Breakfast was quiet at the table the next morning. Ash didn’t know what to say to Tristan about what he was thinking and feeling, especially about what Beau had said yesterday. It would seem the silence would be broken no matter what as Tristan cleared his throat before he started to talk.

“Do you want to tell me about dinner last night?” Straight to the point, Ash should have known Tristan wouldn’t be the type to beat around the bush. He seemed so straight-laced and formal that dodging the topic didn’t seem in his repertoire. 

“Oh, Beau wasn’t being a good friend yesterday. He isn’t normally like that though. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” Ash answered honestly. Beau was a kind friend and always tried to make him feel better. Hurting his feelings had never been something Beau actively tried to do before now. Did it have something to do with Tristan? Beau could be trying to assert his dominance but Ash wasn’t sure why he would be doing so. There was no dominance needed.

“Sounds to me as though something else may be going on there,” Tristan commented. This morning’s breakfast was eggs benedict again but not even the hollandaise sauce he’d loved so much, could lift his spirits. To think that something was going on with Beau made the omega uneasy. Beau had never shown such defiance before. Ash had been hit on by alphas in the past and he’d been calm and cool. What made this situation different was probably the wedding. It wasn’t a simple alpha hitting on him, but an alpha claiming they were betrothed. Ash didn’t like this realization.

“You’re probably right. But how do I handle it? I’ve never had to confront him before.” This was a serious issue for Ash. Beau was talking about murder yesterday and he wasn’t sure if his friend were able to commit such a crime or not. That scared him beyond measure and he had no one he could talk to about this.

Tristan noticed the intensity of Ash’s worry as it etched itself over his facial expression and body language. The alpha reached over and placed his hand over Ash’s and shot him a reassuring look.

“I’m sure it can be sorted. If you ever need to talk, Amelia and I are always available.” 

It stung worse than withholding the truth. Knowing that Tristan was here for him to talk and the discussion was about his curse; it was the worst kind of lie, in his mind. He returned the reassuring look with a nervous attempted smile before swallowing at the lump that had formed at the back of his throat.

“Thank you. I’m just not sure what to do right now. Beau is helping me with my leads but at what cost, you know?”

The alpha nodded his head, his thumb absently running over the top of Ash’s hand in gentle circles. He wanted to ask Ash why he was so against this union but he knew why. It would be hard to come to terms with being forced into an arranged marriage by fae contracts. It may have been better if Ash’s parents had arranged the marriage plans as he could confide in them and take support from them. Now that Ash’s mother was no longer dying, he was sure the omega would want her in his life. Tristan had plans of his own to bring her here for the wedding if Ash could finally give in to its prospect. But that was a different matter altogether.

“I would suggest if you don’t feel comfortable discussing it with Amelia or myself, that you could write to your mother. I was actually going to ask if I could invite her to the wedding. I’m aware that you are extremely close to her and think you would take comfort in her being here.”

Ash couldn’t have stopped the wide and joyous expression that graced his lips even if he wanted to. Tristan may be a small part of the problem, but talking to him now, it almost felt as though they’d simply gotten off on the wrong foot. Tristan was a kind man even if a little distant at times. Ash assumed it was due to being a Lord in high society, but it made the omega wonder if marriage would be such a terrible thing…

“I-if my leads don’t pan out then I would like that very much, thank you.” There was a dusted blush across his cheeks and the tips of his ears started to turn pink from the warmth blooming in his chest. Tristan’s scent grew stronger as he returned to his meal with a pleasant smile. Ash watched him from the corner of his eye as he ate his eggs. This was an extremely pleasant turn of events. One which would keep his spirits high unless something came along to ruin his good mood.

***

Beau found Ash in the library and shuffled over to him with an anxious feeling surrounding him that the omega had never seen before. Beau was always so confident and suave. If the alpha were this anxious it was probably because he intended to apologize for yesterday.

Ash was finishing the letter to his mother, shuffling the paper under another as Beau entered his field of vision. The alpha wore a simple blue gingham button-up shirt and some navy-colored slacks. He looked both comfortable and unnerved at the same time.

“Hey, Ash. I have something I want to say but it’s extremely difficult to say aloud.”

