Page 48 of Suspicions on the Stage
“Is it your normal behavior to pick up strays everywhere we go or…?” Liam says, his voice teasing as he arches a brow. “Because it feels like that might be your M.O.”
Frowning, I wave my hand at him. “I’m intrigued. Can’t a girl have a hobby?”
“Morgana, you can have anything the hell you want,” Lucas says as he leans back in the cushy booth seats. “I won’t complain a bit.”
My eyes widen and I laugh softly. “Don’t be ridiculous, Lucas. I am overwhelmed by the amount of fucking people I have to deal with on a daily basis now. I’m considering this girl for something completely different. I’d like to get her out of this place so she doesn’t have to do that shit every night to pay for her tuition.”
Liam blinks, then his eyes light up. “Let me know what Channing finds out—I assume that’s who you texted, of course. I have an idea that might be right up her alley.”
“She probably makes alotof tips here,” Slade says tentatively. “I can’t think of a job at the university that could match it.”
The Prince smirks. “Assistant to the Prince of Daybreak would pay pretty well, I imagine. And it wouldn’t require a push-up bra and a corset.”
If I didn’t love him before, I’d fall for Liam all over again right in this damn booth—not that I’m going to say that out loud.
my house
LIAM
The way my new mate’s face lights up tells me everything I needed to know. She’s delighted by my suggestion and if her capable assistant can get the legal team to clear the girl, I will certainly have to follow through on the offer. I’m not worried about it; in fact, we could probably use another person to assist with all the shit we have going on in our lives. Channing is wonderful, but she’s overtaxed by doing double duty with the university duties and Thorne’s team. If I end up hiring Dixie, she could be tasked with managing the entire household’s needs, both personal and public.
That would make keeping a calendar for six very busy people much easier, especially considering our outside interests.
I smile broadly, confident that the sentiment I threw out on a whim will bear fruit in the end. Dixie Abernathy may not prove to be the answer, but I’ll put feelers out for someone if it falls through. My mind is already racing with the various tasks that could be farmed out to someone in that role: from calendars to groceries to arranging all the things we need while we’re busy. More of a… royal valet mashed with an admin, I suppose.Whatever I call it, I’m determined to take some of the load off of my new family and give us time to settle into our lives.
“Li?”
Her voice brings me out of my gleeful planning, and I blink away the distraction. “Yes,maschula?”
“You look like you’re plotting.” Her lips curve up when I shrug, and Morgana chuckles. “Not to interrupt, but I doubt Dixie is the type to be familiar with the shadier side of this place. How are we going to find Captain Asshole?”
Slade snickers, but Iggy covers his laughter. I ponder her question for a moment, then say, “Just because the girl doesn’tparticipatein anything morally gray doesn’t mean she’s oblivious. We should ask her—carefully, of course, and see what she says.”
“The other option is to pair off and roam around the crowd, but that seems like a dumb idea,” Lucas says as he yawns. “Splitting up is the worst plan in every movie, so I’m gonna go with ‘no’ on that one.”
“Right you are, cub.” I wink at him, enjoying the deep flush it gets me. “I think there are too many unknowns in Howl to wander about in small groups. We’re safer together, and though Kaspar chose to be a lone wolf, it’s not what I believe will work for us.”
“Slade’s too innocent looking, and Morgana is too intimidating,” Iggy adds. “The prince, Lucas, and I? We look as though we could patronize this place based on bank accounts alone. You two would draw theworstkind of attention, especially when people recognize you, Morgana.”
My mate sighs, tapping her nails on the table in annoyance. “Infamy is a blessing and curse, you know.”
“Indeed. People know you might kill them, but also love to gawp at a train wreck. You’ll have nosey folks staring with each step. Not a single shady character will come within twenty feet because their job is to stay invisible.” I lean back in the booth, rolling my eyes to the ceiling to consider other ways to find my recalcitrant friend.
I would wring his neck, but I guarantee this little jaunt is more than what it seems on the outside.
“Order up, folks,” Dixie says as she returns much more quickly than I expected.
Lucas gives her a suspicious look as he takes his drink. “How’d you do that? It’s packed in here. Even in one of these fancy boxes, I’d think you would have to wait for other servers who got there first. That’s how it works, isn’t it?”
Dixie nods as she hands out the rest of our glasses. “It is, but the floor manager knows who my customer is. That changes a lot. Royalty an’ billionaires? Always first in line—it’s house policy. Behind them are regular rich folks, politicians, species leaders… on down the line. The bartenders have a screen with our names that lists who gets priority that changes as the people in the club change throughout the night.”
“Magic runes,” I grumble. “They feed from the ID checkers to the hosts, then to the bars and kitchen, right?”
“Yep.” Dixie looks at us, waiting to see if anyone is displeased with their drinks.
Once I sip mine, I shake my head. “You don’t have to worry. They’re fine.”
“Were you worried they weren’t?” Morgana asks curiously. “Some sort of… rivalry?”
