That’s not fair; I shouldn’t say that. For all I know, Mags could be interested. I mean, we’ve been close ever since we were little kids. She might think I’m the one who’d rather be friends. It’s not like I’ve ever made a move on her. I’m giving her space, that’s all. Letting her decide when the moment’s right.
Or that’s what I tell myself every night when I go to bed alone.
I can’t wait until this grift is done. After we get paid, we’ll be able to afford a bigger place, one with enough rooms that I won’t have to share with Kaden. I love my brother, but I’m kind of tired of pretending to be asleep while he bangs his latest conquest.
At the top of the steps, Threnody’s brother David sniffs us each as we pass. I don’t know what he expects to find; betas don’t give off much of a scent, and what’s the point of sniffing Nik? It’s up to Threnody to decide if he’s a good scent match to mate with, not David. I get the feeling we need to be careful aroundthis brother. Timothy, the beta, seems harmless though. He just gives us a shy nod when we walk by.
Past them, the beta uncles smile at us. I suppose it’s meant to be welcoming, but the way they expose their teeth when they grin makes it look like sharks baring their teeth.
Finally, we get to Threnody and her parents. Clint shakes Nik’s hand, and Threnody and Clarice each give him a brief hug, the kind socialites give each other at brunch.
Except I doubt socialites squeeze their friends’ asses at brunch.
It’s one thing coming from Threnody, seeing as how they’re due to hook up, but Clarice? Eww. Does she plan on adding Nik to her little harem of side pieces?
Nik doesn’t outwardly react, and I wonder what’s going on in his head. I, for one, would be offended, but maybe it’s different for alphas. They’re kind of seen as pieces of meat, especially in circles like this, where breeding is everything. Nik is not here for his personality; he’s here for his genes.
That knot of his probably helps, too.
Things seem to be going pretty smoothly, until I catch something in the glass reflection behind Clint:
David Donnelly, licking his lips as he stares at Mags.
Fuck. That’s not good.
I’m no alpha, but that’s enough to get even my protective side riled up. Mags is here as a heat helper, a beta assistant to Threnody. She’s not here to breed or anything of the sort, and if that’s what David has in mind, he’s got another thing coming.
“Psst!Watch your face, dude.”
Kaden’s harsh whisper reaches me through the haze of rage, and I focus on returning to a neutral expression.
When it’s our turn for introductions, Clint delivers a firm handshake to each of us. I brace for Clarice to grab my ass, but it seems I’m not her type. Kaden, either; we each get a socialite hugwith a pair of air kisses to our cheeks, and after that, we become invisible.
While Clarice and Threnody take Nik to Threnody’s wing of the mansion, Clint leads Mags, Kaden, and me on a tour of the place.
There’s not a speck of dust or fingerprint to be seen on any surface. Beta housekeepers—plural—flutter about, furiously cleaning everything in sight. I touch a vase out of sheer curiosity, and sure enough, one of the housekeepers swoops in to remove any evidence of my passing.
The mansion is a virtual labyrinth, and I’m grateful we’ll mostly be staying in Threnody’s suite of rooms. Otherwise, I’d probably get up to piss in the middle of the night and end up lost.
Throughout the tour, Clint rattles on with instructions on how to behave, where we can and cannot go, which servants can be spoken to, and which are to be ignored … It’s a lot of information to take in, but thankfully Mags did her research. I can sort of tune most of it out and still nod at all the appropriate intervals.
When we finally get to our rooms, I note that Nik and Threnody are conspicuously absent. Mags waits for us, along with Clarice and that bastard David—who’s standing entirely too close to my bestie—but the new It couple are nowhere to be seen.
Jesus, are they getting started already?
“Dinner is promptly served at seven thirty. I expect you all to be dressed and ready.”
The Donnellys all leave, and we’re finally alone again.
“Mags, are you okay?”
She looks at me like I just grew a second head. “I’m fine. We just talked about expectations and stupid shit like that.”
Whew! For a second, I was worried David got handsy while we were otherwise occupied.
“So, I’m guessing Nik and Threnody hit it off?” Kaden smirks at his own dumb joke.
“She wanted to get to know him in her shitty nest,” Mags says, rolling her eyes. “We’ll have to make her a better one while we’re here. Seriously, for a rich bitch’s nest, it’s pathetic. Two pillows, a set of silk sheets, and that’s it. For all that, she was acting like it was some lavish setup. I don’t know what Clarice is teaching her, but it’s sure not how to build a proper one.”
