Page 57 of Fathom

Honor had no place when dealing with a den of snakes.

A fake smile and the pretense of compliance were a powerful weapon against the one percent.

"Eun," I said. "Don't you think we should listen to what your parents have to say? They're right. It is important for grandchildren to know their grandparents."

Eun looked at me as if I had sprouted horns and gored him with them. There was no way I would let these people near any children of mine, but right now wasn't about telling the truth. It was about lying through my teeth until we got out of here and could make a run for the space port. These monsters didn't deserve honesty, and right now, I needed them to be soconfident in their narcissism that they believed that I wanted to take advantage of their wealth.

Wealthy people always believed everyone else had a price.

"I think your family has a lot to offer our children," I said, squeezing his forearm and staring at him, hoping he understood. "Let's stay and discuss it with them."

“Your wife is sensible,” his mother added, folding her napkin neatly. “We’ll work on the press release to announce your marriage.”

There it was. A shift so sudden, so jarring, it was a punch to the gut. In the space of a few phrases, a few bites, I'd gone from an appetizer to an asset. I'd been blooded into the family by a ritual of mastication, I'd expressed that I was willing to put my flesh and blood into their hands, and now I was a viable option for their long-term plans.

“What?” Barathice gasped from the far end of the table, her lips curling into a sudden bright smile that exposed all of her teeth. “Really?”

“Barathice,” Eun’s mother said with a smile so sharp it could cut glass, “Eun has married a predator wholookssoft and squishy enough to be prey. She’s absolutely perfect for the public relations campaign we've been planning.”

Then she turned to me and beamed.Beamed.

“We’ll schedule a photoshoot as soon as possible,” she said.

“Photoshoot?” I said, blinking.

“Come now,” Eun’s mother purred as she stood and wrapped her arm through mine, pulling me effortlessly to my feet. “I’ll call my stylist to try some colors on you. We’ll want to emphasize your softer features as much as possible. Now, tell me everything about your species. Imustknow all about you.”

“Mother,” Eun called out, starting to rise from his seat, a note of panic in his voice.

“Let the girls have their fun,” his father said, reaching out with a hand as if he was going to hold Eun in place. He pulled it back as one of Eun's strands of hair lashed out at him.

The goal was to get out of here without fighting.

"Don't worry, Eun," I said. "Family is the most important thing, and I look forward to getting to know my new family."

He flinched back as if I had slapped him in the face, and then his mother pulled me from the room, her grip on my arm steel. They were separating us. I didn't know them or their species; I barely knew their culture. But I knew Eun. He was honest and direct. Even if these people were blood thirsty monsters who had intended to kill me the moment they found out about me, they still raised him to be an honest person, which meant the sudden shift of heart was not a trick.

They wanted Eun as a part of their family line, and they couldn't force him; they would have already.

All I had to do was convince them that I was their key to getting what they wanted from Eun and that I was safe.

At least for the time being.

If my reasoning was correct. Then again, maybe they were separating me so that they could lock me in a room and threaten my life to get Eun to do what they wanted. If only he had told me more about his family first.

“Do you like jewelry?” his mother asked, sweeping me up the massive staircase before I could answer or second-guess myself anymore. “We have some family heirlooms that Iknowwould suit your head shape. And your mane, how does it do with product? I’d love to sculpt it to echo our ear shape. I think it would be striking with one of my favorite tiaras.”

“Styling and jewelry,” I echoed, slightly dazed by the whiplash transformation. She had gone from snubbing me like astain on her upholstery to treating me like a favored daughter, all over one damned steak.

“Let’s get those nails done too,” she added, eyeing my hands. “They’re so small.Adorable.”

“I think she’ll fit in my clothes,” Eun’s younger sister Eunadi said brightly, appearing at the top of the stairs like she'd been summoned. “Let’s try some of those!”

“Oh, yes, dear,” his mother agreed. “Run and have your maid pull out the ones you haven’t worn yet. No need to waste a good debut opportunity.”

“This issofun!” Eunadi chirped, clapping her hands before darting down the hallway ahead of us.

“We’ll set you and Eun up in his old suite,” Eun’s mother said as she led me farther down the hall. “We can't have you going back to that ratty apartment he has been playing around in. We will set up a birthing suite here so you won't ever have to leave the property.”