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“No. There are a few things I wish to do before we check in.” I could see a quizzical expression leak out onto Quinn’s face. It took everything I had to remain focused on the demon instead. “Take us to 149 Angeles Street.”
Aydin immediately threw the car into gear. “As you wish.”
Aside from the music he threw on for simple background noise, none of us made an attempt to carry out a conversation. I was content to let my thoughts stray while Aydin drove us toward the outskirts of Vegas. The energy humming within my pet was certainly amusing. It was driving her nuts that I wouldn’t clarify what we were doing.
Yet the possibility of a surprise excited her.
So she remained still, those stunning gray eyes occasionally shifting toward the window to take in the sights. That heart of hers had finally settled now that the jet had been left behind. Cars she could handle.
It wasn’t long until Aydin pulled the SUV over to the curb just outside of Mystic Silks. He threw a quick glance at the building. “Should I go inside and make sure it’s clear?”
“It’s not necessary.”
Only a fool would attempt to lay eyes on a building owned by my mother’s family.
Quinn didn’t budge until I gave the demon necessary instructions to return in an hour and I shoved the car door open. She gratefully took my hand as she eased out. It didn’t take her long to realize that my presence had already attracted attention from the tourists strolling by on the sidewalk, which meant their eyes also found their way to her. She flushed, her grip tightening on mine.
I was pleasantly surprised that all it took was a gentle warning on my part for her to realize this would simply become a part of her life. Sharing the spotlight with me and earning all this attention was the price of being my mate. Despite the nervous energy buzzing beneath that delicate skin, she managed to conceal all those emotions behind a calm demeanor.
Hell, Quinn even looked like she was enjoying herself.
As soon as Aydin took off and cleared the path for us, my pet curling her arm around mine, I led the way into the shop. The edges of my lips twitched as every single customer within swung their eyes our way with several of them gasping. There were even remarks leaking into the air that the prince of demons was in the building.
“Hello! Welcome to Mystic Silks.” A young redhead emerged from the office, no doubt pulled away from her task by the sudden silence within her shop. Once she rounded the corner and those pale silver eyes found their way toward us, she halted. “Asher. This is quite unexpected.”
I responded with a small nod. “Emersyn.”
My cousin drew in a breath as she struggled to process that I was actually there. Once the full weight of reality finally returned, she shifted her attention to the others. Clapping her hands together, she remarked, “Back to work! All of you. I don’t pay you to stand around to ignore my customers.”
Her staff quickly resumed their duties, encouraging quiet conversations.
Emersyn crossed the shop, clasping her hands together in front of her. “It’s been a very long time since you’ve graced this town with your presence, cousin. We were all beginning to fear that your growing duties were going to keep you away.”
The edges of my lips twitched. “Business brought me back.”
She scoffed. “Of course that’s why you’re here. Still. It’s always a pleasure to see you.” Her gaze strayed toward Quinn, who tensed. “Who is this lovely doll on your arm?”
“Emersyn, I would like you to meet my mate, Quinn Faxiss.”
Those pale eyes snapped back to me. Her jaw dropped. “Don’t fuck with me like that, cousin,” she growled. “Everyone knows the last of that bloodline was killed off several decades ago.”
My grin grew. “Apparently they missed one.”
Emersyn stared at me for a moment while she struggled to process the bomb I’d just dropped on her. It took several long minutes before she slowly nodded, running her fingers through her hair. “I’ll be damned. That’s quite a find.” She held out her hand toward my weary pet. “I am Emersyn Kaia. Asher’s mother was my aunt.”
That reveal seemed to be enough to help drive those pesky nerves away. Quinn’s body started to relax. “You two are related?”
My cousin’s fair lips curled into a small smile. “Not much of a family resemblance, huh?” She clasped her hands together in front of her while those pale eyes flickered in between us. “I take it you brought Quinn here to spoil her?”
I responded with a small nod of my own. “She has a closet to fill.”
My pet tensed beside me. “I don’t even know what styles I like,” she hissed at me.
Although Quinn hadn’t meant to give away her past through those words, that was all Emersyn needed for her to catch on to why I had brought us here. She held up a finger for me to wait before she turned away. “I need all customers to check out and be on your way! We will be closing early today. I do apologize for the sudden change, but it is necessary. Make your way to the registers so the staff can help you cash out.”
Quinn nibbled on her lower lip as the others scrambled to heed her command. “That’s really not necessary…”
Emersyn peered over her shoulder, arching an eyebrow. “It will be much easier on you if we have an empty shop. There’s really no need to fret. My business does well and it will not hurt for me to close my doors early today. Besides, I’d like to focus on you. Help you find what you like as well as some…necessary clothing choices for the days to come.” She gestured for us to take a bench nearby before she headed for the registers to help tend to the customers.
