Turning around toward her room, she collided with Griffin. He must have been walking head down texting a message because he practically tripped over her, dropping his phone in the process.
Diving to retrieve it, he said, “Good morning. I was going to wake Erik to let him know our flight doesn’t leave until eleven.” Straightening up to look at her, he apparently realized that Cassie had just emerged from Erik’s room. Noticing that she still wore yesterday’s outfit and was carrying her shoes, he went dead pale as the implication struck him.
“Um...” Cassie trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
“Yes, well, um...” Griffin echoed. He glanced around wildly as if trying to figure out a way to disappear into the wallpaper.
“Well, this is embarrassing.” Cassie offered lamely, hopping on one foot as she slipped her shoes back on.
“Not at all. Not at all.” The scrivener hastened to reassure her though there was an expression on his face that she couldn’t quite read. He looked lost and a little sad. “It’s none of my business how you spend your off-hours.”
“No, let me explain.” She reached out to grasp his arm. “We didn’t plan for this to happen. It just sort of...” She hesitated. “Sort of happened.”
Griffin gave a deep sigh and patted her hand reassuringly. “Cassie, you don’t need to defend your behavior to me.”
“But I don’t want things to get weird between us.”
“Weird?” he echoed.
“I mean, if Erik and I are involved, I don’t want you to feel left out.”
“What are you suggesting?” His voice sounded alarmed.
“Oh, good goddess, I didn’t mean that!” Cassie exclaimed. “I just meant to say, we’re still a team, right?”
“Oh, I see.” He laughed faintly with relief. “Of course, we are.” Then he peered at her face earnestly. “Just answer me one question. Being with Erik—does that make you happy?”
She smiled up at him. “Absolutely.”
That unreadable expression flitted across his face for a second time then it was gone, replaced by a forced smile. “That’s all that matters,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
Impulsively, she threw her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. “Griffin, you’ll always be my friend. I want you to know that.”
She couldn’t see his face, but there seemed to be a catch in his voice when he replied, “And I yours. As long as I draw breath, I shall always be your friend.”
Chapter 27—Polygamous Perversity
Daniel paced nervously around the study room in the compound. It was the Nephilim version of a library in name only. There were bookcases lining the walls, and those cases were clogged with books, but the room was hardly devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. All the volumes were tracts preaching the doctrine of the brotherhood. He was the only person who ever came here because everyone preferred to get their sermons straight from the diviner’s mouth rather than in written form. He eyed his current surroundings dubiously. He had hoped that meeting here would give him some kind of psychological advantage. The butterflies in his stomach told him it hadn’t. This conversation was going to be unpleasant, and nothing would change that. Still, this venue was better than any other alternative. Meeting in private chambers could lead to physical intimacy which he wanted to avoid at all costs.
The door opened noiselessly and a pale face poked around the corner. “May I come in, Daniel?”
The scion cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. Come in, Annabeth.”
Daniel’s third wife shut the door behind her and came to stand dutifully in front of her husband. He noticed that she had tied her white apron unnecessarily tight around her middle in an effort to accentuate her pregnant belly. It was a source of unending pride to her because the delivery of a second child would mean she had produced more offspring than the scion’s other wives. According to the rules of the Nephilim, she would become his principal wife with dominion over her sister-wives.
She blinked her colorless eyes a few times. “You wanted to see me?”
Daniel tried to stand up straight and look authoritative. How would his father act if he were faced with a situation such as this? In an intentionally brusque voice, Daniel said, “Sit down, Annabeth. I need to speak to you about something important.”
She lowered herself awkwardly into a chair, all the while keeping her eyes fastened on her husband’s face. “What’s wrong? Have I done something wrong?”
Daniel didn’t answer immediately. He drew up a chair and sat down opposite her, trying to mold his face into a stern expression. He couldn’t quite carry it off and imagined he must appear mildly dyspeptic. “Your sister-wives are concerned about your behavior toward them.” He paused, waiting to see what defense she would present.
“Me? What could I possibly have done to upset them?” Her face was the very portrait of injured innocence.
“They say you no longer treat them as equals. That you want them to give way to you in all things.”
Annabeth’s mouth drew itself up into a tense little line. She gripped the arms of the chair until her knuckles were white. “So, they go behind my back to tattle to you?”
Daniel patted one of her hands awkwardly. “It’s nothing to be upset about. They were right to come to me. We’re all one family, Annabeth. They aren’t your servants.”
She glared at him with ill-concealed irritation. “And I’m not theirs anymore either!”
The scion was taken aback by her words. “What are you saying? That they’ve treated you badly in the past?”
His wife gave a short bark of a laugh. “Why else would I hate them so? I can still hear their taunts echoing in my head. Silly little Annabeth. Nervous little Annabeth. Timid little Annabeth.”
