That thought only grows louder in my mind as he guides her quivering form back onto the bed, his chest far too close to hers.

"Sweet dreams, Alina," he says, his lips brushing her ear. "I doubt you'll ever sleep this soundly again once the Viscount finds you."

Who the fuck is this Viscount?I wonder. The arse from the other day? The one who called her name from that stage?

But before I can even process what to do, the portal begins to close.

And the last thing I see is Alina's eyes falling closed, her sweet face lost to immediate sleep.

"Fuck," I snarl, desperately wanting to pull the portal window back up. But I can't. Not without drawing attention to our realm and potentially revealing my identity in the process.

I completely lost sight of what I intended to do.

Prove she's not an Omega? That she isn't mine?

Well, I failed that particular mission. My drive to protect her superseded my purpose.

This is asinine. She's a human.

Of that I'm certain.

Yet all my instincts are firing in a way I've never experienced. However, I'm Alpha enough to know what it means.

Hunt. Bite. Rut.

Blowing out a breath, I leave the bathroom and head directly to the communications console built into the wall. "Call Reaper," I demand.

"Calling Reaper," the system confirms.

The male in question appears a beat later, his crazy silver-blue eyes dancing over me with interest. "Have you invited me over for a shag?"

I growl at him. "Does it look like I have a fucking female here to share with you?"

He shrugs. "She could be lounging about in your bed already." He sits up, revealing his own bed behind him. "Is she a brunette, perchance? I've been craving one all week. Specifically one with dizzying dark eyes and full, pouty lips."

His gaze takes on a dreamy quality that almost chases away the chaotic shadows swirling in his hypnotic irises.

"I want to spar," I tell him, cutting off his fantasy. "I need to kill something."

"You mean someone," he murmurs. "Me, perhaps?"

"You do look good dead."

He grins. "Why, thank you, Orcus. I think so, too. But you know, Flame is part Corpse Fae. He makes a pretty sexy zombie."

I snort. "I'll call him just so you can say that to his face."

"Well, now, if you do that, he'll be the one killing me, not you. Defeats the goal of your sparring plans, yeah?"

He's not wrong, but… "I'll enjoy watching someone die almost as much as I'll enjoy killing someone myself."

His eyebrows rise. "Someone has well and truly pissed you off. Care to share the details? I'll happily devour a soul for you, brother."

Brotheris a term Reaper uses affectionately. Usually, I like it. Right now, I just need him to stop talking and get his tattooed ass over here. "Come over and we'll talk. I think our mission to the Human Realm just got more complicated."

Because it's not just my mother we need to find now, but potentially my Omega mate as well.