Rath (The Omega Collective #2) - Mina Carter Page 0,22

shivered. “That sounds nice.”

He managed to disentangle himself from her embrace and pulled some pants on to prepare food. While he wasn’t uncomfortable naked, he was uncomfortable with his cock near either naked flame or hot spillages. Damage to his equipment would mean he couldn’t service his little omega during her heat, which would cause her pain, and that he could not have.

The small kitchen was well-stocked with provisions, but there wasn’t much variety. His shar’ai deserved better than the simple fare on offer here. She should have servants and fine things, every comfort he could offer her. And as the Overseer’s Master at Arms, he could offer quite a bit.

He started preparing a meal, listening to Savannah dress in one of his shirts and then make her way over to the couch with an armload of her favorite blankets. He’d discovered she liked silken fabrics best, and he planned on gifting her with a wide assortment once they were home.

If he hadn’t been listening, he might have missed the hitch in her stride and the soft exhalation of breath she made when she walked.

“You are in pain. Why didn’t you tell me?” He was at her side in seconds. One look at her stance made him scoop her into his arms and carry her to the couch.

“It’s nothing serious,” she protested.

“You have a warrior’s attitude toward pain. Admirable, but foolish. You are no warrior. You are an omega, to be cherished and protected.”

“It’s just a little sore.”

“Show me.” He managed to keep most of the snarl out of his tone, but not all of it.

He was slightly appeased when she meekly pulled aside the blankets to reveal her injured leg, but all sense of calm vanished when he saw the wound. It was still there. She should have been almost fully healed by now. Something was wrong.

A light touch to the spot made her hiss in discomfort. Her skin was warmer than it should have been, and the edges of the cut were still angry and red.

“You’re not healing.”

“It’s better than it was.” Savannah shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

His snarl broke free at that point. Anger filled him that she was so dismissive of her injury and that she had ever had to suffer worse than a scratch. No omega should ever suffer and certainly not to the extent these Terran omegas had.

“This needs more care than I can offer here,” he bit out, baring his teeth at her when she hissed back at him. The little display of defiance would have amused and aroused him at any other time, but right now, his main concern was her welfare. “We need to leave. Now.”

Savannah burrowed deeper into her blanket cocoon. “No. I like it here.”

“You need to see a healer.”

“No.” This time she didn’t hiss. She snarled at him.

“You will obey me, little omega. I am taking you to the citadel. You dress and I will make you something to eat while we travel.”

“Please? Don’t make me leave here. I like this place. I like you. I want to stay.” Her words were jagged and tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked up at him.

His expression hardened as he looked down at her. “We will leave. I will be with you. You will be safe. Do not make me repeat myself.”

When she snarled again, his temper frayed. With a warning growl, he flipped her onto her back, pinning her down in her nest. Instantly his teeth found the side of her neck, over his mark, almost puncturing the skin in warning.

She gasped, hands on his upper arms, but she didn’t fight. Instead, she yielded to him as an omega should, her body relaxed and pliant.

“Do you need my help dressing, little one?”

“No.” She lowered her gaze until she was staring at a spot on the floor, away from him. “I will dress myself.”

“Savannah.” He brushed a kiss to her cheek. “You must understand your place. Some of the others will not understand if you forget. Then, I will need to fight to protect you. I’d rather spend my time in bed with you than fighting some brute of a L’crav.”

She shuddered. “I’m going to hate it there.”

“It’s the safest place for you. And the most comfortable. You’ll see. Trust me, little one.”

She didn’t answer him aloud, only nodded slightly and stirred. He helped her to her feet. He wasn’t sure what had changed in the last few minutes, but something had. He’d just have to fix it later. After