He continued rubbing, and I saw his scales flash.More of them looked duller, and I felt a tug of compassion.
“Don’t even think about it, Konni,” his mom said.“You need to go to work and distract yourself so we can do what we need to do.A little sacrifice now wins you what you really want a lot faster.”
He heaved a sigh and released my hand.
“You can have her until three.”
“Drokonnen Luka Steele, the tea starts at two.You can have her again at six.”
“Five, Mother, or I find her.”
“Fine.Five.Go.”
I met Mom’s gaze as he stood.“I feel like I was just auctioned.”
“I think you were,” she said with a grin.
After kissing the top of my head, Konni left, and I listened to Kaya’s game plan for the day.It included shopping, appointments at two boutiques for fast turnaround couture, a quick lunch, then home to change before the social at Clay and Leaf.I was looking forward to the shopping part.The socializing?Not so much.
Thankfully, the thrill of shopping and trying on clothes I’d only dreamed of owning distracted me until we were back at the estate with our impressive haul.
“Wear that cornflower blue silk top with the white palazzo pants,” Mom said.“You looked amazing in them.”
Nodding, I went upstairs and sat on the bed.
Konni’s mom had started a group chat for the four of us so she and Mom could get his feedback on the clothes I was trying on—and to torment him a little, I think.
He’d messaged me privately several times, mostly commenting on the outfits.The last one, which I’d gotten on the way home, said he missed me.
Me:Would it help if I sent a selfie?
K:Yes.
Grinning, I stripped down to my bra and underwear, lay back, and took a picture in a pose that wasn’t any more provocative than what you’d see on a beach.
K:That didn’t help.
K:Send more.
I snorted, tossed my phone aside, and put on the assigned outfit.
The moms were waiting for me when I returned to the entry.
“You have no idea how badly I want to run upstairs to get a diamond necklace that would go perfectly with that.”Kaya sighed regretfully.“Baby steps.We can work up to loaning you my jewelry by the gala.”
“One of the small pieces, maybe,” Mom said.“The bigger ones will draw too much attention too soon.”
I looked between the two, understanding that they hadn’t just gone shopping without me.They’d bonded over Kaya’s expensive jewelry, too.Jewelry I didn’t get to see.I loved gems of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
“Any chance we can skip the tea social and do a jewelry fashion show at home instead?”I asked.
Kaya had me in the car minutes later with a simple bribe—we’d stop at Zellon before the fashion show on Wednesday to select what I’d wear to my welcome party.
Me.I would own a Zellon’s original.
Did I feel guilty about that?A little.But I’d been serious when I promised Konni I’d stop letting my fears hold me back.I wasn’t my father any more than Konni was.I wasn’t using Konni to gain jewelry.Pretty things—jewelry, clothes, maybe even cars—were just part of accepting the Konni-package.
And I really, really liked his package.
