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Shouma-kun gave me his signature smirk. “I could ask you the same thing, Belle-chan,” he replied in Japanese. His attention then switched to the enigma beside me, and a cold glare crossed his eyes, but Arkane had a colder look in his stormy eyes. Did they know each other? They glared so hard that I could feel the tension between them like prickling needles.

“I didn’t realize you were friends with the Beast,” Shouma-kun continued in Japanese as a piece of his ink-black hair fell over his dark-brown eyes. He was dressed in black flared trousers and a casually tucked blue dress shirt with the top three buttons unbuttoned. Shouma-kun knew how to impress the crowd. Being half Russian and half Japanese, his distinct features made him stand out in the crowd, especially with the girls.

He was the only friend I had, a fellow Valerian, but he was a strategic spy. He was probably on a mission here and was either doing a very bad job of blending in or a very good one. Knowing him, it was probably the latter.

“I’m not,” I answered back in Japanese, giving him a look. “And he’s not a Beast.”

“Really?” Shouma-kun tilted his head as he stared at Arkane. “I don’t think so, Belle-chan. He looks like one.”

“I am,” Arkane replied coolly in perfect Japanese, pulling me closer to him. “And it’s Belle-san to you—she’s my date tonight.”

For the first time since meeting him, I was stunned. I didn’t know he spoke Japanese, but then there was a lot about Arkane Stormhold that I didn’t know.

Shouma-kun’s grin only widened. “She’ll always be Belle-chan to me.”

Before Arkane could reply, a very pretty girl with shiny blond hair and a skintight bright pink dress came up to Shouma-kun’s side. “Babe? You didn’t tell me you knew Arkane Stormhold.” Even though she was speaking to Shouma-kun, her eyes were fixed on Arkane, eyeing him like she wanted to devour him.

“We’re just getting acquainted, darling.” Shouma-kun’s entire demeanor changed to a doting boyfriend as he wrapped his arms around her, and she melted under his touch, but her lust-filled eyes remained on Arkane. She was probably how he got into the event— Shouma-kun was good at honeying up women to fit his needs. This event seemed to be the epicenter for more than just one crime.

“Shouma was just leaving,” Arkane announced in a tone that left no room for argument as he eyed the couple. “Weren’t you?”

“Ah, yes.” Shouma-kun’s grin never faded as he watched us, nuzzling his nose in his date’s hair. “We were,” he slowly said, walking away, not before giving me a wink over his shoulder while his date protested to stay, vying for Arkane’s attention.

I shook my head, smiling as I watched them disappear into the crowd.

“He made you smile.” Arkane frowned as his eyes swept over my face.

My smile widened. “I’m not a robot. I do smile. A lot of things make me smile.”

“Really?” A slight smile graced his lips. “I wouldn’t have known.”

Flustered. He was making me flustered.

Just then, the lights lowered, saving my heated cheeks, and the host announced a welcome notice to all the guests.

A man standing by the bar with a tall woman at his side caught my attention, and a weird feeling bristled in my bones at his presence.

I knew without a doubt that it was him.

The man with four fingers.

Harvey Walters.

“It’s him.”

Arkane nodded.

“He’s not leaving this island alive tonight,” I declared in a calm tone.

CHAPTER 10

BELLE

“Do you think he’ll come to us?” I asked Arkane, who leaned closer to take a sip of his bourbon. It didn’t take long for Harvey Walters to realize that Arkane Stormhold was a guest tonight. He whispered something to the woman next to him, which made her eyes snap in our direction. I only had to take one look at her sharp gaze and stiff stance to know that she was a Surman. Harvey Walters looked like he never expected Arkane’s presence tonight, and the slight sneer when he turned gave away his disdain.

“He has to,” Arkane muttered.

“Then why hasn’t he?” It had been about twenty minutes since he arrived.