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 possessivelyagainst 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.
At least if they were shouting at each other, no one could point fingers at me. I had no idea what Maddox had told his family about me, and I didn’t want to know. If I thought too hard about it, I wouldn’t be able to sit through this dinner without throwing up.
We stepped into the dining room, and the space opened before us. A long table of polished, dark wood stretched under soft overhead lighting, an artistic fixture that undoubtedly cost more than our car. Place settings were laid out, perfectly arranged plates, crystal glasses, and gold silverware.
It was clear Donovan Corvo had money. Is that what Mom liked about him? Or did she genuinely like him?
Mom stood near the head of the table with Donovan, her hand resting lightly on his arm, laughing softly at something he’d said. Her head was tilted back, throat exposed, her smile unguarded in a way I rarely saw.
They looked…good together, which made everything worse, made this whole situation more real and complicated.