Page 114 of Brandy Snap: Part Two

Kai and Mel had exchanged so many bites they’d trapped themselves in a permanent haze, and we couldn’t talk about it until after the dinner.

“Oh?” Mum arched a brow. “I didn’t expect her to tell you. How interesting. But that doesn’t change the fact she is wholly inappropriate for you. Whether you mate with her or not, Camille’s situation won’t change.”

“We told you so many fucking times we don’t want fucking kids. Just accept that you’re not getting anything from us.”

“Language, Caspian,” she tutted. “And this is not about you. My heats are over. I won’t have any more children. It doesn’t matter what Lily tries, she’s a complete failure. There’s no hope for her. Which leaves you.” She placed her teacup in her saucer with another clink. “You complain about me not listening to you, and I could return that argument tenfold. It seems no matter what I do, you simply won’t hear me. Our family line must continue, there is no question about it.”

Her voice was growing shriller and I was one step closer to losing it. If I was going to go for her about how she treated Kai and Mel, now would probably be a good time. But I wished Sin was there to back me up. I couldn’t argue like he could.

And this wasn’t worth it at all.

“If that’s all, I’m leaving. I can’t believe you dragged me out of work for this. You could have just called me or something.”

Mum paused, and the smile that crossed her lips made my heart drop.

“What?” I asked, nerves rolling in my stomach. “What is it?”

“Caspian, do you really think I would ask you here just to warn you? I would hope you thought I was better than that.”

My breath caught as she proudly adjusted herself on her chair. I didn’t like her look. I didn’t like the way she straightened her back and tilted her head as if she was about to start another fucking game.

“What do you mean?” I asked slowly.

“I mean, Sin is currently in a two-hour business meeting, Lily is having yetanothercharity event, Vivian and her pack are currently at their country estate, and I’ve conveniently removed all the staff from Risler House.”

My heart pitched downwards as her smile deepened, and she carried on.

“That’s all to say, our lovely Camille is entirely alone right now. Everyone she loves is so,sofar away.”

She shrugged, like it was fine to isolate someone who was so ill she could barely climb stairs by herself.

But I was missing something. If I was Sin or Kai, I would have gotten it right away. Those fuckers were better at scheming than me.

“Why would you clear out the house? Who’s going to look after her? And why the fuck did you need me to come here?”

We were more than an hour away from Risler House, but I couldn’t think why Mum would spout this shit.

“Because there’s three men there now who plan to help her an awful lot. And they so gratefully offered to go to Risler House to take care of her.”

“Just tell me what’s going on!”

“Do you know there’s no cool-off period for an alpha bite? As soon as a bite is exchanged, they become mates. So if a bite was shared, and the omega happened to have a tragic accident a day later, it would be suspicious, sure. But, legally, their families would still be joined.”

That ticking in my brain finally stopped as cold plunged through me.

“You can’t be serious,” I said, fear shredding me as the pieces clicked together.

“I warned you, Caspian. I told both you and Sin you had to choose an omega from the list. But you continued to remain stubborn, and now you’ve forced yourself into this situation. You left me no choice.”

I was rooted to the chair as I stared at the person who was meant to be my mum.

For fuck’s sake. I knew what she was fucking like, but I never thought she’d do this.

“This…Are you saying this is my fault?”

“I’m telling you that when I make a threat, you should all take it seriously.”

She checked her watch, sighing heavily. “Well, they should be there now. The Hiscoxes do work rather efficiently, and I can’t imagine Camille will say no to biting when they can be so very convincing.”