Page 130 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
And beneath it all, I could feel the bond itself, strong and golden and permanent, binding us together in ways that went deeper than marriage or law or even love.
We were mates now.
Truly, completely, forever.
ONE YEAR LATER
“You’re expending pointless and unreasonable energy glaring at me,” Alexei said without glancing up from the sleek tablet in his hands.
Nicolo didn’t stop glaring.
They were seated at the edge of the Celestini estate’s southern courtyard, where the first anniversary party was in full swing around them. The terrace had been transformed into something out of a supernatural fairy tale, with ancient oak trees blooming with flowers that shifted color with the music. Tables draped in midnight blue silk were scattered across the stone patio, each one surrounded by chairs that seemed to have grown from the earth itself, their wooden frames twisted into elegant spirals.
“We both know it is your wife’s empty-headed assistant who is to blame for the misunderstanding.”
“You have a point,” Nicolo acknowledged grudgingly, crossing one ankle over his knee as he studied his classmate from his Oxford days, a fact that his wife herself had only become privy to just a few months ago. He had been a different person back then, and so that time of his life was simply something he would rather not talk about every so often.
“But it’s not enough. You’re just too good-looking for any husband’s peace of mind.”
“Might I remind you of how many hearts you broke back when we were at university?” Alexei’s tone was dry as the Denver air, and as cool as his tailored obsidian suit. He still hadn’t looked up from whatever he was reading.
Nicolo pretended not to hear him.
“If memory serves, you were the one with the reputation for leaving a trail of devastated women across campus.”
A crash of shattering glass followed by a gasp from the other side of the terrace momentarily diverted their attention. Ada, in a purple cocktail dress that seemed to be attempting to make up in volume what it lacked in taste, stood frozen over what appeared to be the remains of an ancient crystal heirloom.
“That was a gift from the Bellecourts, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Priceless, no doubt.”
“It has to be, considering Ada’s involvement.”
“Tell me. Why haven’t you fired her again?”
“Because she does a good job at the agency, believe it or not.”
“You’re right. I don’t.”
Nicolo’s stepmother showed up to take over, and Ada started apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry. I was just trying to take a selfie with it because it’s literally the prettiest vase I’ve ever seen and I thought Maryah would want to see it up close since she’s still doing the baby thing, but then this waiter came by with those tiny quiche things, and I haven’t eaten since breakfast because I was so nervous about the party, and—”
“It’s perfectly fine, dear.” Maude patted her arm in comfort. “Accidents happen. Especially around you.”
Looking at his stepmom, Nicolo was suddenly reminded of Maude rooting for Prince Alexei to be her daughter’s mate, once upon a time, and the unpleasant memory had him shooting another glare at his former classmate’s direction.
“Why is it taking you so long to choose a mate?” he asked grouched. “It’s been over a year since you started the compatibility—”
He broke off mid-speech when Alexei finally lifted his eyes and handed him a file.
“I pick her.”
Nicolo opened the folder and stared at the contents. A photograph, a detailed background report, and compatibility scores that made no sense whatsoever.
As his wife would put it:like, seriously?
Nicolo turned to the Atlantean shifter with a frown. “She’s been rejected.”
