“He is here for work. He is a standard human male. But he thought I might be… interested.”
“Well, he was right, wasn’t he?” Beau gave a quiet laugh. Hearing the story of how he was purchased from his Alpha’s mouth was unpleasant, even though Beau already knew what had happened. He’d spent the last few weeks feeling sohappy. He didn’t want to be reminded that he had started his new life through a financial transaction.
But he was surprised by Loriun’s next words.
“I agreed to send my profile to you, and Jonathon acted as the intermediary.” Loriun did not meet his eyes. “Keld was there when it all started. He said he would try to take you if I was not interested, and for some reason, I couldn’t let him do that.”
“Keld wanted me?” Beau snorted. “Guess my uterus and I are a hot commodity.”
Why would he lie about sending his profile? Does he not know that I know he bought me?
“I was astonished when you chose me,” Loriun went on, still keeping his eyes on his plate. “I am quite a bit older than you, with less experience around humans than other Alphas. Jonathan mentioned that you had quite a few suitors.”
A derisive laugh escaped Beau’s lips before he could stop it. Loriun looked up, his expression unreadable.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Beau said, struggling to maintain a straight face. “But I definitely did not have a bunch ofsuitors. You were the only one.” It suddenly occurred to him that both he and his mate had been played by Ashford Montgomery.
Maybe… he didn’t buy me.
“Loriun… What did my father tell you about me? When you first sent your profile?”
The Mer shifted, tail lashing little whirlpools behind him. “I… He told me that you were seeking an Alpha. That you wanted to settle down.”
The memory of the conversation he’d had all those weeks ago in his father’s office swam to the forefront of his mind.
“There’s a Mer who has been sympathetic to my cause. He’s donated quite a sum of money for my reelection campaign. He’s an Alpha. Unattached. Needs a… companion.”
“He told me that you were a supporter of his,” Beau said slowly. “That you were single and looking for an Omega.”
Loriun’s head jerked back. “What? You were not seeking a mate?”
Beau shook his head. “He saidyouwere. He told me I was moving to Miami in the morning, and I was gone in the afternoon.”
Loriun was frozen, an expression of horror spreading across his face.
Chapter 32
Loriun
He was coerced. Loriun’s veins filled with ice. His Omega was forced to come here. To be with him.
He leaned across the table, seizing Beau’s hands. “Why didn’t you say no?”
Beau shrugged. “He has his ways of getting me to do what he wants. And it’s not like my life was incredible back in Gainesville.”
Does he even want to be here? Has it all been an act?
Before Loriun could spiral any deeper, Beau squeezed his hands. “I’m glad it was you. Even if the way we met wasn’t… great, I don’t have any regrets.”
The frigid terror that had flooded Loriun’s body slowly began to thaw. “You don’t?”
“Not at all.” Beau’s beautiful face split into a dazzling smile. “I met you. Nothing else matters.”
Loriun felt on the verge of collapse. He was going to skin Ashford Montgomery and wear the leather as a belt.
“He told me that you didn’t know anything,” Loriun said. “And that you would be upset to know that I donated money in exchange for you. But that’s not what happened. He said—”
“I know,” Beau interrupted. “My father is a master manipulator. He told me that you basically bought me. As soon as I met you, I should have realized he conned us both.”
