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“Odi!” An excited voice calls before a blur of energy bounds into me, causing me to stagger back.
“Watch it!” Axel snaps, catching me by the elbow so that I don’t fall.
“Sorry!” The young girl squeals, sounding absolutely terrified of Axel. I shake my head. There’s no need to bethisoverprotective. Their fathers are not going to send a teenager to hurt me.
“Yoni!” I exclaim, turning to the girl and giving her a wide smile. “It’s so good to see you again!”
“I can’t believe you remember me,” she gasps.
“Of course I do,” I insist. No need to tell her that my life has been so sheltered for the last three years that I remember almostevery face and name that’s come into it. Especially if they’re kind.
It’s also most likely a survival mechanism.
“Thank you so much for inviting me today, I was so shocked when Papi said we were coming!”
I had zero say in the guest list for this wedding, and I highly doubt that whoever did invite her did so because of a thirty second conversation we had together in the women’s bathroom, but I smile and nod. Her father must be important somehow. I noticed at dinner when I was looking around the room, that there are so many people here I don’t know, so regardless of the circumstances, Iamglad to see this girl again.
“Darling,” Axel purrs in my ear. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
I nod. “Sorry, Yoni. I have to move on, but join me on the dance floor later, okay?”
“Absolutely! Thank you! Oh, and congratulations!”
I wave as Axel guides me away. “Who the hell is she?” he demands.
“I figured you knew her? Or her father at least?”
“Possibly. Ah here he is, Odi, I’d like you to meet my friend Nico…Nico, this is my wife, Odi,” Axel introduces us smoothly.Friend? Axel hasfriendsoutside of our unit? “And his…and Selene.” I frown as Axel stumbles over the final part of his introduction. Why? Who is she? His what?
I fix a polite smile on my face asNicotakes me in. There’s something about him, a darkness surrounding him like a cloak, that makes me feel unsettled. He’s easily the sharpest dressed in the room, which is saying something considering who my husband is, and his black hair is slicked back and perfectly styled. He’s even more composed than Axel is, and if I haddn’t known Axel all my life, I could’ve easily believed these two were brothers.
Beside him is a tiny slip of a girl, with long, flowing bright gold locks. She has the biggest, brightest baby blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and everything about her is delicate and doll-like.
These two are polar opposites. Night and day. Nico looks like he breathes violence, and she looks like she’d cry if she stepped on a ladybird.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” I say. I want to ask how they all know each other, but I don’t want to seem rude. Axel must sense the questions burning in my mouth though because he leans in and tells me in a conspiratorial whisper, “Nico works for me, under the guise of working for my father. He’s part of theFireflyoperation.”
I frown, trying to recall if I’ve ever heard that term before. It’s familiar, but I can’t place it. It also doesn’t explain who Selene is, either.
Nico gives me a chilling smile. “Come, let’s not give your beautiful new bride nightmares as soon as the marriage begins. Save some surprises for later on.”
I suppress my shiver and fix my smile in place. What does he know about my nightmares? The things I’ve been through would probably givehimnightmares. Then again…thinking of his soulless, dead eyes, maybe not.
Nico excuses himself and walks away, with Selene trailing after him like a faithful pet. After a beat, Axel asks me what I think of him.
“He seemed very…” What do I even say to that? Honestly? He reminded me of a young Mr Abbot. Ruthless, cold, calculating, terrifying. But if he’s Axel’s friend, I can’t say those things.
“Yes. He does come across as rather unapproachable,” Axel says for me. I hide my snort of derision.
“The thing to remember, Odi, is that he is an ally. Despite however it comes across, I want you to remember that heisone of the good guys.”
“Like you?” I ask. Axel doesn’t answer but he does shoot me an amused look.
“What is the Firefly operation?”
“My father’s skin trade,” Axel confesses quietly. I blanch. I don’t know what to say to that. Jesus.
“Axel, Odi,” a respectful voice says. “Congratulations.”
