Page 32 of Honeythorn
There were, however, some gems amongst the rubbish. One Mister Jason—as he insisted Milan call him, instead of by his surname, mentioned a machine that was being used to lift and place the metal pieces of the train tracks that seemed to be such a topic of conversation.
“Have you seen the machine yourself?” Milan asked eagerly. Jason nodded, smiling wide. He was quite a plain-looking man, thin and of average height for an Alpha, with light-brown hair and similarly coloured eyes.
“Indeed—it looks like a big huffing beast, what with the streams of steam coming out of it every few seconds. I’ve heard they’ve had to alter how the steam is released, for it was burning passing workers.”
“How interesting. Do you know who invented it?”
“It was a group initiative, but Clara Poeny led it.”
“Oh, yes! I’ve read about her.”
“Have you read her book,The Future of the World?”
“No. What a curious title.”
“Yes—the book is magnificent. We’ll have to get together, and I’ll lend it to you. I don’t live here—I’m staying with a friend for a while—but I brought it with me for my stay.”
“Couldn’t part from it?” Milan teased.
“Indeed,” Jason laughed.
“Well, that sounds wonderful. I would be glad to make a friend with whom to speak about these things.”
“My pleasure. How about a dance to celebrate?”
Milan stiffened slightly. Jason seemed nothing more than friendly, even if hehadbeen the one to approach Milan, but he didn’t want to give the wrong impression.
“Well, I think my husband may be waiting for a dance…” he lied, looking around.
Jason smiled. “I would not hold you captive—you’d be free to escape my company after.”
Milan looked at Katerina, making sure it would be proper to dance with another Alpha. She nodded subtly.
“Then it would be my pleasure,” Milan said, and let himself be guided to where other couples danced as the next song started.
Milan had to admit, itwaspleasant. Milan did not know the steps to the dance, but it was easy to pick the rhythm up with such a skilled guide. Although their contact was friendly and appropriate, it was nice to be held by an Alpha, to be smiled at and not made to feel repellent.
In the end, they danced for two songs before Jason bowed out gracefully and let him return to Katerina.
She was accompanied by a tall, stiff looking alpha, and a short, plump, and very beautiful Omega which Katerina couldn’t seem to look away from.
Well. Things had just gotten a little more interesting.
“Hello. I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” Milan said as soon as he arrived. Katerina shot him a look but immediately smiled at the other Omega.
“This is Lord Milan Ledford. And this is Gianna. I mean, Miss Gianna Fetcher.”
Miss Gianna looked at him, her green eyes a startling contrast with her short, dark hair. “Oh, please call me Gianna. I can’t stand all these formalities.”
Milan smiled. “They are quite tedious, aren’t they?”
Gianna laughed, but the Alpha they had ignored until now did not seem so impressed.
“Such norms are there to promote order,” he said.
Milan raised his eyebrows at his chiding tone, as if he were dealing with children. “Then you must be at the brink of chaos, having not introduced yourself to me already.”
The Alpha clenched his jaw. “Mister Edwin Mason.”
