Cordian was a pro at obscuring how he truly felt. Hideki and Noel weren’t as skilled—both were angry. I wasn’t a fucking mind reader, unfortunately, so I couldn’t tell why.
My arm wrapped around Kiara’s shoulders when I slid back into the booth. I pinched her bicep discreetly and she released her death grip on the knife. Her shaky inhale proved I was right to intervene. It was either that, or Kiara stabbing that beta woman.
Possibly in the neck.
“Is there anything you’d like to talk about?” I said politely into the silence. “We’re supposed to be getting to know each other.”
I’d rather I’d never met them in the first place, but I had to be cordial. Iwasbeing cordial, damn it. This was the best I could do.
“What do you and Kiara enjoy doing with your spare time?” Cordian asked.
He was good at playing along at this farce of civility, I’d give him that. None of the pack were keen to get handsy. For the most part, they weren’t even wanting to make conversation.
I was suspicious they were here for the same reason we were—blackmail.
There was no obvious reason to blackmail their pack to bond with Kiara and I. She was supposed to be sold, and that was the opposite.
Grabbing my phone, I sent a quick text to Ambrose informing him of my guess. He could get started on figuring out the background here. It was supposed to be Dash’s job, but of course…
My eyes met his.
He hadn’t stopped watching since I left him behind, drenched in my scent.
I realized belatedly that Kiara hadn’t answered Cordian’s question, leaving us in yet another silence. Looking at her, I tilted my head to the side. I was careful to ensure my questions were simply questions, and not commands. I was still getting used to the power I had over my bondmate, and how easy it was to use. “Dove? Do you have an answer?”
Her sapphire blue eyes widened. “Um…”
What had she done when she lived with her father? She had to have hobbies, especially if she was never allowed to leave the house she grew up in.
“I enjoyed sewing,” she said.
Her answer was given to me and not the Ashby pack, and she spoke in the past tense.
“Would you like to sew again?” I asked.
She shrugged. Her fingers danced over the concealed weapon.
I couldn’t say I was surprised her chosen hobby involved needles.
“I can get you a machine,” I said.
It would be at the house by the morning. Dash would make sure of it. My wealth wouldn’t be enough to have a sewing machine delivered in the middle of the night, but his sure as fuck was.
“I never had a machine. Father wouldn’t—” She paused, gaze flicking across the table at the bored looking Ashby pack. “All of my sewing was done by hand.”
“And would you like to sew again?” I pushed.
Her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, and she gave a quick nod.
I sent another text to Ambrose. She would be getting a machine, along with a hand sewing set and all the fabrics an omega could dream of.
“What do you do in your spare time?” Kiara asked.
It was directed at me. Not the Ashby pack.
I was as hesitant to answer as she had been, for different reasons.
“I don’t have spare time,” I admitted.
