To ruin an Omega novel Chapter 348

Chapter 348: Flip it

CIAN

With Valentine threatened to submission and with two new soul kisses in my pocket, I was prepared to go back down when I heard it.

The knock came first. Then the door opened before I could even turn around. Whoever it was didn’t wait for permission. The handle turned and the hinges swung and someone stepped into my study like they had every right to be there.

My blood went cold for half a second. Then I moved.

I turned away from the bookshelf. Away from the spot where the wall had just been solid again. I crossed the room in three strides and grabbed the first book I could reach from the desk. Some leather-bound thing about old Skollrend records. I opened it and pretended to be absorbed in whatever was on the page.

Then I looked up.

Ronan stood in the doorway. His hand was still on the handle. His face was pale. His eyes were wide and there was something in them that made me almost mad.

Fear.

Real fear. The kind that didn’t come from nothing.

"Is something the problem?" I asked.

It took everything to act calm. But I was getting better at it. Because no matter how I thought about it, I still couldn’t reconcile it. Why my best mate would be a traitor like this.

Regardless, my voice came out steady. I closed the book halfway and held it against my chest like I had been reading it this whole time.

Ronan blinked. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Then he shook his head.

"I’m fine," he said.

He didn’t look fine. Mostly because of me I would like to assume.

"Mostly," he added. "Actually."

I waited. I didn’t say anything. I just watched him. Watched the way his throat worked when he swallowed. Watched the way his hands flexed at his sides like he didn’t know what to do with them.

"Alpha Aldric does seem very disturbed about this Madeline situation," he said finally. "He called me even. He couldn’t reach out to her."

I raised an eyebrow. "I never knew you and my uncle were close."

"I’m your Beta," Ronan said. His voice was firmer now. More certain. "Of course he’ll talk to me if he feels you’re being unreasonable."

I didn’t react to that. I just kept looking at him.

He took a step into the room. Then another. He was closer now. Close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw. The way his shoulders were tight.

"I believe Aldric feels you maybe said something," Ronan continued. "Perhaps after your mother did. Something that might have really hurt her."

He stopped a few feet away from me. He looked at me. Really looked at me. Not like a Beta looking at his Alpha. He made it seem like a friend looking at someone he was worried about.

It was almost hilarious to see in real time.

"And being your friend," he said and it took all I had not to laugh, "I know it’s a possibility. Considering what you’ve confided with me."

I held his gaze. I didn’t let anything show on my face. Nothing at all.

"No," I said. "I thought about it, and you were wrong. It wasn’t because of a lack of closure or some twisted kind of holdout of love that I had for Madeline. What I did... What I did was suspect Madeline of being the witch who killed Ophelia. That was all it was."

Ronan’s expression changed. Something shifted behind his eyes. Surprise. Maybe confusion.

"Oh," he said. "I thought..."

"I know." I cut him off. "You’re thinking it now."

He didn’t deny it.

"I didn’t say anything to hurt Madeline," I continued. "She simply didn’t want to stay here anymore and I understand."

Ronan was quiet for a moment. He seemed to be turning something over in his head. Working through it. Trying to make sense of it.

"What are you thinking about now?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said.

But he was thinking about something. I could tell.

"What are you doing by the way?" he asked. His eyes flicked to the book in my hands. Then to the desk behind me.

I glanced down at the book. I turned it so he could see the spine. The title was barely legible but it was there.

"This binding is useless," I said. "But it is just useless record. I’ve been all about Fia these past few days given what has happened and neglected my duties as Alpha. So I’m catching up."

Ronan nodded slowly. He looked like he wanted to say something else. Like there was more on his mind.

"Well," he said. "I do think you should try calling Madeline. People have been trying to reach her and she cannot just be reached."

I set the book down on the desk. I didn’t look at him when I spoke.

"I’m sure she’s fine," I said. "But it’s none of my business or yours at this point I fear."

"When you say that," Ronan said, "it makes me think you did say something."

I turned to face him. I met his eyes.

"No," I said. "But I do hold some resentment. She could have helped that delicate. You know. It’s why she probably left. The guilt."

Ronan’s jaw tightened. He looked at me for a long moment. Like he was trying to see past my words. Like he was trying to find the truth buried underneath.

I would admit that it was a bit fun. Lying to the liar.

"You’re better than this," he said.

"Whose side are you on?" I asked. My voice came out sharper than I meant it to. "Mine or hers?"

"You of course."

"Then drop it and just let me work."

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