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Odin snorted before he could help it, chuckling afterward. “Does that really need to be answered?”
Isa’s expression grew steely for half a second before the flirtatious look was back. “Where is Hunter? Every time I visit, it seems he’s nowhere to be found. Or, is he afraid of me, perhaps?”
“He’s made of stronger stuff than that.” Not that Odin would ever willingly let the two of them be in the same room together again, ever. Even the reminder of what he’d done to the Huntsman at the gala had Odin’s blood boiling.
“Should we invite him to join us?” Isa suggested. “Share him, for old times’ sake?”
The drink in Odin’s hand burst into flames, but without breaking a sweat, he set it down behind him, reigning in his power before the glass shattered.
“You can’t be serious?” Isa glared. “You like him so much you’d even lose control over a tiny comment like that one?”
“Careful what you say. Even if you have men hiding outside on the streets—” which Odin was fairly certain he didn’t, because his people would have noticed and sounded the alarm for sure, “—don’t forget where you are. I outnumber you.”
“Actually, no matter where we go in Sanctum, it’s I who outnumber you, brother.”
“Because you supposedly have the emperor in your pocket?” Since learning of that, Odin had done a little digging and hated that it seemed to be true, but he kept his expression blank and his shoulders loose. He couldn’t show weakness. Had to appear as though none of this made a difference to him or his plans. The only way to win this was to keep Isa guessing.
“More like in my bed,” Isa informed him, lounging back against the leather couch. “There’s very little a thorough fucking can’t get you. You better than most understand that fact, King of the Red Light District.”
He’d had suspicions, of course, but no proof. The men he’d sent to trail the emperor had to be extra careful and had only managed to get close enough to gather a limited amount of information. Odin had been trying to figure out what Isa had on Emperor Altz, to see if there was a chance he could make a better offer, but if it was his cock Isa was giving…
“I don’t fuck my way to the top,” Odin gave him a once over, “brother.”
“Don’t make it sound like that,” Isa laughed. “He and I both get something out of it. If you ever want a taste, let me know. I’m more than happy to share.”
“Since when?”
He grinned. “You’re right. If I let that tiny man see you naked, I’d surely have to skin him alive later. But,” he twirled his finger in the air, “it could be worth it. The next in line happens to be an eleven-year-old girl. Easily manipulated. We could welcome her into the fold, take control over the planet together. Don’t make that face,” he clucked his tongue, “I’m not suggesting anything sexual. Even I draw a line at children.”
“How very noble of you.” Odin purposefully ignored the possessive first part of that speech. “You’ve got a lot of don’ts coming out of your mouth. Almost like you’ve forgotten that we aren’t anything to one another anymore. Except for rivals, I guess.”
“You crossed that line first,” Isa pointed out, “when you started impeding on my territory behind my back.”
“So you declared war by attacking my councilor?”
“That was hardly a declaration of war.”
“Oh?” Odin quirked a brow. “What would you call it then?”
It was odd how easy it was to fall back into a banter with his step-brother, how quickly the other man managed to crawl under his skin. Not in a good way; any good emotions between them were long dead and buried, but Odin hated that he felt anything at all.
“Let’s just say my feelings were hurt the last time I was here,” Isa said. “That was no way to treat a guest.”
“You aren’t a guest,” he replied. “You’re an unwanted visitor.” He straightened from the bar. “And you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
“Don’t walk away from me, Odin.”
“Another don’t.” He sighed. “If this was meant to be the final meeting before an all-out war, I’ve got to say, it’s severely lacking.”
“What do you want?” Isa asked. “If it’s your share of the Brumal, I believe I’ve already offered that to you. That deal is still on the table.”
“I’m not interested in making any deals.”
“Do you really think you’re capable of stealing the crown from me?” Isa licked his lips. “Many will die in the process, and I may decide to drop the nice act altogether.”
“You finally admit it’s an act.” Odin slid his hands into his front pockets.
“You aren’t listening, brother.”
