Riley’s eyes went wide. “You... you hired lawyers for me? Without telling me?!”
“Yes.”
“That’s why he was so angry. That’s why he...” She gestured vaguely at her throat, the bruises that were still visible.
“Yes.” I growled, scowling at the marks that marred her perfect skin. Fucking Damien. “And I’m sorry. I should have warned you. I didn’t think he’d find out so quickly.”
She paused, processing.
“What else?”
I hesitated. This was the one that might actually make her throw things again.
“There are…Cameras.”
“What cameras?”
“Ones I installed around your building.” I said it quickly, like ripping off a bandage. “Security cameras. Outside, on the perimeter. Did it to watch for threats and keep you safe.”
Riley’s expression went through approximately seven stages in three seconds. Confusion. Realization. Shock. Outrage.
“You putcamerasaround my building?!”
“Just outside! Not inside. I would never... I didn’t watch you in your apartment.” I could feel heat rising to my face, which was ridiculous. I was an Alpha Prince. I didn’t blush. “They’re purely for security. Entrances, exits, the fire escape...”
“You’ve beenwatchingme?!”
“Watching for threats...”
“WHAT THE FUCK, CAELAN?”
“I know. I know how it sounds.”
“It sounds like stalking.” She was pacing now, hands in her hair. “Because it IS stalking. You’ve beenstalkingme.”
I winced. “We... we discussed this. At book club. The hero in that book...”
Riley whirled on me. “WE DISCUSSED IT IN FICTION. I DIDN’T THINK YOU WERE TAKING NOTES.”
“I wasn’t taking notes, I was already doing it...”
“THAT’S WORSE.”
“I know.” I held up my hands, a gesture of surrender. “I know. It’s... it’s a wolf thing. The instinct to protect, to watch, to ensure the mate is safe. It doesn’t translate well to human norms.”
“Human norms? You mean basic PRIVACY?”
“Yes.” I had the grace to look genuinely ashamed. “That.”
“And I thought the hero in that book was problematic! You make him look like a well-adjusted member of society!”
“To be fair, I thought you said you found that character romantic...”
“IN FICTION, CAELAN. FICTION. There’s a DIFFERENCE.”
“You said, and I quote, ‘I would let that man stalk me into the ground if he looked at me like that.’”
“I was exaggerating!”
