Page 26 of Knotted By the Triad

Kai finally looked at me. The second his dark eyes met mine, it was as if something stirred beneath my skin. Heat rushed through my body, making that damn strawberry-and-chocolate scent more potent.

I clenched my thighs together and forced myself to remain still. But everything in me wanted to walk over to this bastard and see if his lips were as soft as they looked. Kai’s nostrils flared, and for one brief second, his pupils dilated before his expression hardened.

Looking away from me, he grabbed his cup of tea and downed it in one gulp. Then he slammed the cup onto the table so hard that Mei Lin jumped.

“Calm down, alpha,” she muttered, slowly reaching for his hand.

I noticed the way he pulled away from her and faced forward to glare at me. Was there trouble in paradise already? There hadn’t been trouble in the book. Mei Lin noticed too. Her wounded gaze drifted to Daemin and Zian, possibly seeking comfort.

However, both men were looking my way. Anger flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing. She simply picked up the pot of tea and poured Kai another cup. What was really going on? My nosy ass had questions.

“What do you want, Zuri?” Kai asked through clenched teeth.

“I just want to have a hot breakfast befitting my status as the primary wife. I presume that’s not asking for too much. Is it?”

Kai took a deep breath and then released it slowly.

“Whatever arrangement exists between us has nothing to do with the way the servants are expected to treat you,” Kai said. “You're a princess of this household. We expect them to treat you as such.”

Well, damn. I hadn’t expected him to say that.

“I'll speak with the steward,” he continued. “Your courtyard will receive the same quality of food as ours. And your maid will have access to whatever she needs from the kitchen. Have your maid tell them your preferences, and they’ll cater your meals to your needs.”

Shocked, all I could do was whisper, “Uh, thank you, Kai.”

Kai's brows rose slightly, almost as if he hadn't expected me to say that. I wasn't unreasonable. Give me what I wanted, and I could be downright pleasant.

“You’re welcome, Zuri,” he whispered, gaze softening.

The way he said my name made butterflies take flight in my belly. I wanted to look away from him. I really did. But his dark eyes held mine captive. And for a moment, for one very brief moment, I could’ve sworn something deep within me whispered...

MINE.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ZURI

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MINE.

What the hell?

Why had I just thought that? Kai wasn't mine. I didn't even want him to be mine. I didn’t even like him. I mean, sure, he was handsome as hell. And he had a body that made me want to ride him like a bull.

And that mouth of his had my pussy throbbing. Let’s not forget that scent of his, like fresh pine after a summer rain. It made me want to bury my face in the crook of his neck and breathe him in. A sudden urge to do just that came over me.

It was so strong, it almost made my knees buckle. I took a shaky step back, needing some distance between us. What I was feeling wasn’t real. These feelings belonged to the old Zuri. It wasn’t my fault this omega body of mine was craving a knot.

And there just happened to be three right in front of me. Practically knot heaven. So, of course I would react to him this way. But wanting him physically didn’t make him mine. Were these the urges that pushed the original Zuri into doing the things she’d done?

If so, I could kind of understand her more now. Kai was still staring at me. I think I liked him better when he glared. The way he was looking at me right now left me unsettled. My gaze drifted to the other two alphas.

They were wearing similar expressions. Let me hurry up and say what I had to say, then get the hell out of here before I pounced on these three men in front of the woman they loved.

“There's something else I want to discuss,” I said, hating how squeaky my voice sounded.

Some of the softness disappeared from Kai's gaze. “What else do you need?”