Devon glowers at Sebastian, but his eyes travel to me, and something cunning grows there. “How are things going in paradise?”
Sebastian’s mood shifts, and he growls at his best friend of forever. “Keep your eyes off my omega.” The tone is so violently aggressive and possessive that it takes my breath away.
The seven of us freeze. I find it hard to look at him, but I can’t look away either.
“I’m not yours,” I say before I can stop myself.
Sebastian’s expression turns sour, and he glares at me as if everyone else has disappeared. Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
“I mean,” I blush, it’s infuriating. “Well, not yet.”
His frown disappears, and he searches my face while I literally squirm on the spot, hoping everyone will stop looking at me.
“Not yet,” Sebastian murmurs, agreeing with me. “I can work with that.”
“Go enjoy your dates.”
We all startle, looking up to where Lorelei is glaring at us.
“Uh, did anyone hear what we are supposed to be doing?” Fox asks anxiously.
“I’ll text Sofia,” Devon says and does just that. “She has a habit of paying attention.”
“My date is leaving,” Felix mutters and lifts a hand in misery before he turns and follows the unwelcome alpha.
“Come on, brat,” Devon says to Asher. “Let’s go find something fun to do.”
“Oh, sounds like a plan, Big Bro.”
“Hey!” Seb snarls.
“Don’t be jealous, Seb, you’re still the oldest,” Asher says with a mocking smile and leaves us standing there.
“Come on, my darlings,” Katsu purrs. He tucks me into Sebastian’s arms, ignoring the way half the town is watchingwith their mouths hanging open, then he shepherds us down to the beach.
“Where are we going?”
“The first date rendezvous,” Katsu says. “I am excellent at multitasking, and I do pay attention.”
We walk down to the edge of the water where a lantern is sitting all alone on the sand. I kneel and find a laminate card.
“Welcome, Light Knot Night matches. In order to find the romance, you must first find the fun.”
Sebastian rubs his hand over his face. “Oh, no, this is not going to go well. Mum’s version of fun is often not what everyone else’s is.”
I stand up, looking around, and spot a rope that is going out into the dark water. Nope. Not happening. There is no way in hell I am walking out there.
“It’s all right, you can sit this one out,” Fox murmurs and kisses my cheek. I lift my hand to touch the spot, watching as he passes me and starts pulling on the rope.
The small wooden dinghy comes into view. It looks totally and completely unsafe.
“We have to get in,” Fox says and lifts another little card.
Sebastian climbs in. Fox does the same.
Explosions tear a scream from me. A light flashes, romantic music blares in the air. And a seagull squawks and then regurgitates a fish before taking off, shrieking in outrage.
“What the hell?” Katsu mutters.
