+25 BONOS


    Iris


    The flowers in Arthur''s hands seem to wilt in his tight grip as he stands frozen in the doorway, his eyes darting between Caleb and me. My stomach twists at the sight of his jaw clenching. He''s jealous.


    "What the hell are you doing with my mate, Caleb?" Arthur''s voice is hardly more than a growl.


    "Arthur-" I start, but Caleb cuts me off.


    "Sit down, Arthur," Caleb says calmly, gesturing to the empty chair beside us. "And get over yourself. I was just giving Iris an etiquette lesson so she stops humiliating herself in public."


    My mouth drops open. I''ve never heard anyone speak to Arthur like that-not even his parents. Arthur''s eyes sh red again, and for a moment I''m afraid he might shift right here in my apartment.


    "Why?" Arthur asks, his voice low and dangerous. "Why are you going out on a limb to help her?"


    My throat bobs as I watch Caleb set down his teacup in the exact way he just taught me-pinky down so the cup doesn''t rattle against the saucer. He folds his hands in hisp and meets Arthur''s gaze.


    "I took pity on her. She keeps embarrassing herself in a world she''s not prepared for." He gestures to the teacups and napkins spread across my dining table. "And after what Selina did to her, I feltpelled to help."


    Arthur''s grip on the flowers tightens, crushing several stems. "That''s it?"


    "Not entirely." Caleb leans back in his chair. "Selina was raised as my sister for twenty-six years, regardless of biology. And now Iris is the public mate of the man who put her in aa." He pauses, letting that sink in. "I feelpelled to keep an eye on Iris. For her safety."


    The logic is wless, delivered with just the right mix of brotherly concern and subtle usation. I watch Arthur process this, his expression shifting from suspicion to something closer to guilt. My stomach twists.


    "You think she''s in danger?" Arthur asks. He looks at me. "Iris, do you feel unsafe around me?"


    I quickly shake my head. "Of course not.''


    Caleb clears his throat. "Not you, necessarily, Arthur. Selina had many friends, as you well


    +25 BONOS


    know. Some of them might seek revenge. I''d rather prevent another incident than clean up after one."


    I bite my lip, watching the exchange. Arthur''s shoulders rx slightly, but I can tell he''s still wary. He looks at me, really looks at me, and I force myself to meet his gaze. The lie burns in my throat, but I swallow it down.


    "I see," Arthur finally says. He turns to me, his expression softening. "Are you alright with this... arrangement?"


    I nod, managing what I hope looks like a grateful smile. "Caleb''s been really helpful. I need all the guidance I can get."


    Arthur studies my face for a long moment, and I hold my breath. Can he tell I''m hiding something? Does he sense the massive secret sitting between us like an elephant in the room?


    But then he nods, seemingly epting my answer. The tension in the room eases ever so slightly.


    "Well," Arthur says, straightening his shoulders. "I appreciate you looking out for her." The words seem to cost him something, but he says them anyway. Always the diplomat, even when his wolf is clearly still agitated.


    Caleb inclines his head graciously. "Of course. We wouldn''t want any more public disasters, would we?"


    There''s a slight edge to his words that makes me wince, but Arthur either doesn''t notice-or perhaps he just chooses to ignore it.


    Caleb rises smoothly from his chair and smooths down his shirt. "Well, I think that concludes


    then to our first lesson. I''ll leave you two to your evening," he says, nodding curtly to me, Arthur. "Iris, we''ll continue our lessons tomorrow. Same time?"