Forbidden by Cathy Clamp

Author:Cathy Clamp
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466854604
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

CHAPTER 17

“Dude, you okay?” Alek slowly sat up from where he was sprawled at the bottom of the stairs in the basement of Polar Pops and rubbed the back of his head. He looked up at Scott, staring down at him from the main floor. “That was a harsh fall. Should I go find Marilyn?”

His head was spinning but it wasn’t from the fall. He felt like he’d been kicked by a horse. He felt weak as a kitten for no apparent reason. “No, I just lost my balance.” It was a lie, but he also had no better explanation. “I need to watch where I put my feet. Missed the first step.”

Scott carefully carried a case of ice pops down the stairs and set them on one of the risers. “Here, make sure you didn’t sprain anything.” He offered Alek a hand, holding onto the railing for balance. Alek was grateful for the help. He wasn’t sure if his legs would hold him.

Once upright, he leaned against the wall, his head still fuzzy. Other than weak, he didn’t feel any worse than he had the rest of the day. “Nothing broken, as far as I can tell. I still feel just as much like crap as when we got here.”

Scott snorted. “Getting the shit beat out of you will do that. I told you what would happen if you didn’t shower faster. Back talking didn’t help either.”

“I still don’t think saying ‘Lighten up’ qualifies as back talk.”

“Alek, I love ya like a brother, but sometimes you need to keep your lip zipped.” Apparently, his face showed the surprise he felt, because Scott sighed. “Look, you weren’t talking to Lenny the mentor or Lenny the fellow cop. You keep forgetting you’re talking to Lenny the Second of this town, and you questioned his authority to set and enforce the rules. ‘Lighten up’ says, ‘you don’t own me’ and ‘your rules don’t apply to me.’ He then explained why he does own you and his rules do apply to you. Got it? You’re the Omega now. Rules are about to become your life until the next Ascension. Feel lucky and fall-down-on-your-knees grateful it’s only for a month.”

There was a haunted look in Scott’s eyes that Alek had never seen before and the scents that rose from the long-haired owl made his eyes burn. “What have they been doing to you?” He hadn’t asked for details earlier and now felt like he should have. He felt both sympathy and outrage in that moment but he also feared for what he might hear and felt shame for what he might not have even bothered to notice until now, despite his and Rachel’s saying they didn’t mind. “I’m sorry.”

The blue eyes turned from haunted to angry. “Whatever they want to. Whenever they decide. Nobody cares. Get used to it.”

Alek had never seen this side of his brother before—this coldness—and it unnerved him. How could this have been going on without his noticing? But he had no solution right now.

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