“Alex Trujillo, huh? Any reason you should mention him out of all the possible candidates you kissed?”
My face felt flushed, and it probably didn’t have much to do with the cool and breezy air outside. “No, I’m just saying that if my consort had been one of the ‘approved’ candidates, then Adam wouldn’t have had a problem with it.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Connor took off his own scarf and coat, then hung them in the downstairs closet next to mine. “I don’t know him, but it’s pretty clear that Adam’s in love with you. It can’t be easy to see the person you love with someone else — even if that person isn’t a big bad Wilcox. But since I am, that makes it that much worse.”
I didn’t want to acknowledge the truth in his words, but deep down, I knew he was right. Yes, Adam would’ve dealt with it if I’d ended up with Alex or someone else like him, but he wouldn’t have been happy. What he’d wanted was for me to never meet my true consort, so I could end up with him instead.
“Is it too early for a drink?” I inquired. “Because I could really use one.”
“Hey, it’s always five o’clock somewhere,” Connor replied lightly. “But I don’t think that’s really going to solve your problem.”
“I don’t think anything is.”
His eyes, watching me, were sympathetic. It really had been stupid for me to come here, but I just hadn’t wanted to acknowledge how deep the prejudice against the Wilcoxes ran. For whatever reason, it was more important to my family that my consort was one of the enemy than I was one of them. That I was their prima.
And that hurt worst of all, because the prima was supposed to be everything — clan leader and touchstone, the person they looked up to, the one who provided strength and protection and guidance. Or that was how it had seemed to me when Great-Aunt Ruby was the head of our clan. But she wasn’t some untried and untested girl, and her consort had been someone universally liked and respected.
The hurt and betrayal must have been clear in my face, because suddenly I was in Connor’s arms, and he was holding me close, my face against his chest so I could hear his strong, slow heartbeat and feel the slight scratch of his wool sweater against my cheek. There, encircled in that embrace, I knew I was safe and loved and wanted — the complete opposite of how my family had made me feel.
A knock came at the door, and I let out a sigh. “Let’s ignore it.”
“Are you sure? Maybe it’s Adam, coming to apologize.”
“I doubt that. He’s just as stiff-necked and stubborn as I am.”
Connor chuckled, and brushed a kiss against the top of my head. “Hey, it’s your house. I’ll ignore it if you want me to do.”
The knock sounded again, louder this time. I waited, hoping whoever it was would go away. Then I heard Tobias’s voice. “Angela? Are you home?”
Damn. Adam I could have ignored, because I was angry with him, and probably ditto for my aunt, because that wound was even more raw. But Tobias?
“I’d better go see what he wants,” I said, and disentangled myself from Connor’s arms.
He nodded, and followed me out to the foyer, then took a quick peek through one of the side windows. “Oh, great — it’s the guy who looks like he could rip my arms and legs off.”
“Shh. I told you he’s a big teddy bear.” Trying to adjust my expression so my recent angst wouldn’t be too obvious, I opened the door.
Tobias gave me a diffident smile. “Hi, Angela. Are you busy?”
“No. I mean — we were just sort of hanging out. Come on in.”
I stepped out of the way so he could enter, and I noticed Connor backing off a pace or two. Despite everything that was going on, I couldn’t help smiling a little. Figuring I might as well get it over with, I said, “Tobias, this is Connor Wilcox. Connor, this is Tobias Mills. He’s my aunt’s — ” I broke off and tilted my head to the side. “How do you two refer to yourselves, anyway?”
“‘Very good friends’ will do,” he replied, dark eyes twinkling at me. “I’d say it was nice to meet you, Connor, but I have a feeling you wouldn’t believe me.”
Connor’s eyebrows went up. “Well, I — ”
“Never mind,” Tobias cut in. “Angela, do you mind if we talk a little?” His gaze shifted to Connor and then back to me. “Alone?”
“No problem,” Connor said at once. “I can go upstairs to the library. I left a book up there anyway. Nice to meet you, Tobias.” He approached me, squeezed my hand, and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “It’ll be fine,” he whispered, and headed up the steps to the second floor.