Chapter 76: something is not right

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: something is not right

All three brothers stared at her in open shock.

Enzo recovered first, brows drawn tight. "Why? Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?"

Amelia’s shoulders rose and fell.

"Yeah. But I don’t want to break your mother’s heart. She’s the closest thing I’ve had to family in a long time. Also, I’m not humble enough to pretend I don’t enjoy the benefits that come with being your partner—the wealth, the protection, all of it."

Reid let out a short, incredulous scoff. "So you’re only staying for the money."

"Yeah." Amelia met his eyes head on. "If the three of you were broke, do you know what people would actually call you? You are lucky your average faces came with money. Women wouldn’t be lining up. They’d be running in the opposite direction."

Reid’s mouth opened, voice edged with something almost defensive as he thought. Our faces are definitely not average.

"That isn’t the only thing they come for."

Amelia flatly replied. "I don’t care about your thing."

Even as the words left her mouth, her gaze flicked downward for half a second before she could stop it—remembering the thick, unmistakable length of him.

Heat licked low through her stomach. Her thighs pressed together once, a small involuntary shiver running through her legs before she forced her eyes back up and locked them on his face like nothing had happened.

Enzo’s voice cut through.

"That isn’t even the reward we wanted to offer you. It’s nowhere close. What I was trying to say is that we all started off on a very, very wrong foot. It would be better if we simply... got to know each other casually. Properly. And we won’t pretend we’re only doing this for ourselves. We’re doing it for our mother as well."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "How nice of you to announce that you’ve decided to start treating me like a normal human being."

Dean’s dry voice replied. "We aren’t human beings. You know that."

Amelia opened her mouth to argue—then Night Menace’s words surfaced again. She shut it again and exhaled through her nose.

"Fine."

A new thought slipped in.

Wait. How does being their partner actually get me closer to my destined mate? Won’t he feel it somehow—that I was tied to not just one man, but three?

She shook her head slightly, as if she could physically dislodge the worry.

I’ve barely been intimate with them. And besides... they could vouch for me if it ever came to that. Right?

She looked back at the three of them, decision settling into place.

"Fine. It’s a truce. Or whatever you want to call it. So—what’s going on in the Blacksmith Territory after everything that happened?"

Enzo answered without hesitation.

"We’ve already contributed heavily to rebuilding the damaged places. And we’ve formally reported the attack to the Supreme Court rulers—specifically the involvement of Underworld subjects."

Amelia was stunned. " The Underworld enemies were in the Blacksmith Territory?"

"Yes. They covered their trails well enough, but the injuries they left on us were proof enough of who they were."

I that why they thought I’m not one of them, Amelia thought. I should be relieved. But there should be a more reason why they think that.

Enzo rose from his chair. "That’s everything you need to know for now. And yes—the contract still stands."

The other two stood with him. Amelia’s frown deepened as she watched them prepare to leave. Reid paused at the door, turned, and blew her a kiss.

Amelia caught the imaginary gesture out of the air and rubbed it firmly under her armpit without breaking eye contact. Reid’s grin only widened before the door closed behind them.

The moment they were gone, Amelia leaned back against the pillows and muttered under her breath.

"Arrogant, emotionally stunted, walking disasters..."

She still had too many questions for Night Menace. And about her destined mate.

**

Later, she was back in her own room.

Skye followed her inside. The second Swifty spotted Amelia, the silver bird launched from its perch and began circling her in tight, joyful loops, wings beating the air in rapid excitement.

Amelia lifted a hand. "I missed you too."

Skye shut the door behind them. "That bird refused to eat. Wouldn’t let anyone near it either. It was this close to throwing a full rampage because it hadn’t seen you."

Something warm and unexpected settled in Amelia’s chest. The warmth heavier now that she understood he has been loyal right from their past lives.

She sat on the edge of the bed. Swifty finally settled near her.

"I heard the twins are fine. That’s a relief."

Skye was quiet for a moment, then shifted her weight. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

Skye’s green eyes met hers directly.

"When Jade and the others were beating us... why did you choose to take most of the blows?"

Amelia gavea thoughtful expression. "You didn’t deserve it. It wasn’t your fight."

Skye dismissively replied. "I can take care of myself. I didn’t step in because I didn’t have to defend you. I was ready to break those women’s frail little bones the second they finished with you."

"I know you could have dealt with them easily," Amelia said. "I still did it anyway."

Skye’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What, did you want to feel like some kind of self-appointed savior? Play the noble martyr so I’d owe you a favor?"

"No. What could I possibly get from you? Nothing." She leaned back slightly against the pillow. "It would be better if I just got another head servant."

Skye’s posture stiffened. "You won’t find anyone who’ll tolerate you as much as I do."

"I’ll take my chances." Amelia’s voice stayed even, but there was a "i am tired" tone underneath it. "You walk all over me every single time, and I’m tired of it. I’m not keeping someone who acts like Jade close to me."

Losing this position was not an option.

"Fine." She said in the nicest way possible. "I’ll be a little nicer. I can’t lose this job over personal reasons."