Page 101 of Omega Sanctuary

"Does it bother you?" He gestured for me to come inside. "I won't talk about him—"

"No," I said quickly. "I just forgot, sort of. He doesn't mind you being with me?"

"No," he said. "He's really glad I'm showing interest in other people."

I cocked an eyebrow as I followed him through a giant, spacious house. "You didn't tell me you were filthy rich."

Asano shrugged. "Between my alpha and my artwork, we have more money than sense. I donate a lot to charity, but..."

The estate was in good taste, at least. It didn't feel oppressive. The space was light and airy. It was lived in, too, with a sitting room off to the side covered with books that littered the coffee table.

A faint spicy scent wafted through the air, and I shivered for a moment.

Asano paused and looked at me. "Okay?"

I nodded and caught up with him. "It's really soothing in here. I like the white marble with the warm wood."

"Thanks." Asano kept leading me through the first floor, past a winding staircase and a giant library. "I designed most of it, back when I was still trying to prove I was useful."

There was a slight note of bitterness in his tone, but he brightened up when we hit the back of the house.

The room opened up to the sea, and I gasped. It was filled with paintings, a riot of movement and colors. Some paintings were contrasts of colors and shapes, and others were perfectly executed still lifes of seashells and driftwood.

More paintings dotted the sides of the long room, of the beach, over and over. The beach at night, done in warm purples and blues, the beach during a storm with cobalt and gray, the beach on a beautiful blue day.

Asano looked at me. A faint blush started on his cheeks.

"You did this?"

"Yes?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've always loved to paint, but when my designation came in..." He shrugged. "It was a salvation at times."

I thought about baking, about losing myself for hours in the endless bowls of flour, sugar, fruit, yeast. "Yes."

"So yeah." He dropped down onto a couch. It started life as an elegant chaise lounge, but there were faded paint splotches in the upholstery. "I'm a painter."

"You're talented. No wonder you're rich enough for a seaside estate."

"I wanted a place away from the city, but close enough for people." His face dropped a little, shadows crossing over before he brightened up again. "We found this place, and it was falling apart. Putting it back together was fun."

The sun shone in through the glass windows, turning the light mellow and cozy. "I see why you want to paint here. I'm not even a painter, and it makes me want to do something creative."

"Deal." Asano jumped up. "I'll get you some brushes."

"Oh, no, I can't, I'm not."

"Doesn't matter." Asano searched through a box of painter's things. "Just make something."

Despite being horribly out of my league, the thought was appealing. "I was a poor baker in my hometown. I've never painted before."

"That just makes it more fun," he said. "Don't try to be perfect, just enjoy yourself."

I let out a breath. "Tell that to the priestesses at the Sanctuary."

He set up a canvas for me. "There, you just need some space to cut loose. Paint how you feel."

He put all of the colors of the rainbow on the palette and went back to his own work.

His canvas was half done, an abstract of colors layered over each other. I didn't know how he made simple colors come alive, but looking at his artwork moved emotions inside me.

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