Instead of saying something, or giving any hint of being open to the apology, Ash simply nodded his head and regarded Beau. The alpha sighed and ran his hands through his hair before he closed his eyes with a deeper, more gruntled sigh. 

"I'm sorry. I know it isn't my place to talk to your fiance about you like that. I know that you're warming up to him and want to trust this guy," he started, pausing to grit his teeth.

"But honestly what do you know about him? How can you be sure you'll be taken care of? If anything ever happened to you…" the alpha trailed off. Ash looked at him differently then. The atmosphere around them felt odd and not the familiar or comforting way he knew to associate with the alpha. Was this the moment that Beau expressed something deeper? The omega didn't think he could handle a confession, not from Beau. It conflicted with everything he knew and felt about the alpha. Beau was his friend. Right?

"It's okay. I understand your concern, but there's no need for dramatics. I'll be fine. We'll find a replacement, I'm sure. Whether I get comfortable here or not isn't a problem. Besides, when will we get to say we had such luxurious accommodations again?" Ash added in an attempt to lighten the mood. It was far too heavy for his liking and he knew he'd fall apart if Beau pushed his feelings further.

"I get that." That was all Beau said. He looked pensive for a moment before his lips pulled up into a more pleasant expression, although still a little forced.

"Thank you for your apology. I appreciate you having my back." Ash said with sincerity. If Beau wasn't here, he wouldn't have any leads on getting out of this situation. At the same time though, if Beau weren't here, he wouldn't feel so small in the vast expanse of this mansion, or in his life right now. Things had been complicated before but now they felt inconsolable. And that thought made the omega uneasy. Which path was right?

***

Days often felt longer than they should have, especially when one wasn't having a good time. Beau had left Ash to his own devices for the rest of the day but it felt similar to a death sentence. He could feel Beau in the library, looking at books and scoffing. He would pick one up and start to read, only to slam the book shut and look for another. It came to such an infuriating point that Ash stood from his seat and left the library. Beau looked up and watched the omega leave but didn't move to follow him. Ash was extremely thankful that Beau didn't follow him. He'd wandered around the mansion with his letter to his mother tucked into a book he carried close to his chest.  Ash wasn't sure where he was headed but soon found himself in front of a door where a light sound could be heard. The door was slightly ajar and Ash thought he heard someone talking so he knocked lightly.

"...Come in," the person said. Ash pushed open the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him to turn around and see Tristan sitting in a large bath. It was sunken into the floor with pale blue tiling around it. The tiles were tiny and covered around the bath and up the wall. There was even a sauna in the corner of the room. The steam inside should have been an indicator of what he was walking into.

"Can I help you?" Tristan asked politely. The hint of a bemused smile lit his features in a way that had Ash's heart beat a little faster.

"Ah, no. I heard the water and was curious. I don't need anything." he said with a flustered tone before he turned around to give the alpha some privacy. The water may have some bubbles from the soap, but the water did little to hide the alpha. Ash was purely thankful he had a thin piece of cloth over his lap in the bath.

"You could join me, if it isn't inappropriate to you."

Ash stood a little straighter as his back stiffened. His face flushed and his immediate response should have been to turn down the offer. But what harm could be done?

"...sure. Is there, um, a place to change?" he asked while peaking over his shoulder. Tristan lifted his hand and pointed over to the partition and spare towels that were stacked on a shelf beside it.

Ash moved over to the dark-screened partition and started to strip.

"I'm a little surprised you agreed." Tristan said honestly.

"I am too." Ash replied.

He laid his clothes on a table behind the partition blocking the alpha from a full view of his naked body, before picking up a larger towel from the stand. It was wrapped around his waist and Ash emerged from behidn the partition. He didn't know but the partition merely blurred his form.

Ash was silent as he stepped over to the stairs and climbed into the warm water. His left hand was on his towel to make sure it didn't fall or come undone. Once submerged, he sat on the tiled ledge, opposite Tristan. The alpha gave him a reassuring smirk before chuckling.

"Did you want to talk about anything? Or would you rather remain in shared silence?"

Ash considered the question before shrugging his shoulders.

"We can talk." he offered a small smile that appeared a little nervous. They were naked, in a bath, together. Even with towels to keep their modesty, it was still a precarious position to be in.