[BL] I Didn't Sign Up For This-Chapter 32: In Which I Discover Jealousy is Highly Inconvenient
The board meeting was supposed to be routine.
I wasn’t even supposed to be there. But Azryth had insisted I accompany him to Valek Industries headquarters for what he called "visibility purposes."
"The Covenant knows you’re bound to me," he’d explained that morning. "But seeing you actively integrated into my life, attending meetings, present in my spaces, sends a message. That you’re not some secret I’m hiding, that you’re protected. Claimed."
"So I’m a prop."
"You’re a statement." He’d adjusted my tie with the same careful attention he gave everything. "And possibly a prop, both can be true."
So here I was, sitting in a conference room that probably cost more than most houses, surrounded by executives in expensive suits, while Azryth conducted a quarterly review.
I was trying to pay attention. Really. But corporate finance was not my strong suit, and the discussion of projected earnings versus actual performance was making my eyes glaze over.
Then she walked in.
Late. Deliberately late, I realized, because every head turned as she entered.
She was beautiful, not regular beautiful, supernatural beautiful, the kind that made you forget how to form words.
Tall, curves in all the right places, dark hair that seemed to move independently of wind or physics, eyes that shifted color depending on the light, violet, then gold, then something in between.
And her smile, predatory, knowing. Aimed directly at Azryth.
"Sorry I’m late," she purred, taking a seat directly across from him. "I was detained by... pressing matters."
Something about her made my skin crawl, and not in the way spirits made my skin crawl, this was different. Wronger.
"Ms. Shade," Azryth acknowledged, his voice perfectly professional. "Thank you for joining us, we were just reviewing Q3 performance metrics."
"How thrilling." She leaned forward, and I noticed every man in the room, and several women, lean forward with her. Like she was gravity. "Though I find performance discussions so much more engaging when they’re... interactive."
The double meaning was obvious. Intentional.
Through the binding, I felt Azryth’s reaction. Awareness, caution, and something else. Recognition.
He knew what she was.
"Perhaps we could save interactive discussions for the breakout sessions," he said smoothly. "Let’s continue with the quarterly report."
But Ms. Shade wasn’t deterred. Throughout the rest of the meeting, she found ways to insert herself, leaning toward Azryth when she spoke, making prolonged eye contact, touching his arm when making a point.
And every time she touched him, something hot and uncomfortable twisted in my chest.
Jealousy.
I was jealous.
Which was ridiculous. Azryth and I weren’t actually together, we were bound, yes. Living together, yes. Sleeping in the same bed most nights for "binding stability," yes.
But we weren’t... we hadn’t...
We were complicated. Undefined. Whatever we were building was fragile and new and definitely not exclusive because we’d never discussed exclusivity.
But watching her touch his arm made me want to break things.
Through the binding, I felt Azryth’s awareness spike, he glanced at me briefly, something like surprise crossing his face.
He could feel it. My jealousy, bleeding through the connection.
Great. Perfect. Now he knew.
"And that concludes the quarterly review," Azryth said, standing. "Unless there are additional concerns?"
"I have several concerns," Ms. Shade said, standing with him. "Perhaps we could discuss them privately? Over dinner?"
"I’m afraid my schedule is quite full," Azryth replied. "My assistant can arrange a meeting during standard business hours."
"Pity." Her eyes slid to me for the first time, assessing, dismissive. "And who is this? I don’t believe we’ve met."
"Riven Kael," Azryth said before I could respond. "My husband."
The temperature in the room dropped noticeably.
Ms. Shade’s smile sharpened. "Ah, yes. The mysterious spouse, I’d heard rumors but assumed they were exaggerated." She moved around the table toward me. "How delightful, though I have to wonder... what does someone so human bring to a relationship with someone so... extraordinary?"
The insult was wrapped in politeness but unmistakable.
"Authenticity," I said, standing to meet her. "And a remarkable ability to survive things that should have killed me, it’s a whole thing."
"How quaint." She was closer now, too close. I could smell her perfume, something that made my head swim and my thoughts fuzzy. "Though I wonder how long that survival rate will hold, humans are so fragile, especially when they wander into worlds they don’t understand."
"Is that a threat?" Azryth’s voice cut between us. Cold. Dangerous.
"Merely an observation." But Ms. Shade stepped back, still smiling. "Your husband is quite charming, Azryth. I can see why you’re... attached."
The way she said "attached" made it sound like weakness.
"Ms. Shade," Azryth said, moving to stand beside me, his hand found the small of my back. Possessive. "I believe you have other meetings to attend."
"Of course. But do let me know if you change your mind about that dinner." She headed for the door, paused at the threshold. "It was lovely meeting you, Riven. I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of each other."
Then she was gone, leaving behind a room full of uncomfortable executives and me with that hot, twisting feeling still burning in my chest.
"Meeting adjourned," Azryth announced. "Everyone out."
The executives fled. Within thirty seconds, we were alone.
"What the hell was that?" I demanded.
"That was Lirien Shade, a succubus. Board member, and apparently, someone with a death wish." He was angry, actually angry. "I apologize. I should have anticipated she might try something."
"Try something? She was openly hitting on you!"
"Yes. Standard succubus behavior, they feed on desire, attention, sexual energy. Flirtation is how they interact with the world."
"She touched you multiple times."
"I noticed." He looked at me. "I also noticed your reaction through the binding. Very loud reaction."
Heat flooded my face. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Riven. I felt your jealousy spike every time she touched me, it was actually impressive in its intensity."
"I wasn’t jealous."
"You absolutely were." He moved closer. "And for what it’s worth, I found it... interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"Interesting that you care enough to be jealous, interesting that the thought of someone else touching me bothers you." His hand came up to cup my jaw. "Interesting that we’re apparently more exclusive than I realized."
"We’re not... I mean, we haven’t discussed... we’re complicated."
"Very complicated." But he was smiling slightly. "Though apparently less complicated than I thought if you’re this possessive."
"I’m not possessive!"
