Grumbles circled the table, a few betas brave enough to mutter choice words. I collected my courage and turned to glance at Niall. He was already staring at me, face nearly blank. Except I'd known him all my life and there was a sliver of humor in his eyes, the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. Good. If Niall were truly angry with my decision, if he thought I'd done wrong, there'd be no hint of a laugh. We pushed back our chairs in unison, and I immediately debated the merits of flying to the village before returning to the castle. I could stop at a bookseller, see if I could find anything for Mairwen that wasn't already in the library. Then again…there were likely plenty of books in the library she hadn't read yet, and she was there, waiting⁠—

"Alpha Cadogan, a word as you leave, if you have a moment."

I paused, and my head cleared of russet locks and pink skin. Gideon Millward stood at the edge of the room, his eyes on the milling and exiting gentlemen as if he hadn't spoken a word. Interesting. I glanced at Niall who nodded, waiting.

"Speak to Lord Posy. Issue an invitation to the castle for him and his wife in…" Mairwen was only seeing the seamstress today, and for some reason I didn't want the rest of dragonkin to see her in her old dresses again, even her parents. Not now that she was mine. "In ten days' time."

Niall split away from me, weaving through the betas to catch Mairwen's father, and I dipped my head to Millward, continuing on my path toward the exit.

"I'll warn you now, I'm no more likely to say yes in private to something absurd than I am around that table." We would have to walk together, and it would slow my progress back to the castle. To Mairwen. At least it wasn't late.

"And certainly not to a beta with as little to offer you in influence as I do," Gideon answered.

I shot him a glance over my shoulder as we stepped outside of Lord Cambeth's manor, but he seemed easy, unbothered by the truth of his statement. I grunted in answer, and his lips quirked.

"For what it's worth, I don't think this request is absurd, but you're welcome to correct me," he added. "I never did congratulate you properly."

My steps slowed. Some betas were stepping into carriages already. Many remained milling in Cambeth's drawing room, no doubt to speak my name in foul tones.

"On selecting your omega," Gideon said, matching my pace to walk beside me as we headed for the gates of the Cambeth estate.

"Ah. Few did," I muttered, but a smile curved at my lips. "But given my fortune in Mairwen, I'm inclined not to be offended."

Millward stared at me, full of questions. Did he think I was as mad for choosing Mairwen as the others did?

"That's her perfume, I take it," he said, obvious curiosity lacing his voice.

I stopped still, turning to stare down my nose at the man in warning. "I am willing to hear you out, Millward, but I suggest you take a different track."

"I don't mean to offend, but there was never any sign⁠—"

"You're being very bold."

Gideon laughed. "I'm being honest with you, alpha. You seem the type to appreciate that sort of thing."

"Any dragon lucky enough to have an omega will have her perfume on his skin, yes?"

"If your aim was to prove to dragonkin that we are wrong to doubt your choice, presenting Omega Cadogan would do more. Now they'll just think you wear false perfume," Gideon said, shrugging his shoulders and turning to pace forward.

I gaped briefly at his back. The nerve of this beta. He reminded me of…Niall. Damnit. That meant I liked him. "This is what you wanted to speak to me about?"

Gideon paused, and I marched to catch up with him. "It's all that any of dragonkin wants to speak about, my lord. But you're right—it isn't why I asked for your time. I know a man, a farm laborer at the moment, who grew up north of Skybern. His father worked for a pearl farmer, and he learned the process himself when he was young. He uses it still, although on a small scale."

I kept silent, my eyes on the high tower of the castle, where I hoped to find Mairwen waiting for me when all this was done. The longer I was quiet, the more Gideon Millward fidgeted in our walk, turning to me, waiting, then turning away again.

He huffed. "You think I should've brought this proposal to the table."

"That is how these things work." I was curious, though, not that I wanted to let him know as much after he'd been so impertinent about Mairwen's perfume.

"It is also how someone like Gamesby or Palmer would've purchased this man's expertise out from under me before I had time to persuade you to loan me the capital. It's not a quick return on investment, my lord."

"I imagine not. How long?"

"If I want to do it right, at least a year and a half before the first harvest. Preferably longer. But after that point, profit is easy."

I nodded. I knew enough of the market to know Damian Worthington owned portions of several pearl farms. That investment had made him rich, and with his wealth, he'd secured influence over his betas.

"How much are you offering me?" I asked, not tearing my stare from the castle.

"Five percent," Gideon answered.

I laughed. "Five percent is very low."

"Five percent, and you can choose me a partner. Another beta gentleman. One who would be…"

I stopped. Gideon and I were safely away from anyone else. His own home was in the opposite direction, but he was following me toward the castle. I turned to face him and waited for him to finish.

"Grateful," he said at last, shrugging. "One whose gratitude might sway his ear away from other influences."

I recalled the faces around the table today. Gideon Millward was smart to offer me this. I didn't need more than the five percent share. I needed allies who'd want me alive to keep their pearl farm invested until it bore fruit.

"Can you stand to work with Buchanan?" I asked. Niall had seen Gideon going to Buchanan's house after I'd denied him Francesca, but I'd never seen the men interact in person. There was something private between them, and I wondered how it would affect Gideon's decision.

He paled slightly, staring warily at me, but I'd never been very good at expressing myself, and it suited me in moments like this to be impenetrably obscure.

"He's not the worst of them, really, just desperate," Gideon said, holding my gaze. "Give him a fortune, and you'll have his loyalty back. It won't take us much to start. Just a few men."

"Bring the numbers to the castle. Not today," I said, catching the sharp gleam of triumph in his expression. It was after luncheon, an early time to declare myself done with business, but…

Gideon only bowed. "Yes, Alpha Cadogan. Thank you."

I spread my wings and leapt to the air without another word.

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter Twenty-ThreeMAIRWEN

Sex was rather wonderful.

I rolled my hips, shivering as cool air trickled through the parted curtains, teasing against the sweat that beaded on my back and between my breasts. Beneath me, the Alpha of Bleake Isle groaned and twisted, body bucking up, pleading with me.

I grinned, and Ronson huffed.

"You love to torture me," he rasped, propping himself up on one elbow and reaching for a breast with his free hand. I stiffened, but he was gentle, brushing his thumb across my nipple till it pebbled for his touch.