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"No," I hissed, shaking my head. "No, I'm fine, Ronson. It's better if I am the one with your guests." If Beatrice had been the one to keep Adelaide company this afternoon, it would only have given the betas reason to think Ronson didn't have confidence in me.
"Very well, but I insist on having my omega's attention for the rest of the evening," Ronson said, not bothering to lower his voice by the end.
He dotes well, I thought, unable to hide my smile as Ronson settled me in a cozy armchair near a stack of books I'd left on a table the week before. I liked the blue parlor best in the evenings. It looked over the island rather than the sea, all the delicate lights of homes and the farther towns sparkling and fading over the course of hours.
Gamesby was doting too, or mimicking the concept as he hurried Adelaide onto a chaise, fetching her a blanket.
"You see, Lord Cadogan, I had hoped to share a toast with you, celebrating our good fortune," Gamesby said, too loud for it to escape anyone's notice, even as Niall and the other betas sat down to a card game.
Ronson sighed, his back to the room as he poured us drinks by the bar cabinet. "I don't see why we can't do so—"
"For our dragonkin community is shortly to celebrate another entry to society," Gamesby continued, rushing the words over Ronson's, his hand clamped on Adelaide's shoulder.
Whatever reception Gamesby expected, it probably wasn't for Ronson to turn, two short glasses of whiskey in one hand, and stride toward him with a calm expression on his face—not a smile, those were rare.
"Congratulations are indeed in order," Ronson said, passing Gamesby one of the glasses and then tapping his own lightly against the rim. He offered Adelaide a brief bow, and her eyes widened. "I wish your family the very best."
The pair were silent, Gamesby's fixed smile tightening and Adelaide's cheeks flushing slightly. Ronson returned to my side, offering me a small glass of sweet brandy, a syrupy heat on my tongue that we'd discovered I liked best. He leaned against the high back of my chair, one hand dangling down to toy with a braided loop at the nape of my neck.
"We are…very lucky to know so soon," Adelaide said, straightening. She found my eyes and held them. "And certainly, we will be delighted to raise our son in the same generation as the alpha's. When do you plan to a
Ronson's hand tensed, tugging briefly on my hair before stroking over the side of my throat in apology. It struck me, in the sudden inhale of breath that circled the room, that of course this had been their aim. Had Ronson succeeded? In spite of his choice of omega, in spite of their efforts to distract him, would the alpha produce an heir this year?
And I was the only person in the room who knew for certain if such a thing was even possible.
I glanced up at Ronson and found his gaze already hunting mine, an urgency there, a worry. I would've given anything to banish the others in the room and ask him what he was thinking, to dive into his head and know the absolute truth of his thoughts.
"I admire your curiosity, but you know as well as I do that any a
Her eyes narrowed, and I refused to flinch.