Chapter 42
Iris
I consider turning around and leaving the bar, but Arthur spots me before I have a chance, and
waves me over. Partially driven by curiosity and maybe slightly driven by the mate bond tugging
on me insistently, I sigh and make my way over to him.
“Iris,” he says, standing as 1 approach. He pulls my chair out for me, as if we’re in a fancy
restaurant. “You came.”
I take my seat, trying my best to ignore the sensation of goosebumps raising on my exposed
skin as his eyes skim across my outfit. I’m not sure why I assumed that Arthur would invite me,
his sordid human mistress, to a nice enough place for a dress like this.
Wishful thinking, I guess. The sort of thinking I thought I squashed like a bug over the past five
years, but it still occasionally rears its ugly head.
“Your Beta said you wanted to talk,” I say.
Arthur nods, then waves over the waiter. He orders a cocktail for himself, then gestures to me.
“Water, please,” I say, to which Arthur responds with a raised eyebrow.
“Just water?”
“Yes. Just water.”
“I’ll pay for more.”
“I don’t want more.”
Arthur seems to give up and sighs, signalling the waiter to leave. Once we’re alone, there’s a
brief, uncomfortable silence. I try not to fidget too much in my chair.
Finally, I glance around the smokey, dim–lit bar and say, “Why did you choose this place?”
+20 Bonus
Arthur shrugs. “It’s an ideal spot for not being recognized. It’s packed, dark, and the patrons here aren’t likely to look too
closely.”
“Right,” I say slowly, suddenly regretting agreeing to this at all. It’s obvious to me that my brief moment of hope that he might actually try to make things right was completely misguided. “So this is the ideal sort of place to bring your mistress.”
1/2
+20 Bonus
With that, I grab my purse and move to get up, not intending to continue this conversation any further. “Goodbye, Arthur.”
“Wait–Iris, where are you going? You just got here.”
I shoot him a withering glare. “I thought I made it perfectly clear that I have no interest in being your human mistress. Honestly, I shouldn’t have even come here.”
To my surprise, Arthur actually looks… confused. As if he didn’t invite me to a dive bar, in disguise no less, after everything that has happened between us. “Why do you keep referring to yourself as my mistress?” he asks.
I blink at him, incredulous. Is he playing dumb? I know he’s not actually that dull.
Still, curiosity gets the better of me once again, and I place one hand on my hip, saying, “Just tell me why you wanted to meet and
then I’ll leave.”
Arthur hesitates for a moment, his mouth working as if he’s struggling with what to say. I make no effort to hide my impatience
as I wait. Finally, he says, “You signed a contract at Marsiel today, didn’t you?”
I frown, although something begins to twist uncomfortably in my stomach. “How do you know about that?”
Arthur gestures for me to sit, and for some reason, I do. I think it’s because my legs are beginning to tremble ever so slightly.
“Now that you’ve signed it,” he says without answering my question, “I guess it’s time you know the truth. It’s only fair.”
“Know what, Arthur?” I hate the way my voice shakes.
He levels me with a knowing look. “I’m your patron, Iris.”
His words hit me like a freight train. My mouth drops open, my heart stopping in my
chest. At that moment, the waiter brings our drinks, but I’m suddenly not feeling very thirsty.
“Oh, Goddess,” I breathe, jumping to my feet. “It was you? You were the ‘anonymous patron“?”
“Iris, 1-”
“Save it,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “It’s bad enough that you seem to think I’m just a shallow gold digger content with being your side piece, but this? Tricking me into accepting money from you? Did you think this would convince me to sleep with
you again?”
D
