Thystle floated over to glare at me in preemptive warning. “You’d better not have a problem with the second challenge, too. We worked really hard on this one.”
I smiled to calm them down. “Actually, I quite enjoyed this challenge. Thank you.”
They lit up, then cheered, “Yes!”
Cobalt joined us, carrying a huge stack of books in his strong arms. “What’s going on?”
Crimson wasn’t far behind him. He grunted beneath the weight of a much smaller stack of books. He cursed as he nearly bumped into Cobalt, who’d halted to speak with us.
“Why in the name of Holy Drake are we stopping?” Crimson complained. Seeing me, he scoffed. “Must you always butt into our business, Jade? Can’t you see how hard we’re working?”
“I do see, and I appreciate it,” I replied with a grateful nod. “I’m not here to scold anyone. I simply want to discuss my upcoming dinner date with Alaric.”
My brothers’ suspicion and weariness were instantly replaced by excitement. They looked like a scheming gang of villains.
Crimson unloaded his share of books into Cobalt’s arms so he could put his hands on his hips. “Your date with Alaric, eh? Sounds like you’re looking forward to it.”
There was no point denying his accusation. A slight smile worked its way onto my face.
“You could say that,” I replied.
“Ooooh,” Aurum and Saffron said together, their golden eyes glittering impishly.
Cobalt raised his thick brows. “I’m lost. Do youlikeAlaric?”
They all stared at me with burning anticipation.
I sighed. There was no escaping this one.
“I am fond of him, yes,” I admitted.
“I knew it!” Aurum yelled, pumping his arm. “Isawthe swoony way you looked at him when he roasted our book!”
Thystle looked gobsmacked. “Seriously?” he asked, raising a brow. “Alaric, of all omegas?”
My inner dragon growled at his remark, forcing me to soothe it back into dormancy. Sure, Alaric wasn’t a wholesome cinnamon roll like Mylo, a gruff protector like Taylor, a beaconof charisma like Matteo, or a lovable goofball like Muzo. Alaric was clever, venomous and beautiful. He was his own unique person with his own flaws and charms—and I valued him above all the rest.
“Yes,” I repeated.
“Are you sure? Like, he’s not blackmailing you or anything?” Thystle prodded.
I gave my younger brother a sharp look—perhaps sharper than I intended, seeing how he shrank back.
“No, Alaric is not blackmailing me, and there’s no ulterior motives present,” I stated. “Why are you concerned about that?”
Saffron shrugged. “I mean, the guy’s abrasive. He’s not exactly who I pictured as your type.”
“And what exactly is my type?” I asked.
“A fellow bookworm?” Crimson suggested. “A quiet, shy omega content to curl up in your library with you?”
I held back a scoff. If that was their concept of my ideal partner, they were sorely mistaken. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy reading alongside Alaric in my library, but having my interests reduced to my hoard alone was tiresome. In that regard, Alaric had already glimpsed a deeper side of me than my own family.
I smiled thinly. “Sharing the exact same passions as your partner sounds a bit boring, doesn’t it?”
They took the hint. Nobody pried further.
Crimson cleared his throat. “Anyway, what did you want to discuss about that date?”
