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When I came up empty, there might have been some tea spilled on a carpet from me slamming a book down on the desk. Lukas’s personal libraries, even with the books I’d added, weren’t turning anything up.
More reason why I was right to bring Sabina into the mix. But I’d address that later.
Right now, I wanted to crash whatevermeetingswere taking up his day and giving him an excuse to ignore me. I’d been an active, wanted participant before.
I could bring another perspective to the table. Lukas was a brilliant leader—more than he realized. But having Athena’s input was helpful.
We’d worked well together, once.We still could. Even under the layer of tense anger, if he would, again, open his fucking door.
“You do realize he isn’t in there, right?”
My forehead hit the door a second later. “No. I did not.”
Groaning, I lifted my head and turned to find Eleni leaning against the wall. She was tall and lithe, with a form built for swimming like the rest of the Nereus line—at home in the sea. Her deep brown eyes were rimmed in a shimmery green liner, adding to the already humorous glint resting there.
She’d shaved her head since I saw her last. It complimented her high cheekbones, the rich, dark brown of her skin glowing under the lights of the hall.
“He’s not in there,” she said, pushing off the wall.
“I realize that now, thank you.”
“If he was, I’d help you break down the door.” And then she wrapped me in a quick hug. I’m glad she had her allegiances in order. She might have been Lukas’s closest advisor, but we’d become friends too.
I pulled back, keeping my hands on her forearms. “Where is he?”
“In meetings,” Eleni said, voice warm.
I laughed incredulously. “Yeah, that’s what he said, too. Am I supposed to assume I’m not invited to them anymore?”
Eleni stepped back, so she could look at me better. “Why would you be disinvited? You’re to be as much of a leader as he is.”
And that’s when I realized Lukas hadn’t dropped the story for a single soul in court. Not even for Eleni. “He didn’t tell you?”
Eleni grinned. “I believed him for part of it. Made sense that you were wrapping up your research before Sabina took over, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t visit. Or that he couldn’t visit you.”
My stomach constricted with a flash of panic. I hoped other people hadn’t caught on to that little part of the story. Or that Lukas had convinced them we were sneaking around.
“You don’t have to tell me what happened,” Eleni continued. “But something did. Just let me know who I need to yell at.”
“I’m going to say sorry now to save your voice from yelling.” Eleni was another person who deserved an apology.
Eleni’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying Lukas is in the clear?”
“Fuck no.” That got a small smile. “I just don’t want you yelling at your cousin.”
“Darling, if he deserves it, I’ll yell.” Eleni moved to my side, and I took the cue to follow her.
Oh, he definitely fucking deserved it. But I didn’t want to get into it. Because the fury that built from trying to knock his door down would probably explode if I thought about what sent me running.
“Where are thesemeetingshe’s in?” I asked, hoping that’s where Eleni was leading me.
Eleni’s body tensed enough that I could sense it. “That’s not my information to share.”
“What?” I stopped abruptly, disbelief sending me stone still.
“Woah, there,” Eleni said, throwing her hands up in surrender. “It’s private. And like you said, he’s my cousin.”
I had to consciously turn my seething into normal breathing. “At least tell me it's not about trying to end our engagement.”
