Page 56 of Alpha Heat

“It’s a bit rococo,” he murmured, waving his hand toward the sculpted and gilded woodwork lining the ceiling, doors, and culminating in ornamental filigrees around the dome that made Xan’s heart skip gleefully. But he knew such elements were the antithesis of Caleb’s usual design choices.

“It’s shiny,” Xan enthused. “Or could be.”

“Yes.” Caleb nudged him with a smile. “It’s a beautiful space.”

Through the gloom, they saw where the drawing room and library branched off on opposite sides of the grand hall. Both appeared to be equally worn-looking rooms of fabulous, over-the-top design, complete with furnishings that looked usable if not entirely fashionable.

Near the back of the grand hall, walkways led to other rooms and, if the noises coming from the right were any indication, the kitchen and most likely the dining room as well. Visible through wide, arched, glass doors at the back of the hall was an overgrown open-air courtyard in the middle of the house.

“It’s a good thing Ren is wonderful at hiring,” Caleb said, nodding toward the greenery pressing against the glass. “Someone will need to tame it.”

“Indeed. Should we go exploring?”

“Where are the servants?” Caleb asked, frowning. “They should be here getting things ready.”

“I sent most of them to town,” came a voice from the direction of the landing at the top of the right branch of the stairs.

“On whose authority?” Xan asked, peering into the darkness.

“Hello, cousin,” the voice said. A blaze suddenly flamed from overhead, the chandelier bursting with light above them.

Xan squinted at the sudden brightness and then, stomach curdling, he caught sight of the source of the greeting. His cousin now stood in the middle of the staircase, one hand on the banister, the other lifted high in greeting.

“The light switches are in the most damnable places in this house,” Janus said with a smirk. “The one for the chandelier is at the top of the stairs.”

Dark hair curled gently around his smug face and smile, and his hazel eyes glittered in the now sharp light. Fit and tanned, he was dressed, as always, in tailored but sensual-looking clothes, showing off a sense of fashion and casual sexiness that Xan had always envied.

Next to him, Caleb went stiff and stifled a startled gasp.

“As I was saying, welcome to Virona, cousin,” Janus said cheekily, sweeping his raised hand around. “I think you’ll find things mostly in order for your arrival. You’re welcome for that, by the way. Your servants are good, but someone had to make the hard choices these last few days. That person was me.”

Xan gaped at him as Caleb drew closer to his side.

“And thankyoufor allowing me to be your houseguest for the next few months,” Janus went on. “Though I doubt you had much to do with it. Truth be told, I’m rather looking forward to it.”

“Houseguest?” Caleb asked, darting a glance Xan’s way, his blue eyes wide and worried. “Did you know about this?”

Xan shook his head. No, he had certainly not. His smile was more of a snarl, but he managed to pull out the usual niceties all the same. “Thank you for greeting us after our journey, but I think it’s my place to welcome you, cousin, since this is to be my home.”

Janus only chuckled, and Xan clenched his jaw. He put his arm around Caleb’s lower back. “Caleb, allow me to introduce you to Janus Heelies. My father’s favorite spy. Janus, this is my omega, Caleb Riggs.” Caleb’s breath came in small, strange gasps.

Janus smirked. “Yes, I’d heard you’d contracted with the elusive beauty of the class of Wolf Path.” He continued down the stairs now, his hand outstretched toward Caleb, who seemed to flinch away. “I’ve actually already had the honor. Haven’t I, Caleb?”

Xan tightened his hold on Caleb’s waist as his omega replied with a strange tension in his voice, “Indeed.”

Xan asked, “You were in the same cohort, then?”

“We were,” Janus agreed. “Many a Philia soirée did I spend watching our dear Caleb hiding in a corner, trying to douse his obvious light from attracting admirers. But no matter how he tried, he never lacked for those.”

“So you were a spy even then?” Xan asked snidely.

“I’ve gotten better at it with age. As your father well knows.”

Caleb narrowed his gaze at Janus. “I don’t recall you hurting for admirers at those parties either and yet you’re here alone.”

“Alas I never found one to suit.”

Caleb hissed out a breath slowly.