Page 5 of Pretty When She Breaks

“Prince,” I managed, taking his offered hand as I steadied my breathing. He stepped close to me and pressed a kiss to my cheek, stirring memories of the last time I’d seen him.

He pulled back enough to straighten but still hovered close by.

Prince was technically family, though we didn’t share any blood. Gordon—his actual father—was in a pack with Marcus, my father’s cousin. It was important to make those distinctions when you were in a family business like ours; it opened many more marriage opportunities.

When I was sure my body was calm, I pushed Laurel away to become the Duchess again.

Laurel wouldn’t survive in this room.

“What a wonderful surprise!” I said. “When did you get back in town?”

“Not long ago,” Prince said with a shrug.

“You should have called me!” I told him.

I was glad he hadn’t.

“But this is simply perfect! I’d love to get to know the alphas who packed up with Prince. We practically grew up together, until he abandoned me.”

I shot him a wry smile, and Prince scoffed in mock outrage.

“I was a teenager. I hardly had a choice in moving.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re back. Things have been dull here without you,” I said, and Prince puffed up a bit at the praise. It was another lie, of course, but one I knew he wanted to hear.

“Won’t you gentlemen come make yourselves comfortable?” I asked, gesturing further inside.

“Gentlemen! Christ. You’re far too generous to apply that title to these two.” Dax’s face held that simmering amusement again as he jerked a thumb at Prince and Madison. Madison’s face split into a leering grin as Prince rolled his eyes.

“Honestly, I can’t take you guysanywhere,” Prince said, stepping up and following me. He placed a hand on my back, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and I held back my flinch.

Breathe.

Remain in control.

“Would you prefer a table or something more comfortable?” I asked, indicating the various options for seating.

“Something more comfortable,” Prince replied, and I took them to the balcony, offering them the couches with the best view.

Madison sat down and kicked his feet up, but Dax walked right over to the edge, taking another drag of his cigarette as he soaked up the view.

I slotted myself next to him, my bracelet clinking againstthe railing as I dangled my hands over the edge. Ringside was filling up now, the crowd thickest around the Sink and the betting booths. The whole place was humming with energy, with hungry anticipation of the show.

“It’s quite something, isn’t it?” I asked, glancing at him.

“That, it is,” Dax said, tapping his ashes on the side and watching them as they fell through the air.

“Prince always said my fights had nothing on the Blood Well. But this…” He arched an eyebrow at me and gave me that sharp grin. “I had a warehouse and a cage and called it good. This is like the fucking Colosseum.”

“Well, Rome is a bit of a theme here,” I said, indicating the benches and curtains. “If you couldn’t tell from the decor.”

“Along with your family’s pattern for names,” he commented. “Thaddeus, Julius. And Laurel. A crown worn by victors, isn’t it?”

Though it was an innocent question, his gaze held sharpness as he waited for my reaction. I laughed, hiding the bitterness that I felt. What was he playing at? Was this a test, perhaps, to see how I viewed my lot in life? Pointless. He’d only see what I wanted him to.

“Aren’t you quite the historian,” I said, and he inclined his head toward me as he took another drag of his smoke.

“Don’t need to be a historian to know you’d look amazing on top of me,” he said, and I laughed again.