Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
The image of the naked Xeus in their basement flashed in Jules’s mind. His cheeks warm, Jules averted his gaze.
“Are there… Are there any Xeus alphas among your eligible candidates?” Jules said after a moment. He actually had no idea if Liam shared their uncle’s prejudice.
Liam’s face did something strange.
“What?” Jules said, his curiosity spiking.
“You know Uncle Wayne would be against any of us marrying a Xeus,” Liam said carefully, studying his fingernails. “But technically, he isn’t the alpha of our family until Anthony is declared dead. Also, if a rich, titled Xeus offers me a marriage, I don’t think Uncle would care all that much—”
Jules grinned. “Who are they? Who did you choose?”
“I didn’t,” Liam said, his fingers fiddling with the bed covers. “But the Duke of Westcliff is the most handsome alpha on the planet. It would be ridiculous to dismiss him just because he’s a Xeus. He’s rich, gorgeous, titled and—”
“He’s the king’s nephew, Li,” Jules said when he managed to pick up his jaw. He had no idea Liam’s ambitions were that high. “He’s not just a duke; he’s a royal duke! Our alpha was just a viscountess.”
Liam didn’t look fazed. “So what? You think he’ll care about it if he falls in love?” He smiled dreamily. “He’s so handsome, Jules.”
That Jules couldn’t argue with. Even he sometimes stopped and stared when they showed the royal family on the news. King Stefan and Prince Haydn both were handsome alphas, but they completely paled next to the Duke of Westcliff. The tall, black-haired alpha made all other alphas pale by comparison. He was pretty much Liam’s alpha equivalent: so stunningly handsome he didn’t seem real. Maybe they were well matched, after all.
“Still,” Jules said. “Please manage your expectations, Li. Because if you aim for Westcliff, anyone else will seem like a consolation prize in comparison.”
“I know,” Liam said, but judging by his expression, he wasn’t taking Jules’s words seriously.
Jules shook his head with a small smile. His brother was used to having everyone wrapped around his little finger. His angelic looks usually let Liam get away with murder, so Liam probably couldn’t imagine someone not falling in love with him. It wasn’t really vanity when it was true, was it? For all Jules knew, the Duke of Westcliff would take one look at Liam and fall in love. Everyone else did, after all.
“I really need your help, Li,” Jules said, changing the subject. “It’s important. One last time?”
Liam sighed. “I’m not doing anything until you tell me why you’re sneaking into the basement. I think it’s a fair request, considering that if you get caught, I’ll get in trouble too.”
Jules had to admit his brother had a point.
“All right,” he said with a sigh and started talking.
He didn’t tell Liam everything—he definitely didn’t mention his body’s embarrassing reaction to the Xeus—but he told him the important parts.
Liam looked gratifyingly disturbed by the time he finished. “You want to help him escape?” he said, frowning. “But Uncle Wayne will likely suspect one of us if someone frees the Xeus.”
“He can suspect us all he wants, but as long as we don’t get caught, he can’t prove anything. And it’s not like he’s going to ask us about it. What he’s doing to the Xeus is illegal, Li! If it gets out, Uncle will be arrested.”
“But if you help the Xeus, won’t Uncle be arrested anyway?” Liam said, looking at his hands. He chewed on his lip. “We can’t afford a scandal. Our debut in society is just two months away, Jules.”
Of course that was what Liam was worried about.
“Is your precious society debut more important than someone being experimented on and possibly killed?” Jules said sharply.
Liam glared at him. “Sorry if I’m actually thinking about our future,” he said, as sharply. “If Anthony doesn’t come back within three months, he’ll be officially declared dead and our home will belong to Uncle Wayne. Do you want to depend on his charity for the rest of your life? We’ll have no rights here, no money! When he’s our alpha, Uncle Wayne will be able to do anything he wants to us: marry us off to disgusting old perverts or kick us out of the house. I have to marry well and fast, to make sure our future is secured!”
Oh.
Jules stared at his brother, at a loss for words. He hadn’t actually thought about it this way. He hadn’t thought that Liam might feel like he was under pressure to marry well. Eric was just seventeen, and Jules was… Jules, so of course the responsibility to marry well fell on Liam’s shoulders—he was the beautiful one, after all.
It cast a new light on Liam’s obsession with their society debut and high-ranking alphas. His brother felt responsible for them. He wanted to protect them.