32. Mallory
MALLORY
Of course, he lived here.
This night couldn’t get any worse, and apparently, the universe had decided I hadn’t suffered enough already.
Dread pitted in my gut as Maddox stood behind his father, one shoulder braced against the wall, his gaze locked on mine, and I watched recognition slam into him. His whole body went rigid, and those eyes I’d been so hypnotized by darkened.
It couldn’t be clearer that I was the very last person he wanted to see.
Silence stretched between us.
“What are you doing here?” Maddox demanded, finally speaking, and completely ignoring the looks of confusion from our parents.
Mom’s gaze lingered on me, completely unaware of the bomb that had detonated in my chest, the nuclear fallout spreading through my nervous system.
“You know each other?” Donovan asked, lifting a brow.
I couldn’t do anything but stare at Maddox, my tongue completely impaired.
Mom’s eyes moved to Maddox. “I found him in my daughter’s room, actually.”
Mortified, my cheeks heated. Did she have to say it like that? I could only imagine the impression she was giving Donovan.
Donovan offered Mom an apologetic smile. “You’ll have to excuse my son. He seems to have lost all manners, not that he or his brothers have many to begin with. My fault, I’m afraid.”
“Hales—Mallory,” Maddox corrected with a scowl marring those lips I still dreamed about, “and I are lab partners. We’re working on a biology project together. Or we were.”
I swallowed hard, trying to force moisture back into my mouth. I never wanted to bolt so fast in my life.
“Well, this makes things easier,” Donovan said, sounding pleased as if he hadn’t noticed the sudden tension humming in the air between his son and me. “Maddox, this is Mara, the woman I’ve been seeing.”
Maddox’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t realize you were dating.”
“You would if you were ever home.” Donovan stepped aside, gesturing for us to come in. His gaze landed on me. “You must know Mason as well, then.”
I bit back my tart response, which would have been something like un-fucking-fortunately. “I do.”
Donovan and Mom chatted as they moved farther down the hall, Maddox glowering at me as I went to follow, but his hand wrapped around my arm. Not gently either, and I was certain I didn’t want to be alone with him, but he wasn’t giving me a choice.
He yanked me around the corner, out of sight, and slammed me back against the wall. The breath rushed out of me as his body boxed me in, one arm braced on either side of my head. He was way too close. I saw the flecks of darker green in his eyes. Could count his eyelashes if I wanted to.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, barely controlled fury simmering beneath the surface.
My pulse kicked hard in my veins. “What do you think?” I snapped. “I’m here for dinner. Your dad invited us.”
“Did you know?” His eyes searched my face for lies, deception, and evidence of more manipulation.
“That our parents are dating? No.” I shook my head. “I’m just as blindsided as you are.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he sneered, the expression transforming his features into something cruel. “Given your track record with the truth.”
My chin lifted instinctively, defiance sparking. “I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not.”
“Why not?” His mouth curved. “You’re obsessed with me. Isn’t that what all this has been about? Getting my attention? Making me notice you?”
I barked out a dry, bitter, and humorless laugh. “Get over yourself. I’m over you.” A lie, but I needed to say it because maybe voicing it would make it true…eventually.
“Sure you are, Hales.” His gaze dragged over my face slowly, tracking from my eyes to my mouth to my throat and back up.
It was like he was stripping me down layer by layer, seeing through every defense I tried to construct.
“You want me to make a liar out of you, too? Wait…” His smile sharpened, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. “I already did that.”
My body reacted to his nearness, betraying me. Heat pooled low in my stomach, and I became hyperaware of every point where we almost touched. That same magnetic pull I hated myself for feeling, that attraction that made no sense given everything that had happened.
Even now, even after everything, I still wanted him.
His gaze caught on my mouth as I took my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Look,” I said quickly, forcing my voice to steady despite my traitorous body. “I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. Let’s just get through dinner, and we never have to talk again. Now that I know who my mom is dating, I’ll make any excuse I can to never come here again.”
“I’m not sure I can trust you to keep your word,” he said. The implication was clear: You’re a liar. Why would this be different?
Before I fired back with something equally cutting, Mason appeared, spotting us in what probably looked like an intimate position. It was anything but. “Find a fucking room if you’re going to devour her with your mouth.”
