Page 16 of Priceless
“Listen to me very carefully,” Everett said. “You will not force her into this.”
Frank frowned. “I thought it was all or nothing?”
“It is,” I said. “But we’re not monsters. There are other people we can marry if we choose.” My mind rebelled at the very thought of it. “Ocean must marry us willingly.”
Not only because it was the right thing to do, but because if she were forced, it would be that much harder for us to show her how much we wanted her. How much she was everything.
One scent, and none of the world mattered anymore. Zenith Incorporated—our life’s work and our whole future—could burn to the ground tomorrow, and if we had her, I wouldn’t care.
She was ours. On the deepest level of our souls, she was meant to be ours. No one fully understood the power of a scent match. I certainly hadn’t until I put my hand on that man’s shoulder, caught her scent, and the entire universe shifted.
“Like I said, I’ll need some time.”
“You have until Monday,” Micah said. “At noon.”
Frank nodded and then left the room so quickly you would have thought the building was on fire.
Chuckling, Micah shook his head. “I don’t think that’s what he expected.”
“What happens if she says no?” I asked.
“Then we court her.”
I stared at the wall for a long second before speaking. “He’s going to try to force her. There’s too much on the line for him not to.”
Everett grinned, showing me the smile only our enemies saw. “Let him try. If he forces her hand, we’ll take him for everything he’s worth. And then we’ll court our Omega anyway, in the way she deserves.”
Taking a long sip of my coffee, I nodded and smiled. I couldn’t wait to see her again, but fuck, Monday felt like a long way away.
6
ALOE VERA
(IMMORTALITY PLANT, CROCODILE’S TONGUE, SAVIA)
MEANING: BITTERNESS; DEJECTION; GRIEF; SORROW
OCEAN
________
Iliked the days after parties.
It was always quiet in the house. My aunt slept late and babied herself with her inevitable hangover, my uncle dove into work and solidifying whatever connections he’d made the night before, and I was left entirely alone.
Which was a good thing, because there were still a bunch of things to do before Ellie’s wedding.
Isolde’s sister was a sweetheart, and I was thrilled to do the flowers for her wedding. Everything for the ceremony and reception was sorted, and my girls were getting ready to make the pieces.
At the moment, I was finishing up the final designs for the boutonnieres. It should have been done a long time ago, but I hadn’t been able to decide what message I wanted to send to Isolde’s ex. Finally, I’d decided on a petunia, with some hemlock and basil, representing anger, disdain, hatred, and death.
It made me smile.
The flowers at the party last night, though they’d been exactly what my aunt and uncle had asked for in terms of colors, were similar. They never asked about the meanings, and I never volunteered them. One more small way I rebelled whenever I could.
My phone rang, Sally’s name on the screen. “Hey,” I answered.
“Hi, boss.”
