I wake up to the sensation of cool, smooth silk against my skin, and the scent of cedar and spice so heavy in the air and my nostrils.

The room is dim with only the faint glow of golden lanterns casting a warm, hazy light down on me and the rest of the room.

Where am I?

My head throbs, and as I sit up, the silk sheets slide down my body, exposing my bare thighs.

Immediately my cheeks flush hot, turning into a light shade of pink.

I'm wearing a flimsy white nightgown that clings to my skin, and the air is so thick with their scent — the scent of Nyall, Fenric and Orien, that it almost chokes me...but I... like it.

I push the hair out of my face, feeling my breaths coming in short, hard pants. Tl

As I turn my neck to look around, I realise that the room is massive, larger than the entire Omega quarters combined.

The dark wood furniture around are polished to a shine and there are silken drapes framing the enormous windows I'm only just noticing.

But after taking in all these, it’s the bed that keeps me rooted in awe.

It’s ENORMOUS and I mean BIG, covered in black and silver linens that smell just like them.

Why do I feel like I’m burning?

I squeeze my thighs together, trying to quench the ache that's currently pulsing between them but it only makes it worse.

The need I feel grows hotter and more insistent, until my breaths come in quick, shallow gasps and then the door creaks open.

I flinch, snapping my gaze up to see Fenric filling the doorway.

His dark hair is tousled, his shirt is unbuttoned halfway, revealing a hard, chiseled chest, and his dark eyes instantly fix on me.

“Oh, you’re awake,” he drawls, a wicked smile tugging on at his full lips.

“Good.”

I scramble back immediately, hitting my knees on the headboard in the process before I manage to speak.

“Where am I?”

“Our quarters,” he says, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.

“We found you passed out in the infirmary and figured it was safer to keep you here.”

His eyes roam over me as he speaks, slowly, like he’s undressing me with his gaze and I shiver, feeling my skin prickling under his deep gaze.

“Why... why does it smell like...”

Fenric moves closer, the mattress dipping as he plants a knee on the bed beside me. “Like us?”

I nod, my throat now suddenly completely dry; it's not my fault--- his scent, wild pine, surrounds me, sinking into my very pores.

“That’s because this is our room,” he murmurs, leaning closer, skimming his nose along the side of my neck.

“And now... you’re ours too.”

I whimper, my fingers curling into the sheets. “I’m not... I didn’t...”

“You didn’t what?” he purrs, brushing his lips against my ear. “You didn’t want to be bound to three Alphas?”

Before I can answer that, the door flies open, and Nyall strides in with his jaw clenched so tight.

Orien follows behind him, and he sweeps his gaze over me, then Fenric.

“Get off her,” Nyall snaps.

Fenric chuckles, but he pulls back, settling beside me with a smirk. “Relax, brother. I was just saying good morning.”

Nyall’s jaw ticks, and he steps forward, casting a shadow over me with his imposing frame.

“Are you all right?”

I nod, though my body is trembling. “Why am I here?”

“To keep you safe,” Orien says, in a softer, smoother voice.

He moves to stand at the foot of the bed, keeping his hands to rest casually in his pockets.

“We don't trust the High Priestess.”

Nyall’s eyes flick to me then, “She did something to you. When we got back into the room, we found you unconscious and you were... burning up.”

I swallow, however it's not from his words; right now the ache in my core is intensifying.

"Burning?”

Orien’s gaze drops to my legs which are exposed and trembling beneath the thin fabric.

"You’re still burning.”

I squeeze my thighs together, trying to fight the pulse of need thrumming through me but the scent of them only makes it worse.

It seeps into my skin, so thick and intoxicating, and I can feel the bond like a thousand invisible threads in three directions pulling me toward them.

Fenric leans closer, brushing his hand over my knee. “Let us help you, little Omega.”

“No,” I gasp, trying to pull away, but he grabs my thigh firmly.

“Stop —”

“You’re in heat,” Orien murmurs, moving to sit beside me.

He reaches for a vial on the bedside table I hadn't noticed, uncorking it and immediately, the scent of lavender and musk fills the air, making my head swim.

“This will help.”

“Get away from me,” I whimper, but my voice is weak.

Fenric chuckles, digging his fingers into my thigh then stroking his thumb over the tender skin.

“Oh, I don’t think you really want that.”

“Enough,” Nyall growls, yanking Fenric’s hand off me and pushing him back.

"You’re scaring her.”

Fenric’s eyes darken, and his lips curl in a slow, dangerous smile.

“You think she’s scared? I think she’s wet.”

Heat floods my cheeks, and I slap his hand away. “Don’t touch me!”

Fenric’s eyes gleam and he leans closer, his breath hot against my ear.

“You’re going to regret that.”

--------

Meanwhile...

In the deep part of the forbidden forest, Elayne kneels before a stone altar with both of her hands stained with blood.

A witch stands above her with eyes as black as the abyss, and a cruel smile on her lips.

“The blood price has been paid,” the witch intones in a raspy voice while Elayne clenches her fists, digging her nails into her palms and looks at the witch expectantly.

“Will it work?”

“The bond is powerful,” the witch says, circling her slowly.

“Severing it could kill the Omega.”

However Elayne’s lips just curve into a cold smile.

“Then let it.”