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“Asher and I had quite a conversation before tonight’s meal, Miss Rossi.” Salvatore’s voice was carefully guarded. He set down his knife to retrieve his glass, pausing long enough to take a sip. “I’m told you were brought in with an organization that has been siphoning family funds for a few months now. Is that correct?”
The air caught in my throat. My hands immediately stilled. “Yes, it is,” I admitted softly.
Asher continued eating as if he had no concern about the conversation unfolding.
“What was done about the two mortals responsible for the organization’s creation?” Salvatore’s pale golden eyes flickered around the table.
A pleased chuckle escaped Archer. “They volunteered themselves for a few experiments Nico was developing.”
“They’ve since been disposed of,” Nico added.
Salvatore nodded slowly. His gaze returned to me. “Which now makes you the only one spared. That brings me to a question that I am sure you have been expecting since I arrived. Tell me, Miss Rossi… Are you willing to give your life to protect my son?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation on my part. It was just another test in the eyes of the king himself, but it didn’t drive my quick answer. I finally turned my head to lock gazes with him, which seemed to startle him.
Salvatore straightened in his chair, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Even if that meant a bullet?”
“Yes.” Again, my answer came just as quickly without resistance. I continued to gaze at him while we entered a short staredown. I didn’t have the slightest clue on if this was the right move, especially since Santino seemed more interested in his fish than giving me a cue. It wasn’t until the king uttered a small chuckle that the relief leaked into my veins.
“What a curious young woman you are.” Salvatore retrieved his knife and continued slicing into the salmon. “My son buys you as personal entertainment from an organization that has been nothing more than a thorn in our side. A mosquito, really. Now the two of you are bonded on a deep level. You’ve embraced our world with open arms. All things considered, this went down as well as anything could go.” He paused for a moment before he scoffed. “Now if your sister would only do the same, Asher.”
Asher didn’t respond. His golden eyes simply flickered toward Archer.
The demon lord was quick to offer up a response related to the topic. “We’ve already trimmed down the locations where Calianna might be residing, sire. All of the states along the water have been eliminated.”
The noise Salvatore uttered this time was nothing more than pure annoyance. “Calianna would be a fool not to avoid the coastline… Most of those states have been claimed by Asher. She’d be back on a boat before she could have another tantrum.” He gestured at Archer with his knife. “I want her on an airplane the minute you locate her. Drug her to keep her under control if you must.”
The demon lord bowed his head slightly. “It will be done, sire.”
My eyes swung toward Asher when quiet vibrating threatened to silence the conversation. It stunned me that the prince casually tugged the device from his suit pocket and gave it a quick peek. The moment his eyes locked on the screen, I noticed how every muscle in his body tensed. With all of his demon lords sitting in the room, I didn’t have a clue as to who would be calling.
“Forgive me, Father. I must take this phone call.” Asher rose from his chair and made his way toward the back porch. His steps only slowed for a moment until Salvatore acknowledged his words with a grunt. He answered the phone call in a native tongue seconds before the door swung shut behind him.
Asher was the only cushion I had when it came to keeping my nerves under control. Having him leave the room left my stomach prepared to turn on me. I set my utensils down and settled for sipping on the wine I’d been given. Letting the haze return like this wasn’t on the agenda, yet it would help me bide my time until he returned.
All it took was a quick peek to realize that the prince was just as livid as he had been when he returned earlier that evening. I could feel his rage leaking through the glass, and my own panic started to rise.
Who had called? Was I supposed to leave the table and attempt to keep his rage under control?
Santino’s silver eyes found their way to me. He simply offered a small shake of his head to warn that my place was still at the table. If I needed to get involved in the phone call, the prince would make it known. Until then, I had to wait.
I blew out a slow breath and resumed eating. It was agonizing to wait and see what my next move would be, but this was the world that I belonged to now. I had to play by their rules if I wanted to stay in it.
ASHER
“I need your help, big brother.”
Calianna’s voice cycled through my head so many times that the nausea haunting my stomach was threatening to take action. I gritted my teeth until my entire jaw pulsed with agony.
“I know that I’ve already said this several times, but…this is a horrible idea.” Archer remarked softly. He was looking out the same window that I was with those purple eyes fixed upon the coffee shop across the street.
Drawing in a deep breath, I refused to let my eyes linger on any one person for very long. “It’s not like you to repeat yourself, Archer. Why bother me with that tonight?”
He released an amused snort. “It’s hard to tell when you’re really focused on a conversation these days… Can’t blame you, really. That’s a damn good find you have there with that new pet. Although I didn’t expect you to admit a few days later that she’s fucking royalty. Your father took it…extremely well for someone who doesn’t like to leave the family home.”
No shit. I lifted my jaw slightly to acknowledge his remark while I continued to study those lingering outside the late night hot spot. It wasn’t one of the businesses that I had invested in. Coffee and books didn’t exactly tempt the vast majority of the human population — or any of them, really. That didn’t mean I would shut down another race’s beloved business.
The irony that Calianna had chosen this place for us to meet.
