I hadn’t really considered that aspect of our vows, and while he was right, it still didn’t fix things. “I don’t want her to be fragile.” Sirens were strong. They could fight. Humans… not so much. “If she is to be my proper queen, her soul needs to be free.” It would strengthen her form, allow her to embrace all her natural gifts, her memories, herpurpose.
His lips tilted upward. “How the tides have turned. Rotanev, yearning for his queen.”
“She should have been mine several hundred years ago,” I reminded him.
He lifted a shoulder. “True. But given her loyalty issues, perhaps it’s best she wasn’t.”
A fair assessment. And irrelevant. “Will you help me or not?”
“It’ll require staying in this realm a bit longer than I’d like, but yes, you know I will. And—”
“I’ll owe you a favor in return,” I finished for him. “I know.”
He smiled. “I do like you, Rotanev.”
“I know,” I repeated. And the feeling was mutual. “Can you start tonight?”
“Yes. But it’s going to take time to dig through her layers. I’ll need her to remain unconscious for several hours.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” I replied, smirking. “She’s currently exhausted.”
He arched a brow. “Something tells me I’ll need her put in thatexhaustedstate again a few times before I can find what you’re searching for.”
“Such a horrible task,” I deadpanned.
“You’re smitten.” He relaxed into the chair and dragged his fingers through his blond hair. “Perhaps I’ll find a human or two to enjoy during my stay. You know, to occupy my time throughout Kailiani’s cognizant hours.”
“I have an agency to recommend,” I offered.
“An agency?”
“Yes. Of mortal females willing to do whatever you want in exchange for money.”
“Money? As in human currency?” He chuckled. “How ridiculous.”
“It’s how I found Kailiani.” Her photo had gone onto the internet—which was apparently one of the many places my Telchines had been monitoring. They’d recognized her face immediately.
“Interesting.” His icy gaze burned into mine. “I wish to review thisagencyof yours, see if anything piques my fancy.”
“It’s not mine, but I’ll get you the information. Just remember they’re all human.” Which meant he needed to proceed with caution, assuming he desired the mortal to live.
“I’ll bear it in mind.” His unreadable expression could be interpreted in so many ways. As I couldn’t care less about his bedroom proclivities, I refrained from commenting.
“Can you start exploring her memories now?” I asked.
“Oh, I’ve already begun.” His icy gaze glittered. “She’s currently dreaming of you, Rotanev.”
“Is she?” I rather liked the sound of that.
He nodded. “I daresay she’s as smitten as you. Hopeful, too. But there’s a darkness circling her. I’m following that strand. I’ll let you know where it leads. For now, try to keep her asleep. And then tomorrow, exhaust her again.”
I chuckled. “Gladly.”
He stood and stretched. “Is there somewhere I can lie down while I work?”
“Yes.” I showed him the guest room, down the hall from my master suite.
“This will do,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket. “I promise to disappear when she wakes, but I’ll be back around this time tomorrow.”
