She rushed over, didn’t dare hesitate, and he grabbed her by the back of the neck. Before she could tense her muscles, Arran pressed the needle underneath her ear and pulled the trigger.
Fiery pain radiated through her jaw, and she clenched her teeth to muffle a scream.
“A tracking device,” Arran whispered. “And if you try to leave the estate or remove it, well...” His bloodthirsty smile was the most terrifying thing Xenia had yet encountered on the continent. “Let’s just say you wouldn’t be very pretty anymore.” Xenia quivered, lifting her fingers to the wound before Arrancrushed her hand in his fist. “Don’t touch it. It’s coated in healing salve and will heal quickly. Return to your quarters.”
Xenia darted for the door, trying not to think about how drastically her circumstances had just changed. A fuckingtracking device? Oh, her mission to find Cael was going great.
She wrapped her fingers around the bronze handle and pulled the door open.
Then nearly collapsed to her knees in bone-deep relief when she saw who filled it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Cael was hallucinating.
He had to be.
An after-effect of the lethaphyll smoke that billowed from the open door of his father’s office.
What in the ever-loving name of fuckingStygioswas Xenia doing here? Wearing the uniform of the Stoneridge household staff, no less?
A smile ghosted over her lips, then died when he didn’t return it.
Of course he didn’t. Was she insane? Thank fuck the three other males behind her hadn’t seen it.
Arran raised his head. “Yes? What do you want, Cael? Laskaris and I were just finishing up.”
“I…” Cael started, but couldn’t find his voice.
Xenia was here. In his father’s fucking office. Nowhere near where she was supposed to be: safely ensconced in the Temple in the colonies.
She stared at the floor, wringing her fingers. Her hair had been pinned back into a low, puffy bun—a travesty. He ached to remove the pins, let her gorgeous curls spring forth with wild abandon.
Erik pushed off the wall and slapped a hand on Cael’s shoulder. “Laskaris’s wedding gift. A new human pet for the household staffs.” He dipped his head, huffing a laugh. “I meant staff. Silly of me.” His gaze bounced between Cael and Xenia, far too knowingly.
Cael trusted his baby brother more than anyone else in his family, but the thought of Arran interpreting whatever energy Erik had just sensed between him and Xenia…
Terror prickled down Cael’s spine.
“Cael,” Arran barked, breaking him from his stupor.
“Yes, Father, sorry, I… Hollins came to fetch me after I escorted Elodie back to her room. Said you were ready to meet with me.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he swore he saw Xenia flinch at his fiancée’s name. She’d need to learn how to control her reactions. Every thought, every emotion was written so plainly across her face. He adored that about her. But here at Stoneridge, it could get her killed.
“Hollins?” Arran asked.
“Your valet?”
Arran waved him off. As if he couldn’t be bothered to remember the man’s name. “Your work begins tomorrow. All new customer inquiries are now your responsibility.”
Cael’s wing twitched. “I’m not?—”
“You’ve missed a great deal since you were off playing nursemaid in the colonies.” Cael fought the urge to flick his eyes toward Xenia. Arran flung a packet of documents at him. “Not to mention I had to find a job you were capable of in your state.” Arran dragged his disgusted gaze across Cael’s lone wing. Cael wished he could say it didn’t sting. “Review those and start arranging meetings. Time to prove your worth to this family.”
Cael nodded, then glanced at Laskaris, whose heavy head dipped against his chest, his eyelids fluttering.
Erik pulled the male from the couch. “Come on, Phidion. I’ll take you to your room. Cael, perhaps you can escort the little human back to her quarters?” A sly smirk, there and gone in an instant.
