Page 54 of Knot Excused
And the more I looked at it, the more true I knew it was.
Even though it was a quick sketch and she’d obviously done it quickly with zero care, there was something fucking mesmerizing about the expression on the cat’s face, the sharp, vivid images she had painted, despite her not giving a shit.
“Look at ours!” Cressida whined. “It is far more beautiful!”
I did look at ours. While it was of course technically proficient, I had to admit that it lacked. . . something.
And then I realized what it was. It lacked life. Authenticity. A goddamn perspective. It was beautiful, but meant nothing.
“You won, Piper,” I said. “Fair and square.”
I thought I detected a note of genuine surprise in her eyes, like she hadn’t expected me to say something like that.
I can be better, I wanted to roar out.
I can and will be a better Alpha for you. Just forgive me.
Then, before I could intervene, Cressida lunged at Piper.
Well, goddamn, I could have told her that was a bad idea.
It seemed to happen in extreme slow motion, Cressida with her claws out, her hair all falling out of its neat pins, her face looking wild.
Piper didn’t even blink, just stepped aside and then gripped Cressida by the back of her $150,000 dress and hoisted her in the air.
“Tsk,” she tut-tutted. “So tacky. Calm down, you’re ruining the atmosphere.”
Then she took a few steps to the marble fountain and dunked Cressida in.
There were general hysterics and confusion, with several Omegas dramatically swooning.
“Oh sweet Omega, don’t hurt yourself!” Teddy crooned, rushing over to Piper. “Bend at the knees when you’re doing that, Angel.”
But Piper was already setting Cressida down like a sopping wet rat as she bared her teeth.
“Don’t start anything you can’t finish,” Piper warned. “Now take your second place prize and get the fuck out.”
Sobbing, Cressida fled the exhibition hall as the Duke placed the first place medal around Piper’s neck.
“Bro, your painting wasn’t that bad,” Teddy said, patting me sympathetically on the shoulder. “I mean, of course I liked Piper’s much better but yours was swell too. He didn’t have to go so hard on you.”
Teddy liking the painting was of course the kiss of death for its artistic merit, but I knew he meant well.
“Remarkable,” Rook said, and his usually cold and stoic voice was almost a croon, if you knew what he normally sounded like.
“I have known the Duke D’Bertier de Sauvigny for many years, and I’ve never seen him act like that.”
“Extraordinary,” Piper agreed casually, adjusting her hoops. “I suppose he was truly captivated by this wizard cat.”
Rook was staring at her in that dominant Alpha way he has, but Piper looked like she couldn’t give less of a shit, meeting his eyes with all the boldness in the world.
“Anything,” Rook said, his voice like gravel getting hit apart with a sledgehammer. “I’ll give you anything. Just give me another chance. Give Pack Skystone another chance.”
Piper only shrugged.
CHAPTER28
Rook
