Page 83 of Inside the Sun

"You play beautifully," I say, my voice a little tight, and I clear my throat quickly.

He lifts his hand, brushing a few strands of hair off his cheek.

There’s something weary and sad in the gesture, but somehow, it’s also… strangely erotic. If that combination even makes sense.

His slender fingers trail slowly through the long locks.

I catch a whiff of his body wash, light, sensual, like orange petals swirling in the wind, aromatic, fresh. Some people choose their scents to complement their pheromones. And I’ve always loved the smell of citrus blossom.

"Thank you," he says softly. "I’ll be playing this at the banquet this weekend."

"Oh, people are gonna be blown away. I heard in the kitchen that some big shots are coming. It’s good that you’re performing, at least they’ll know you exist."

The sadness doesn’t leave his face as he replies,

"Those kinds of people don’t care about someone like me. They come here to make deals with Anzo, not to stir up trouble. They’re not gonna risk losing favor by speaking out."

I can’t help but think how arrogant Anzo is, parading his captive lover in front of those bootlicking sycophants. Showing off his crime, his ownership, like a trophy, right under their noses.

And they just smile, look away, and stretch out their hands for the cash.

I sigh.

"Apparently Dante Moll himself will be there, an important figure. The face of the Beta Empowerment movement. Also Mayor Ronalds and a few local politicians. Pretty high-profile crowd. Still. It wouldn’t hurt for them to see you."

Sun grimaces slightly.

"Probably not a popular opinion, but I think Dante’s a scumbag. A pathetic suck-up who clings to anyone with money. He’s the last person who’d ever help me. He hates alphas and omegas."

I raise my eyebrows, surprised by how strong that opinion is. I’m curious where it’s coming from.

"Well… he’s a typical activist. Focused on a narrow scope, not the bigger picture."

Sun stands up, moving away from the harp and slowly walking toward me.

He looks different with his hair down, like an angel. And yet, oh, the irony, there’s something incredibly sensual about him too.

For a moment, I feel this overwhelming temptation to reach out and brush one of those golden curls with my fingers. But of course, I don’t.

Only in my mind, I allow myself to place my hand on the back of his neck again, to pull him toward me, to smell that gland below his ear and…

Ugh.Stop it, Ragnar.

Sun tilts his head a little, his gaze flicking to my bicep. Is he looking at the thin silver line there?

Is he wondering what it means?

"I heard Dante’s launching a big campaign against that government Beta Activation Program coming this fall."

I lift an eyebrow. "Oh? You’ve read about it?"

Sun blushes slightly, like he feels silly.

"Just because I’m eighteen doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s going on in the world," he mumbles, looking off to the side and biting his lip, a move that’s kind of adorable.

I stare at his soft mouth. What if it wrapped around my—

Stop it, Ragnar. You sick…

---