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His Lordship Heath Thornton stood more than six and a half feet tall.

His height and the width of his shoulders only added to his aura of power and intimidation; together with his wealth, they made him seem godlike.

I had worked at the Thornton mansion for more than a year, but I had never been alone with the formidable man.

Why had I been called? I was the lowest servant, one of the youngest and least important people at the estate. His Lordship had no reason to know my name, let alone call me into his study.

The door closed, and His Lordship walked around me. I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. Had I done something wrong? The majordomo would have scolded me and left it at that. What if there’d been a crime? Had someone stolen something and they thought it was me?

“What’s your name, boy?” His Lordship’s velvety voice wrapped itself around my head, making me a little dizzy.

I forced myself to speak. “I’m Sesto, Sir.”

“How old are you, Sesto?”

“Nineteen, Sir.”

“Do you have a mate?”

I shook my head.

“Boyfriend?”

Another headshake.

His Lordship lifted my chin with a finger and studied my face, his expression inscrutable. He was so tall that I had to tilt my head all the way back to meet his gaze. His eyes were a strange color, a reddish-brown tint that made me think of blood, and I couldn’t bear to look into them. My gaze fell to the pearly buttons on his shirt. He drew in a loud breath through his nostrils, then stepped back.

“How long have you worked for me, Sesto?”

“Since I was seventeen, Sir.”

His Lordship walked around some more as I stared at my shoes. They were worn, but I’d polished them, and they gleamed like new.

“Have you met my omegas?”

“Yes, Sir. I’ve had the pleasure of serving Lord Elliot and the other young gentlemen during the garden party last month, Sir.”

“What do you think of them?”

It wasn’t my place to express opinions on His Lordship’s husband and lovers.

“They are very beautiful, Sir.”

Heath Thornton laughed. “That they are. They’re also spoiled, restless, and terribly dangerous when they get bored. Especially Angelo.”

Master Angelo was a breathtaking young omega with golden hair and a flawless face. He looked like an angel. But all of His Lordship’s lovers were stunning—so much so that I’d been afraid of watching them too closely. That kind of beauty stung my eyes and sizzled in my belly.

I didn’t say anything since His Lordship hadn’t asked me a question.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be serving upstairs. You’ll get a new room and uniform.”

Upstairs? But that was where the omegas lived! Where His Lordship rested and slept. And where they all⁠—

“Do you accept the offer?”

“T-thank you, Sir. I’ll do my best, Sir.”