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Adrian looked properly chastised, I’d give him that. His normally pristine appearance would have looked the same to the average person, but to a watchful eye, you could see the distress. The slight wrinkle in the pants of his suit. His hair too close to messy. His eyes slightly scattered.
This was the first we’d heard from him since Persy took his place at our meeting. The days had flown by, all my energy was channeled into the wedding. The wedding that wastomorrowas Lukas pointed out.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian said, throat tight. “I didn’t want to do this, but I need to talk to you.” He nodded toward the chair in our sitting room. Lukas matched his nod, giving permission to sit.
“About what?” I asked, voice soft. There was something off about Adrian’s energy. He was a rock, anchoring us all with his power and authority. I could feel a crack up the center, making him unsteady.
Adrian sat and dragged a hand down his face.
“About the Romulus family.” Then his hand moved through his hair. He was almost fidgeting. Not to mention that his shirt sleeve was moving down his wrist, revealing a sliver of the tattoos covering his arms.
Lukas’s brows pinched together in concern. In any other situation, I’d excuse myself and let them talk as friends, but Adrian seemed like he wanted both of us in this conversation.
“Lorenzo?” I asked.
Adrian shook his head. “Reyna.”
“You want to involve her?” Lukas asked, skepticism clear in his voice. Even though I’d suggested it, Adrian kept his circle of information tight.
Adrian sighed. I didn’t think I’d ever heard him do that. “Maybe. But I need to be sure she’s not at risk of turning on us. If she hasn’t already.”
“No. No, Reyna wouldn’t do that,” I said, shaking my head vehemently. “She’s never expressed even an ounce of resentment.”
I still wasn’t convinced her father’s resentment couldn’t be chalked up to his lack of power.
“With all due respect, Daphne,” Adrian said cautiously, sparing a look at Lukas. My hand was already laced with his under the table, pressing down. “I don’t think I’m going to take your word for it.”
Lukas’s hand gripped mine a little harder. “You do realize Daphne knows her better than you, right?”
Adrian breathed out, rubbing two of his fingers together. Like whatever he had to say next was hard for him. “Very recently, I learned the importance of not trusting someone’s word at face value.”
I could feel my eyebrows lifting, unsure what he was referencing.
“If I’d pressed it, I might have been able to figure out that Rose hadn’t killed Pine or her father earlier. I’m not going to make that same mistake again with Reyna. I’ll find out for myself if she’s on our side.”
Oh.
Rose had certainly perpetuated the idea that she’d killed them, but with the reach of Adrian’s spies…yeah, he could have probably poked holes in her claim.
“How are you going to do that?” Lukas asked. I was thinking the same thing.
Adrian stood, buttoning his suit jacket with practiced ease. “Leave that to me. I have a few ideas in mind.”
“She’s my friend, Adrian,” I said, nervous what those plans entailed. “At least give me a hint.”
“Nothing that would harm her,” Adrian said. “We both understand politics. I’m sure there’s something I can offer her to ensure her cooperation.”
“Adrian,” I began, thinking how to choose my words carefully. I needed to give himsomethingbecause the threat against us was too real to ignore. But I also needed to respect my friend’s privacy. “Her father wants her involved. He doesn’t want her brother taking over. But she wants out. If there’s something you can offer her to make that happen…”
Adrian’s eyes sparked with a flash of lightning. Then his lips turned from his normal, easy line, to a mischievous grin. “Oh, that gives me a few ideas.”
Lukas and I watched Adrian leave, head full of ideas and carrying the reins of this problem. Even at peace with Lukas next to me, knowing we were okay, I couldn’t help the fear.
A god and a princess working together.
Adrian and Reyna were two sides of the same coin. I could only hope whatever agreement they came to didn’t cost them too much.
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