AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He didn’t question why it was so urgent to reach her, or why his anger had exploded when he realized she was being attacked by a demon. It didn’t even matter that Peri had clearly been capable of dealing with the idiot.
He’d made sure she would never be troubled in his territory again.
Not when word got out that you would be banished from the Gyre if you threatened the young mage.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft tap on the door to his office. Setting aside the brandy, Valen smoothed his hands down the tailored jacket of his silver Gucci suit that he’d paired with a white shirt and light blue tie.
“Enter,” he said, turning to watch Renee walk into the room.
As always, the female was professionally attired, in a black pencil skirt and yellow silk blouse. Her silver-blond hair was smoothed away from her pretty face. A face that was currently set in lines of disapproval.
“She’s here.”
“Good. I want you to personally escort her to the office.” Valen arched a brow as Renee remained standing in the doorway. “Is there a problem?”
“I don’t trust her.”
The brow inched higher. “You have information you want to share?”
Renee pinched her lips. “The mages have no respect for you or your authority. They should have been forced to pledge their allegiance years ago.”
Valen was aware that there were more than a few demons who agreed with his secretary. None, however, were foolish enough to challenge his decision.
“You think it would be better to have a group of resentful mages plotting behind my back?”
His voice was silky soft, but Renee instinctively pressed herself against the doorjamb.
“They should be trained to obey,” she stubbornly insisted.
“Obey?” Valen shook his head. “You clearly haven’t met Peri Sanguis.”
The gold eyes flared with a hungry desire to punish the woman who’d captured Valen’s attention.
“I could—”
“You’ll escort her to my office.” Shards of ice suddenly floated in the air as Valen released a tendril of his enormous power. “Nothing else. Is that clear?”
Renee was bold, but she wasn’t stupid. She offered a deep bow as she backed away. “Crystal.”
Renee disappeared down the hallway and Valen moved to perch on the corner of his desk. Less than ten minutes later, Peri strolled through the open door. Unlike his secretary, Peri wasn’t immaculately groomed. Her lush curls spilled down her back and she was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a green croptop. She looked like she was headed to the park for a picnic, not meeting with the most powerful male in New York City. Perhaps the most powerful male in the world.
Not that it mattered. She was still the most stunning woman he’d ever seen.
Tilting her chin at his steady gaze, Peri strolled forward. “Your Renfield doesn’t look happy that I’m here.”
Valen waited until she’d reached the center of the room to answer. “Her name is Renee. And she believes you should be forced to bend the knee to me.”
“Bend my knee? Is she brain damaged?”
Valen narrowed his gaze. “She’s a loyal member of my staff who I greatly value.”
Peri turned to study the office, not willing to admit she’d stepped over the line, but smart enough not to press her luck.
“Can I ask why I was summoned?”
“Please have a seat.”
Valen watched her stiffen, as if she was longing to insist on standing. Then, surprisingly, she moved to gracefully sink onto the leather chair directly facing the desk. He was betting that she’d been reminded he could offer her access to his extensive network of contacts throughout America to assist in discovering what happened to her mother. Or on the flip side, he could make it all but impossible for her to gain information.
