Page 161 of Beautiful Prey

And Seren fucking knew it. Of course he did. Seren has always been the rock beneath the rest of us, the one who stays standing while everybody else falls apart. So the crazy bastard looked at Ryven being shipped across the Reach and at Onyx lying in that hospital, and quietly put his own name on the fucking paper instead.

I’m going to miss him like hell.

Around us, glasses are already being refilled, and congratulations are called out to the newlyweds, while half the lawn remains oblivious that Sebastian Clement has just been fucked by his own contract.

Part of me wants to laugh. Part of me wants to put my drink down and laugh until somebody takes me outside.

“Mr. Clement.”

I turn to find Vasco coming toward me with one of Seren’s guards at his side, clearly on his way out rather than into the reception. “Apologies for the interruption. I was about to head home, but I went to the registry office at ten this morning about our arrangement. They had no instructions for me. What they did have was the Calder company I lost to you, registered under House Clement.”

I raise an eyebrow and take a glass from a passing tray. “Really? That does sound inconvenient.”

Vasco stares at me. “You know perfectly well what it means. House Clement has no legal right to hold strategic mining interests on Calder under the Reach Treaty.”

“Then I suppose somebody should look into that.”

Across the lawn, Dad’s eyes find us, his attention fixing on Vasco before moving slowly to me. Perfect. He heard every fucking word, and from the way his expression changes, he knows exactly what it means even if nobody else on this lawn does.

“Let me tell you something, Vasco. There is no Thursday, and there never was. I’d have thought a man who lost a planet at a card table would know better than to trust the fellow who took it, but apparently I gave you too much credit.”

Vasco’s smile disappears. “You said we had an arrangement.”

“I said whatever I needed to say to get Jade out of that forest, and you heard whatever you needed to hear because you thought there was still money to be made.” I lift my glass toward Dad, whose face has gone very still across the lawn. “Either way, I think we both understand you’ve been paid quite enough by the Clement family.”

Vasco follows my gaze, whatever he wants to say dying on his tongue when he finds Dad staring straight at him, the Imperial at his side. Dad paid Vasco to hunt Jade. I promised Vasco whatever it took to get him out of my way, and the poor bastard managed to get fucked by both of us.

Glancing at the guard beside him, I nod toward the house. “Please take Mr. Vasco out. This is a private family event.”

Vasco hesitates, looking from the guard to me as though deciding whether making a scene would be worth it. His gaze flicks toward Dad one last time before his mouth tightens. “This isn’t over.”

“Oh, yes, it is, my friend. You just haven’t realized it yet.” I raise my glass as the guard puts a hand at his back and guides him away, catching Dad’s eye across the lawn.

Happy fucking wedding day.

A minute later, Seren stops the party by inclining his head about an inch towards the Imperial and saying, “You’ll excuse us,” before sweeping Aleron into his arms.

The prince gives a startled squeak, the older woman immediately hurrying after them. “Seren, the dinner. There’s a dinner⁠—”

“There is.” He keeps walking. “Start without us.”

The Veyras don’t seem to know what to do with themselves, and I almost feel sorry for them. Pleasure to meet Seren Clement, all of you. You are not fucking ready.

Aleron stares over Seren’s arm with enormous blue eyes, one hand gripping the front of his coat as a flush creeps up his throat. He looks shocked, scandalized, and about three seconds from discovering something interesting about himself. He isn’t calling for help, the kitten, and the doors close behind them before anyone decides whether to intervene.

Beside me, Jade breathes out, leaning slightly into my side. “Oh. Oh, he’s going to be fine.”

Ryven brings Onyx over in the chair, one hand on the back of it and the other resting on my brother’s shoulder. “Ten minutes, pretty boy. Then I’m taking him back, and don’t argue with me. He’s been out for four hours.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re gray.”

“You said I had color an hour ago.”

“That was an hour ago. Ten minutes, Onyx.”

Jade is on his knees before the chair, almost before Ryven finishes, wrapping both arms around his brother as Onyx grabs a fistful of his shirt and buries his face against him.