Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Arthur & Iris

Arthur

I scan the crowded ballroom, searching for Iris. I shouldn’t have left her alone for so long, especially at her first public event as my mate. The call took longer than expected–a minor diplomatic crisis with Bo’Arrocan that couldn’t wait–and now I can’t find

her- anywhere.

1 spot Beta Ezra by the far wall and make my way to him. “Have you seen Iris?”

He shakes his head. “Not for the past twenty minutes. She was talking to Countess Blackthorn earlier, but I lost track of her after

that ”

Countess Blackthorn. Shit. That woman has one of the sharpest tongues in Ordan high society, and she’s one of Selina’s closest

.friends. I should never have left Iris alone. The Countess probably ripped her a new one.

“Arthur.”

Just as I’m about to send Iris a text, I turn to find Caleb standing behind me, a champagne flute dangling from his fingers.

“Caleb,” I nod curtly. The last time we spoke was at Selina’s hospital bedside, and it wasn’t exactly friendly. “I’m surprised to see

you here.”

He shrugs one shoulder. “Diplomacy and all that. With everything going on with Selina, I need to keep up a positive image.” His eyes scan the room. “I notice your mate is here tonight. The human.”

I feel my jaw tighten. “Her name is Iris.”

“Yes, Iris,” he says, nodding. “That’s actually why I wanted to speak with you.”

“If you’re here to criticize my choice of mate-

“Not at all,” Caleb interrupts, surprising me. “Quite the contrary. I find your… Iris… quite fascinating.”

The emphasis he places on her name strikes me as odd. Something about his tone puts me on edge.

“In what way?” I ask carefully.

Caleb glances around, then gestures toward a quieter corner of the ballroom. “Perhaps we could speak somewhere more private?”

Reluctantly, I follow him. I still need to find Iris, but Caleb’s unusual behavior has me curious.

“I felt a connection to her,” Caleb says once we’re away from prying ears. “When we met at the hospital. Something…familiar.”

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

I can’t help but scoff. “You think you’re related to Iris? That’s absurd. She’s a human.”

“Is she?” Caleb asks, his eyebrows raising. “Are you absolutely certain of that?”

“Of course she is,” I say, but a flicker of doubt surfaces in my mind. The way she healed after the accident, much faster than any human should have–even with my blood. The doctors had been baffled.

“She submitted a DNA test, you know,” Caleb continues, watching me closely. “For our family’s search.”