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I fired off a quick text to Dario with the request that he get as many bottles as he could from that mixture. With us staying at a hotel here in Vegas, I didn’t want to have the entire supply delivered there. Most would get sent on to Montana for when we returned while a small crate would wait for us here. Once the text was delivered, I returned the phone to my pocket. “So you are offering an alliance between the three of us. Why? What do you stand to gain from this?”
Ashivanx didn’t offer a response when he watched Quinn also grab a quick taste of my risotto. He simply stabbed a prawn and dragged it through the rice to cover it. Tossing it into his mouth, his expression shifted slightly to pure delight. “Fantastic seasoning on this…”
“Ashivanx.” I hardened my tone just enough to recover his attention. While my pet had now focused on her own meal, I had yet to touch my plate. Right now, I wanted answers.
The vampire sitting across from me only appeared mildly annoyed that I just couldn’t seem to do anything but remain wound up tight. “I think we both got to where we are today by investing heavily in strategy, Asher Aeternus. You’ve expanded on your father’s empire while weakening your enemy’s. I have restored control of Asia to the rightful heir. It would appear we could work well together when it comes to possible…problems.”
Lifting my jaw, I scoffed quietly. “The Alexei family are the original rulers. Why have you chosen not to challenge the Morialti?”
He offered a dismissive movement with his fork before he stabbed another prawn. “I have no interest in ruling my own kind again. I would much prefer to offer assistance when it is necessary and spend the rest of my time doing what I desire.”
“You mean that you would prefer to be Avion’s ace should the need arise.”
Ashivanx smirked, but that was all I was going to get for the time being. He was more interested in devouring his meal than indulging in more details.
“It sounds like it would be a wise investment.”
Quinn’s voice was so soft that I didn’t realize she had spoken until I could feel that familiar heat radiating off of her. When my eyes swung her way, the muscles within her jaw flexed. She hadn’t meant to interject into the conversation, especially when she was still struggling to adjust to the ways of the demonic world and everything that came tied to being mated to royalty.
While I was surprised that she’d added something to the conversation, that shock quickly shifted into pride. I cocked my head to the side, studying her intently. “Do you feel that I can trust him?”
That seemed to get Ashivanx’s hand to still with his fork just a mere few inches from his mouth. Those piercing pale eyes had also fallen upon my pet with intrigue.
The nervous energy had returned to Quinn’s aura with full force. It was taking everything she had not to duck her head and keep her gray eyes locked on her half-eaten risotto. Yet there was a side to her that was growing. It refused to be suppressed. With a deep breath, she set her fork down and rested her hands on her lap. She stared back at Ashivanx dead on, causing the vampire to grin. “When I wasn’t…heavily invested in the organization, I would take the time to study the royal families from the other paranormal races. The Alexei bloodline was well known for their unwavering loyalty. That was rumored to be one of the reasons the Morialti family sought to dethrone them.”
“I’m impressed.” Ashivanx set his own fork down. With one swift movement, he had the cloth napkin unrolled. He dragged it along the side of his mouth while he eyed her. “She’s not wrong. My father made it quite clear that certain races were worth investing in while others were not. As we both know, the angels aren’t quite as pure as they would like the rest of us to believe and the Jinn have never been known for actual loyalty.”
It was clear the gears weren’t done turning in my pet’s head. Her eyebrows furrowed and those stunning gray eyes swung my way. “Is that why Marcillo tried to poison you with their blood?”
I finally picked up my own fork and scooped up some of the rice. “Jinn blood is toxic to the rest of the races. They are the only race that would be willing to stab their allies in the back.”
“Hence why they have none.”
“You still need to answer my question, pet.” I arched an eyebrow at her, causing those cheeks to flush again. “Do you think I can place my trust in Ashivanx Alexei?”
She raised that jaw sharply with a surge of defiance that had me swelling with pride - and sporting one hell of a hard-on. “Absolutely.”
A soft chuckle rumbled from Ashivanx’s chest. “I like her.” He retrieved his glass of wine, tossing his head back to finish it off.
My upper lip curled to expose my demonic fangs. “Why? Because she believes you are worth investing in for an alliance?”
“Hell no.” The vampire grabbed his own personal bottle of wine to refill it. “I mentioned before that your story is a familiar one to me, Quinn. You were born with mixed blood. My own descendants will face the same fate and I expect them to rise from those ashes the same as you have. For a being that is…converting into a full-blooded demon, you are handling the change quite well. It was not a mistake for you to join the conversation when you have every right to do so.”
I cocked my head to the side. “I must admit that I agree.”
Her gray eyes widened as shock tore through her veins. “Y-You do?”
Relaxing in my chair, I found it far easier than I thought it would be to focus on my pet and where the conversation had shifted to. “Quinn…I do not want a queen that is only seen and not heard. That was the fate that fell upon my mother. It…didn’t end well for her. That is why my uncle expressed the same request to the both of us, why I have sworn to you I will never snuff out that light. I want you to take part in these conversations that will affect us both.”
“He wants a queen that is not hesitant to express her own opinion,” our vampire guest added softly. “Not one that will be suppressed into silence.”
Quinn’s blush deepened even more. Although she had managed to obtain the boldness to join our conversation and contribute to it, that side of her hadn’t grown enough yet to where she could avoid succumbing to the withdrawn behavior entirely. She ducked her head, focusing on getting more risotto on her fork.
Still, I didn’t stop the pleased grin from breaking out across my face. I shifted my attention back toward Ashivanx. “Very well, then. My queen believes an alliance would be ideal for the both of us. I will accept your proposal and meet with the new king. As long as he realizes that I will not be leaving the country until after the tasks have been faced and I have taken the throne with Quinn by my side.”
“By all means, Asher Aeternus. I was there when the old ways of your people were written.” He raised his glass with a pleased smirk. “I will take care of things on my end. We will speak again when the time is right. For now…I wish you both the best of luck.” His white eyes flickered between us. “Long live the alliance.”
QUINN
