To ruin an Omega novel Chapter 356

Chapter 356: Paternal Bond 2

FIA

I left the infirmary with Thorne and Maren trailing behind me. The hallway stretched ahead in silence. My mind was moving around in circles.

A sentinel stood near the stairwell. His posture was rigid and formal. I recognized him from previous patrols.

"Excuse me," I said.

He turned and bowed slightly. "Yes, my lady?"

"Do you know where Cian is?"

"The Alpha is in his study, my lady."

"Thank you."

He bowed again and I moved past him toward the west wing. Thorne and Maren split off somewhere along the way. I heard their footsteps fade down a different corridor. They probably had their own concerns to deal with now.

The study was at the end of the hall. The door was closed but I could hear voices coming from inside. They were low and urgent. I slowed my pace and stopped just outside.

A male voice carried through the wood. It wasn’t Cian’s voice. This was deeper and rougher. But it was very familiar.

"You should not have agreed to a trial. You should have just killed him there."

My hand froze on the doorknob.

Then Madeline spoke. Her voice was unmistakable.

"I agree with my father. Give Aldric an inch and he runs a mile."

I knocked before I lost my nerve. The voices inside went silent immediately. I waited a beat and then turned the handle.

The door swung open. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Cian stood near his desk. Madeline sat in one of the chairs by the window. And beside her was that man. He was tall, with his hair pulled back with gel. His eyes were sharp and calculating. He looked at me the moment I stepped inside.

The silence hung heavy between all of us.

Cian moved first. He crossed the room in a few strides and stopped in front of me.

"Hey," he said. His voice was soft. He was very concerned about me being here. "Is something wrong?"

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. Then his hands came up to frame my face. His thumbs brushed against my cheeks. He studied me carefully.

I looked past him at the supposed stranger.

The man’s eyes widened. He stared at me like he had seen something impossible. Like I had walked in wearing someone else’s skin.

I couldn’t tell if he was reacting the way Pauline had. The way they seemed to keep seeing Athena in my features. Or if it was something else entirely. Something more complicated.

I favored the former.

I pulled my gaze back to Cian. "I thought you would be alone. I wanted to know what you have planned."

Cian’s expression shifted. Understanding flickered across his face. He glanced back at the others and then looked at me again.

"Are you worried about the trial too?"

He turned halfway so he could address everyone in the room. His hand stayed on my shoulder.

"It’s been quite the discourse."

I swallowed. "I cannot help but be worried. Your uncle is dangerous. You have to be three steps ahead of you want to beat him and even with that... You never know."

Cian’s grip on my shoulder tightened slightly. He wanted to reassure me.

"I assure you," he said. To me and to it is a weeding."

I blinked. "A weeding?"

"I intend to cull all traitors at once."

He turned fully toward Valentine and Madeline. His expression hardened.

"Your worries are clearly selfish," he said. "But I don’t blame you."

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