Emerald stretched out her foot, lightly rubbing against his pant leg—a clear invitation. Just as Alaric leaned in, his phone rang.

He let out a sigh and said apologetically, “Sorry, things have been hectic lately.”

Emerald gave a small, understanding smile. “Go ahead, take care of it.”

Alaric gently ruffled her hair. “Don’t wait for me tonight. Get some rest.”

“Alright.”

He hurried out the door. Emerald knew he hadn’t officially taken over the Corrigan yet—this was the busiest time for him.

She glanced around the vast room before sinking into the plush mattress. In that moment, she felt like nothing more than a pampered canary, kept in a gilded...