Page 119 of Ember

Terran perked up. “Oh? Most readers likeStormboundmore.”

Dom shook his head, still giving my brother the same thousand-watt smile. “He saysOath of Ash and Wingshas better plot twists and in-depth worldbuilding.”

I hit Terran’s shoulder. “That’s what Terran says. You should invite him to the book club.”

“Sure.” My idiot brother nodded, the heat in the alpha’s gaze going right over his head. I rolled my eyes heavenward, praying for strength. When Alejandro or Ben looked at me like that, it felt like my panties would combust.

How did Terran not see his flirting?

“We’ll have to take you up on your offer.” The alpha gestured around the store. “We could use some of the rooms if you don’t have a space? We’ve been wanting to start up a book club.”

“Oh, we use the lodge,” Terran said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But this is the best bookshop in the area, so I’m sure…” He paused and looked at me. “We wouldn’t mind changing up venues?”

“I’d love that,” Dom said, almost purring.

A male omega bounced down the spiral staircase. “I’m coming, Jesus, Dom.” He had curly brown hair that hit his shoulder, sort of like Rian’s, and pale skin.

“Oh, hi.” He smiled at me and then paused on Terran. “Hi, I’m Ezra.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said brightly. Maybe I should move up the dating pool bet on Terran sooner. And not tell a single family member why.

“This is my omega,” Dom said, his eyes on Terran. “Terran thinksOath of Ash and Wingis better thanStormboundtoo.”

The omega’s eyes lit up. “Right? The worldbuilding alone. And then the twist with the Nightbloom dagger being traced back to the Ever King?”

Terran nodded, but he had the same pleasant look he gave Hank the hardware dude. Judging from how he was angled toward the male omega, he wasn’t unaffected, but didn’t pick up on the flirtation. I wished I could develop telepathy and tell him to amp up the beta charm.

“I’m going to check out the mysteries,” I said, sliding back.

Terran was instantly alert. “I’ll come with you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

Terran crossed his arms over his chest. “Sure, you will.”

I heaved a sigh. I was going to have to help him out. I looked at Dom. “Sorry. He’s dense. We’d like to have book club here or at Cosmic Bonds. Where we work.” I jerked a thumb in the general direction of “out.”

“Really? I always wanted to try that,” Ezra said. “But the thought of meeting so many strange people make me want to crawl into a hole and die.”

“It can be a really slow process too,” Terran said softly, using his gentle intake voice. The voice that calmed the most anxious person down. “However you prefer.”

Ezra’s blue eyes lit up. “That sounds really nice. Maybe book club first?” He looked at our stack of books. “I need fresh victims to listen to my theories.”

“Boy, does he,” Dom muttered, putting our books in a tote bag. “My ideas aren’t groundbreaking enough.”

Ezra slid closer to Terran, angling himself between his alpha and my brother. “I’m sure you have some amazing ideas.”

“Nothing much.” Terran shrugged modestly, and I could have told the omega that asking Terran about himself was a surefire way to make him clam up.

The urge to meddle was so strong. I was a professional matchmaker, for crying out loud.

Terran took the bag. “Thanks. We’ll let you get back to work.”

He was hopeless. I fished around in my purse and handed them a card. “We can set up book club details later?”

“I’d like that,” Ezra said, looking at Terran when he said it. He looked winsome and adorable, like a little puppy.

“If you don’t mind more people?” Dom braced his hands on the countertop.

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