Jerking my gaze away from the photo, I slump back in my chair.“Fine,” I call out, not looking up.Not being able to see the pain in his present-day eyes even though they’realready hauntingmein my memories.
“I’ll be there.”Yanking open a drawer for a new pen, I resist the urge to grab the bottle of helfire in the drawer beneath.“But there will be no kissing.”
He chuckles, sounding as if he’s right in front ofme.I glance up to find him on the other side of the room.My ears straining for the slightest of sounds, I slip a throwing knife out of its sheath on top of my wrist.
“Got it,” Jace says, projecting his voice across the room, making it sound as if he’s still sitting at my desk.He moves like a phantom towards the door.
He glances at me when he’s a step away.Nodding, I rise to my feet, ready for whatever attack the Court is planning this time.Now that I’ve backed them into a corner, they’ll get more desperate in their attempts to stop me.Not that anyone they send will get past Jace.There’s a reason they always wait until he’s not around.
Opening the door, he grabs whoever is behind it, jerks her inside, and shoves her face against the wall.The door slams shut from his kick, and his foot pins it there fully.
Leaning in close to her, he murmurs, “Hello, sexy.”
Annoyed, I put my knives away.
“Careful, Jace,” Nicholascallsthrough the door.“This one bites.”
“I also stab,” Fabia growls.
Jace’s headdipsas he glancesbetween their bodies.“Youwill need a bigger blade than that todo any damage to my dick.”
“Just the tip, right?”
He laughsas he leansin.The smell of blood piercesthe air.“Marry me,” Jace begs.
“What in Hel’s name is wrong with you?”she snaps.
“A lot,” I answer.Striding over to them, I order, “Letmy brotherin.”
Taking his time, all the while staring into Fabia’ssilver,irritated eyesas she looks over her shoulder, Jace leansback and lowershis foot from the door.Stepping back, heholdsup a small, familiar knife in his hand.“Nicholas.”He grins.“Stop letting women play with your knives.”
My brotherswearsas he bargesin.He swipesforhisknife, but Jaceholdsit out of reach.It disappearsfrom his hand a moment later.
“Cut the magic shit,” I growl, thankful yet again that hedoesn’thave actual magic.He’d be unbearable if he knew even the simplest spell.And dead.Very, very dead.Because we’d all kill him.
“That wasn’t me,” Jacesays, dropping to his knees in front of Fabia.Looking up at her in adoration, hebegs,“Please marry me.I cook.I clean.I do the laundry.I’m all up for knifeplay, and my cock is –”
“Bleeding,” she cutsin coldly, but there’sa smile tugging at her lips.
“Well, now you know I have no issue with it being covered in blood.Sex on one’s period is more stimulating,you kn–”
“Gods, Jace!Learn to have a fucking filter,”my brother snaps.
“Why, when I get to see a beautiful goddess blush?”
Nicholas looksat me, but I refuse to get involved.
“Where’s Arienna?”I ask, turning the conversation to actual important matters.
“In theDressmaker’sSuite, getting her hair done.Ajax will be here in two hours with a range of dresses.There are three guards on her door.”
“Who?”
“Saragese, Marrabel, and Irin.”
I nod.They’reall good women.Trusted women.But still… “If Evangeline was back, she’d get past all of them.”
“But she’s not.She’s in Gretadal on assignment.”He glancesatFabia.“I’m headingback to theDressmaker’sSuitenowanyway.I just came up to drop off the new maid of honour.”
