Page 27 of Knotted By the Triad

Yes. Start being mean to me again. That makes resisting you easier.

“I need money,” I told him.

His brows drew together. “Money?”

“Yes. I didn't exactly arrive here with a purse full of coins.”

Kai's gaze drifted briefly to the jewelry I was wearing before returning to my face.

“I came here with very little of my own,” I continued. “But there are things I need for myself and my courtyard.” I stared around Mei Lin’s courtyard.

I didn’t even think I had a garden area like this. How unfair. I faced Kai again and noticed a hint of guilt on his face.

Good. Feel guilty. You should.

“I need access to the household funds,” I continued.

For several seconds, Kai said nothing. The warmth that had briefly entered his expression was gone now, but he didn't look angry either. I almost tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for him to speak. But I held back. Still, why was he taking so long to reply? They were rich, after all.

“That shouldn't be a problem,” he finally said.

I smiled brightly. “Really?”

Kai blinked, his gaze lingering on my face. Then, to my surprise, one corner of his mouth slowly lifted. Was this rude alpha trying to smile at me? The poor man needed practice.

“How much do you need?” he asked.

I stared at him for a second. “You're serious?”

His almost-smile grew a little. “I wouldn't have asked how much you needed if I wasn't.”

Well, damn. Maybe I needed to smile at him more often. But how much did I need? I hadn't thought that far ahead. I had no idea what constituted a reasonable allowance for the primary wife of three ridiculously wealthy princes.

Asking for too little would shortchange me, but asking for too much might make it look like I was trying to rob them. Although, technically, could I rob my own husbands? Before I could even come up with an amount, Mei Lin spoke up.

“Alpha Kai,” Mei Lin drawled sweetly.

His gaze immediately moved to her. And I won’t lie, a sliver of pain drifted through the original Zuri’s heart at that moment. Something deep within me stirred as I watched the softness return to his gaze. But that softness was no longer directed at me. Could this feeling be... jealousy?

Oh, no! Be gone, you green-eyed devil. I don’t want to be jealous.

Still, seeing him look at her that way hurt more than it should. The pain was irrational as hell. Distance. That was what I needed. I had to keep my distance from these alphas, or I’d end up falling for them and following the predetermined path CiCi had created for me.

“I haven't had a chance to go over the household account books yet.” Mei Lin offered him a gentle smile before looking at me. “With the weddings yesterday and everything that needed to be prepared beforehand, I haven't had time to review this month's expenses.”

Oh, really? She wasn't finished.

“I was planning to start going through the accounts today,” she continued. “Perhaps it would be better to wait until I've reviewed everything before deciding how much should be allocated to Sister Zuri's courtyard. That way, we'll know exactly what is available after the household expenses have been accounted for.”

The woman had spent breakfast telling Kai about the things she wanted added to her courtyard, but apparently my request required an audit. Kai didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained on Mei Lin for a few seconds before drifting back to me.

For one brief moment, I thought he might tell her it wasn't necessary. Then his expression changed. His jaw tightened, and whatever softness I’d thought I'd seen directed at me earlier disappeared completely. It was almost as if he'd remembered who I was and, more importantly, who she was.

“That makes sense,” he muttered.

Did it? Did it really?

“Once Lin'er has reviewed the accounts, we'll determine what can be allocated to your courtyard,” he told me.