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“I haven’t yet,” she muttered, sounding vaguely annoyed by it. “But I’m giving you a week to figure something out.”
Pressing my lips to the top of her head, I embraced her tightly.
“Will you stay here with me?” I murmured.
She pulled back and gawked at me.
“No!” she choked. “Are you crazy?”
I’d expected that response, but it hurt all the same. She read the disappointment on my face.
“But I’ll come and visit,” she vowed begrudgingly.
I settled for the compromise and bowed my head back against the cushion.
One week. Now I had a deadline.
Chapter27
Abby
One week. I could do this for one more week, and then Elijah would either decide to leave Pario City, or he would reclaim it. In either case, I knew I would be at his side. In the interim, I just had to wait it out, do my job, and pretend that everything was business as usual.
I had faith that my deadline would stick with Elijah. He had to be sick of being locked away. Even returning to Seven Rock had to be better than hiding away. He had once been so powerful here, rolling through the streets like the king he was. Every minute he spent in that hotel suite had to gnaw on his ego.
But I had a feeling he was leaning toward retaking Pario City. And that made me very, very nervous. He had been out of touch for far too long.
These were the thoughts plaguing my mind as I went about my business the next day, my focus only on where the upcoming week would take me.
After making my usual runs, I went directly to the Sandstone Inn where Elijah was staying to meet him for dinner, but I was disappointed to find that he wasn’t alone as he had been the previous night.
Three strange shifters sat in the living room of his massive suite, nodding politely at me when I entered. They instantly made me uncomfortable, and I whispered as much to Elijah as he sat me at the dining room table, placing a linen napkin on my lap.
A diamond chandelier hung from the sixteen-foot ceiling, dim lighting accenting the flickering candlelight against the silver candlesticks. Succulent smells wafted from the kitchen, but I was sure he hadn’t cooked, despite the fully equipped room.
“Elijah,” I murmured, my eyes trained on the men. “They shouldn’t see me here.”
Elijah rejoined me at the dining table, laying out a small roasted chicken on a platter, but I had no appetite, despite the savory spices drifting into my nose.
“They’re with me, Princess,” he said calmly. “They’re Ash’s men.”
I peered at him, that familiar twinge of affection rushing through me at the pet name. Did he remember how it had come to fruition, how I’d mocked the idea that I’d ever be someone’s queen?
“Fine. Then you’ll be a Princess,” he had countered with his usual smoothness.
I looked around again.
“And where is Ash?”
He sighed, taking his seat at the head of the table, to my left.
“He returned to MacShire,” he explained. “I think him being here was stressing everyone out.”
I could relate.
“He left his men.” It was an observation, not a question, but Elijah nodded.
“They’re mine to use,” he agreed.