Maddox jerked back slightly, his head turning toward his brother. Mason leaned against the opposite wall, his trademark grin already forming on his face until his gaze landed on me. “Freckles?” His brows shot up, genuine surprise replacing the amusement. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“She’s Dad’s new side piece’s daughter,” Maddox said flatly, deliberately hurtful. “Imagine that.”
That was it. I was done playing nice. All the restraint I’d been maintaining, poof, it disappeared. I shoved at his chest with both hands, but Maddox barely moved. He did shift back slightly. Enough for me to breathe without inhaling him.
“Don’t fucking talk about my mom like that,” I snarled, fury making my voice shake. “Whatever your problem is with me—and yeah, I know I earned it—don’t you dare disrespect her.”
Mason let out a low whistle. “Hmm. This got interesting fast.” His eyes flicked between us, reading the strain pulsing in the air between Maddox and me. “I’m sensing some serious tension here and not the usual I want to tear each other’s clothes off. Though”—his grin widened—“maybe also that.”
I opened my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but someone else spoke.
“Don’t let them bully you.” The voice was female and completely unexpected in this testosterone-filled standoff.
I turned, following the sound, and saw her.
She stood just beside Mason, close enough to him to suggest familiarity. She was stunning, but even that seemed an inadequate description.
Glossy white-silvery hair fell in soft waves down her back.
Her eyes were icy blue, twinkling. She had delicate features, high cheekbones, full lips, and a softness about her.
Her gaze slid to Maddox briefly, something unspoken passing between them.
Then she looked back at me, her expression gentle.
“You don’t have to put up with their shit.
Trust me. I’ve dealt with my share. They’re assholes, but they’re trainable assholes. ”
Mason scoffed, pushing off the wall. “Hey. I take offense to that. I’m not a damn dog.”
“Then stop acting like one,” she retorted, and I instantly liked her. It felt like I had an ally in a house full of wolves. Her eyes found mine. “I’m Kaylor.”
Kaylor.
This was the girl Maddox was hung up on, the one who was dating Kreed, his older brother. She couldn’t be more my opposite. Where I was dark, she was light. No wonder Maddox didn’t like me. I couldn’t be further from his type.
I offered my name with a relieved smile. “Mallory.”
She matched my grin. “It’s nice to finally have someone with ovaries in this house. You can’t imagine what it’s like to be the only girl among a house of Corvos.”
Great. She’s funny and nice too.
Another guy rounded the corner, coming to a stop behind Kaylor. His hand slid to her waist, fingers splaying possessively against the fabric of her shirt, the gesture so natural, so automatic, it spoke of countless repetitions.
There was no mistaking that he was a Corvo. The height. The build. The way he carried himself. All of it except for his eyes. They weren’t the same light green as Maddox’s and Mason’s. This one had piercing silver eyes, like starlight.
He gave off the impression he was more private and mysterious than his twin brothers.
Less chaotic energy and wild edges. Like he didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
Like he already knew exactly what he was capable of and didn’t feel compelled to demonstrate unless absolutely necessary.
If I had to guess, this was Kreed, and as first impressions went, he made an impact.
“Why are we standing in the hall?” he asked, gaze sweeping over all of us—Mason, Maddox, Kaylor, and landing on me last. “What’s going on? What are you two doing?” His attention flicked between Maddox and Mason, a hint of exasperation creeping into his otherwise neutral tone. “And who is she?”
“This is Mallory,” Kaylor introduced with a friendly smile. “She’s Mara’s daughter, right?” She glanced at me, eyebrows raising slightly in question.
I nodded, feeling overwhelmed and outnumbered.
“Who is Mara?” Kreed asked, brows inching together.
Kaylor rolled her eyes. “Do you listen to anything your father says?”
“No,” he replied flatly.
Mason snorted amusingly
Maddox huffed out a laugh.
Kaylor shook her silvery hair and reached for my hand. “You’re in for a memorable dinner,” she muttered, tugging me gently away and rescuing me. “It’s best to sit back and watch the chaos unfold. Trust me on this.”
I was grateful for the escape and for the lifeline she was throwing me.
“And don’t be too alarmed when they start yelling,” she added over her shoulder, loud enough for everyone to hear. “It happens every single time. Like clockwork. They’re incapable of having a civilized meal. I hate to say you get used to it, but you do.”
Great.
Exactly what I needed.