“You reckon she’s upset about it?”
Her eyes bug out of her head. “Yes, Shadow. She’s clearly upset. She thinks all this is on Axel’s order. You need to show her how you really feel about her before you lose her for good.”
I watch as she marches off, shaking her head.
“What’s up with you?” asks Axel as he steps out his office.
“Kasey reckons I need to show Remi how I really feel.”
Axel scoffs. “You’re claiming her, ain’t that enough?”
“That’s what I thought,” I mutter, “but apparently not.”
Axel snorts. “Christ, don’t start letting the women around here tell you how to feel. You’ll end up like Fletch, cooking her breakfast in bed.”
I manage a half-smile, but it doesn’t stick. Because underneath it, Kasey’s words are still echoing.You haven’t told her it’s what you want.
I scrub a hand over my jaw. “She’s been through hell, Pres. She’s walking around like she’s scared to breathe wrong. If she thinks this is another thing she’s being told to do—”
“Then make her understand it isn’t.” Axel shrugs. “You’re not exactly subtle, brother. Just tell her. And for fuck’s sake, do it before tonight. We’ve got the Avengers coming in, and I don’t want her looking terrified when you stand up to claim her.”
He claps my shoulder once, a final warning in the gesture. “Handle it, Shadow. Do it right.”
I nod, but the nerves in my stomach twist tighter. This should be easy—it’s just me, her, and the truth. But there’s something about the way she keeps looking at me, like she’s waiting for me to kick her out again.
Lexi and Remi are still in the main room when I find them. Lexi’s crouched near the rails, holding up a black dress. “This one’s soft, see? Stretchy. You’ll be comfortable.”
Remi’s sitting quietly, fingers tracing the fabric. Her eyes are somewhere else entirely.
Lexi looks up and spots me. “Good timing,” she says, passing the dress to Remi. “I think we found some nice stuff.” Remi forces a small smile and nods, then heads upstairs to change.
When she’s gone, Lexi crosses her arms. “She seems really distant, Shadow . . . like she’s sad.”
“I think I know why,” I mutter. “She thinks I’m being forced to claim her.”
“She’s fragile right now, and if this feels like a performance instead of something real, you’ll lose her before the night’s over.”
Before I can answer, Remi reappears at the top of the stairs. The dress clings to her in the right places, modest but still showing her curves. Her hair’s brushed out, falling soft over her shoulders. She looks like herself again, just a little more haunted.
My throat tightens.
“Does it fit okay?” Lexi asks.
Remi nods. Her hands twist together. “It’s perfect.”
I smile. “You look beautiful.”
Her eyes flick to mine, surprised, then dart away.
Lexi catches the shift in energy immediately. “I’ll leave you two,” she says, smirking as she walks off.
I wait until the sound of her steps fades before I move closer.
Remi doesn’t step back, but she doesn’t look up either. “Lexi said the meeting tonight’s big.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “Avengers are coming over to talk business. Axel wants to make sure we all stand united. So, it’s the perfect time to announce our news.”
She nods slowly, still staring at her hands. “And that’s when I’m supposed to face everyone?”
