Page 48 of Trick Knot Treat

Clint laughs and walks away, nonchalantly, as if it was all just a game and it probably was. For him.

I clench my teeth but look up when she comes dancing back in the room wearing a massive T-shirt that smells like Clint.

Clint drops the spatula he’s using to flip the fish and stares at her like she’s just melted his brain. It’s amusing, except she’s also somehow managed to melt my brain, too. Why is her wearing my scent matched alpha’s scent so sexy?

I run my fingers through my hair and mentally wonder if I can check out of Sunshine Cove and this life for a few months.

“Dinner is ready,” Clint says twenty minutes later.

Everyone moves in and sits at the table. There is still room for another four people. How often does he have this table full?

Khione hums and makes sounds of appreciation over every bite. At some point, her innocent sounds turn into a sexual performance that has me choking down my food without any idea of how I did so.

“So, what inspires your creativity?” Khione asks.

It takes me about thirty seconds to realise she’s talking to me.

“Um, well. A lot of things, but I like emotions.”

“Emotions?” Khione asks, her eyes shining. “I like colours and the emotions they give off.”

“You’re really amazing with those rocks. It’s ingenious. I’d love to have your rocks in the gallery.”

She blushes and waves her hand. “Oh, it’s nothing-”

“Don’t say that!” I growl at her.

Zaire tenses.

“You are an artist, and you are amazing, and they are cute and bring people so much happiness. That’s not nothing, that’s everything.”

She stares at me, her eyes wide, lips parted and glossy. “You sound like my dad,” she whispers.

I cringe.

“No, no. It’s a good thing. My dad is the best person I know,” Khione says with a wide smile.

I’m still not sure about this, but when she brushes her hair back and looks down at the table and sighs softly, I realise she must really miss him.

She shakes her head. “Okay, Clint…I have just one question.”

“Yes?” he says, eating a mouthful of salad and fish.

“What’s with all the shells?”

“When we were fifteen, and I met Jace, he gave me a shell and told me he loved me. So, in honour of him reneging on our relationship, I place shells everywhere to torture myself.”

I cough and choke, glancing at Jace to see him glaring at Clint with his hands clenched.

“Was that necessary?”

“Would you have me lie to our Trick Knot Treat matched omega? Love to know what you’re going to tell Mummy Dearest about that.”

“I thought you said food would cheer him up?” Khione asks Jace.

“Yeah, there is something else going on,” Jace murmurs.

Clint gets up and tosses his plate in the sink, where it breaks.