Evaline:
"No."
River's voice was loud, sharp, and final.
The word hit the room like a slammed door.
I blinked, momentarily stunned, my mouth still half-open from where I had been about to explain myself further. For a second, the only sound in the living room was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall and the hum of the staff working around the mansion.
"I'm not letting you meet Marcus," River continued, his tone firm, Alpha-command layered beneath it. "Absolutely not."
I turned fully toward him, disbelief sparking in my chest.
"River-"
Before I could even finish his name, Oscar spoke up.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
All eyes snapped to him.
Oscar leaned back against the arm of the couch, arms crossed, his expression calm but thoughtful. "I mean refusing her, not the idea."
River's jaw tightened. "Oscar-"
