Page 88 of Swan

It wasn’t the first time I wondered why Wolf needed all this protocol to get near his mansion if he wasn’t in the crime business any longer.

I drove through and down the path to pull up out the front. Drake stopped his ride next to my car. When I got out, he was at my side.

“I’ll grab your bag,” he said, removing his helmet.

The front door opened, and we both looked up the stairs.

Katon, Wolf’s butler, bowed. “Welcome, Master Drake and Mistress Swan. Taro-sama and Master Ruin are currently occupied, but they will be with you both shortly. Please, may I show you to your rooms?”

“You got it, Katon,” Drake called. “Pop your boot, Birdy.”

I pressed the button, and Drake went back to his bike to grab one of his saddlebags. He took it to the trunk and put it in while grabbing mine out. It must have been the bag that contained his tattoo things for tomorrow at the compound. After shutting the boot, he shouldered my bag and went back for his other saddlebag.

I met him at the bottom of the stairs, and we made our way inside together. In the entrance, we removed our shoes and slipped our feet into the provided slippers to wear around the house.

I glanced down at Drake’s mismatched socks and laughed.

“Quit it, Birdy. I forgot about this part.”

Katon smiled. “Master Ruin often has different socks on, much to Taro-sama’s annoyance.” He started for the stairs. “You’ll both be in the wing where Taro-sama and Master Ruin’s room lies. After I show you to your rooms, I will take you to the dining room. The cooks have prepared a dinner for you.”

“Thank you, Katon.”

He dipped his head, smiling pleasantly, and led us a fair way into the house where our rooms lay right next to each other.

I would be a wall away from Drake. Heat hit my face.

I startled a little when Drake ran a finger softly over my cheek. “What’s this about?”

Lie, lie, lie.

“Oh, um, nothing. It’s warm in here.”

His brows pinched, but thankfully Katon opened the first door. “Master Drake.”

“Thanks, Katon.” Drake dumped his bag inside and shut the door.

We moved to the next one. “Mistress Swan.”

Drake placed my bag inside the door. “I, um, might freshen up a little.”

Drake nodded. “Knock on my door when you’re done. We’ll find the dining room together. Unless I can bribe Katon here for a map while also cutting out the master and mistress stuff.”

Katon grinned. “There is no map, but I will wait for you both if you wish me to lead you down to the dining room.”

I shook my head and smiled. “I know the way, Katon. You don’t have to wait. But I’ll add to the bribe for you to stop with the master and mistress business.”

Katon’s grin turned playful. “I was more lenient with Master Ruin when he first arrived and gave in to his wishes. Until I explained I would feel out of sorts to not use the titles, so please forgive me, like he did, if I keep them.”

“We don’t want to upset you in any way, Katon. You go ahead,” Drake told him.

He dipped his head, but I saw his wide smile before he left.

“I won’t be long,” I told Drake.

“All good, Birdy. Take your time.” He winked and tipped his chin up at me before I closed my door.

Leaning against it, I swallowed thickly as I looked towards the wall. I couldn’t hear anything from within. At least he wouldn’t be able to hear me in here either. Straightening, I went to the bathroom.

---