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The door opens. Nico’s eyes narrow for a moment at Soren, probably remembering who and where he is. “Soren.” Nico grips Soren’s forearm. “It’s good to see you. You need to meet...”
Annabelle’s blonde head sleepily sticks out from behind Nico.
“Annabelle Portsmouth, this is Soren Drakos.” Nico stands back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Soren, it’s nice to meet you. Your mother talks about you a lot.” Annabelle bows her head. But she’s not giddy, more formal. While she’s smiling, it’s not reaching her eyes. At least I don’t think it is. Is it? I cock my head at her.
Holter’s laughing at the whole thing. Damn Poseidon. I’m jealous. I know I can’t have her. She can’t be my mate. And she will have other mates. Other mates who aren’t me, and that’s fine. It’s just fucking fantastic. She can have ten mates, no, twenty. I just don’t want it to be any of my brothers. And while I know that, and I know why, I don’t want to unpack the meaning of it, not now. Not all the way. Not when there are so many other things going on right now. “Soren was just going—”
“—to show you an apartment.” He wiggles his eyebrows. I scowl at him. Does he really think he is that clever, that charming?
“You two really look like brothers.”
“Really?” Soren turns to me and scowls back.
“A little.” I cough.
“Nico’s apartment here is wonderful. I’m sure we can make do.”
Soren moves next to her. “Nico is living in Castor’s apartment. Living in an apartment of a male you’re not mated to isn’t...” His neck twitches.
“Oh. I didn’t realize.” She yawns, covering her mouth. “I’m sorry, I’m not normally so sleepy. I’m detoxing from coffee.” The little twitch of the side of her face tells me it’s more than that. Annabelle is brilliant and clearly doesn’t like not knowing things, not knowing simple facts about our culture. Oh, she learned a lot with her tutor on the sub, but there’s a lot more she needs to learn. She’s not afraid of learning it either, and damn if that doesn’t make it even harder to stay away from her.
“Let’s go look at that apartment,” Holter says, breaking the glare Nico’s giving Soren.
“Now? Let me find some shoes.” Annabelle scurries for her first few steps but then slows, the day catching up with her.
Holter stops her. “We’re not leaving the dome. You’ll be fine.” Leading her to the elevator, he pushes the down button.
“You’ll see.” Soren smiles at Annabelle. Is he flirting with her?
“The seabed?” Nico asks.
Soren shrugs. We follow him out of the elevator into a small hallway. Three doors shoot off in different directions. “It’s really not that bad.” He waves his hand in front of the biometrics of one door.
“Bad?” Annabelle gawks. “This is amazing.” She’s across the room, her nose glued to the window. On this side of the dome, an artificial reef glows from the lights. Fish of all kinds dart around. “This must be the best apartment in the whole dome.”
“Actually—” I begin, but Nico steps in front of me, stopping me from meeting Annabelle at the window.
Soren steps around him and joins her. He points out a few fish, telling her what they are.
Holter pulls me into the kitchen. “Let them talk.”
It’s large by kitchen standards. And newly renovated. I’ve lived in the dome my whole life, but I have no idea who used to live here. And I’ve never once come down here. Not even swimming around as a kid.
Nico wanders in. “He will do.” He’s staring at Soren.
“‘Will do.’ That’s what you want for your pod mate. Will do.” I grip Nico’s elbow, and he stares at my hand. But I don’t drop his arm.
“I want Annabelle to not get sick and die from lost pod illness when I’m put down. That’s what I want. So, yes. In a pinch, he will do.”
“What if she doesn’t want him?” I let him go. My insides twist.
“Then you need to find her a Glyden mate she does like and keep an eye out for her well-being.” Nico leans against the golden counter.
“I can do that, and will do that, but Soren? Come on.” I don’t want my brother anywhere near her.
“Are you telling me you’re not going to make him the next CEO of Drakos Mining?”
