Page 203 of Chosen Beta

Ezra puts his arm around me. “You did a wonderful job.”

“Brooke did the heavy lifting,” I protest, feeling my cheeks flush.

“Pfft!” Pete mutters. “You’re the one who thought she’d get the point across with that story, and you were right.”

“He’s right,” Owen agrees. “You set all of this up. And it couldn’t have gone better.”

I’m a little embarrassed by their praise, but I accept the group hug they pull me into without complaint. I have everything I could possibly ever want right now. It’s like a dream that I never want to wake up from.

They eventually let me go and I stay snuggled against Ezra’s shoulder.

“So, what now?” Owen asks, clearly thinking one thing and one thing only.

“Forget it,” Shadow warns him. “My heat broke last night and I’m glad because I seriously need new clothes. I can’t walk around looking like a douchebag skater kid any longer.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I stink by now,” Pete says. “I’ve been wearing the same clothes all week.”

“Me too,” Owen says, looking at me. “Lana doesn’t mind.”

“You guys are good now, but you should definitely get some clothes.”

“Yes!” Shadow smiles. “Shopping trip upcoming.”

“Pete, you’d better tell her about the closets,” Owen prompts.

Pete screws up his nose. “I’d actually rather talk about clothes.”

“Ooh, this must be bad,” Shadow murmurs.

“It’s not going to matter now that you’ve taken the skeleton key from the kitchen staff,” Pete says. “But I found out how Warren planned to get into your room. I think the lights were a distraction. The closet was the entry point. Turns out a bunch of the staff closets are linked to hidden staircases that come out in those rooms in the basement. I think maybe they were meant to let security staff get around quickly when they were installed, but some of them are exits only because of the way they lock. The one in your old room was an exit only.”

“Oh my God,” I murmur. “That’s so creepy.”

“Yeah. We should repurpose those rooms, make sure no one’s living in any of them.”

“I dismantled the camera in our hallway earlier,” Pete adds. “The feed went to a TV in Marianne’s room. Warren was watching for his chance to sneak up on you, it seems.”

I shudder at the thought of that. “I slept alone in that room for weeks.”

“And you’re never sleeping alone, or in that room again,” Owen reminds me.

I smile at him. “Does this mean you’re moving to Cressidan City?”

“It means we’re buying a house here, and moving in together,” Ezra says.

“But we’re staying in the suite for a bit longer though, right?” Shadow asks hopefully.

I can’t help but laugh. “We can stay in the suite for as long as you like.”

“We’re not in a rush,” Owen agrees.

“It’s probably easier while we’re all working here,” Ezra adds.

“It’s definitely easier,” Pete says. “But we should get a house.”

“Oh, we’re definitely getting a house,” Owen says. “I put our old one on the market this morning. We’ve already got interested parties.”

He shows us his phone.

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