Page 102 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

Mark is pretty and seems solid. His whole vibe is this steady, calming, dependable strength that I want to lean into. But in the back of this house, I can smell Pix everywhere. The other person is an omega with a shrewd gaze and friendly smile.

“My name’s Yvonne.”

I bob my head. “Mer-”

“Uh-uh.”

I heave a sigh of pure exasperation. “Fine, I’m Kestrel.”

Mark leans on the bench, watching me intently. “You smell like Pix’s alphas.”

“My alphas,” I snarl defensively, “though they are being complete twats right now.”

“Do you want to explain that?”

Pix stalks straight into the house and grabs me by the arm. “Get out.”

I hiss at him; he hisses back.

“Pix!” Yvonne snaps. “Let her go.”

He drops my arm and stands stiffly. “This isn’t Merle.”

“We know. We were talking to Kestrel,” Mark says and salutes the omega with a steaming mug. “Get with the times already, Pix.”

Pix glances between us, glaring intently at me. “What did you say to them?”

“I told them about how you’re all small-minded walking penises with big dick energy but no follow-through,” I snarl back. “Teeny tiny dicks. Really disappointing. All the way round.”

Mark collapses on the counter, laughing silently.

“She’s not who she says she is.”

“Neither are they!” I say at once. “I know who you all are, I told you that before.” My announcement, which doesn’t come from me, hits the room and turns it deadly and dangerous.

What the fuck, Raven?

Oh, man, she is going to get us killed.

“Be very careful, Omega,” Mitchel says in a dark voice.

I turn and glare at him. “Or what?”

I slap a hand to my mouth. “Sorry, that wasn’t me. I’m sorry. Please don’t kill me, Mr Serial Killer,” we mock.

RAVEN!

“You do not know who you are messing with.” The danger in the air has turned sharp, and stolen the light from the room.

I sigh heavily. “Actually, I kinda do.”

Yvonne’s eyes widen while Mark leans on the counter, laughing still.

“I like her.”

They all glare at him.

“I can’t tell you how or why, but I do have a message for you,” Raven and I say together. “It is part of the reason why we were heading this way.”