Chapter 8
8
Kirill
The Next Morning
I tell the front desk, "Send him up," and glance at my watch.
I'm disappointed and anxious with the amount of time it's taking for Vaughn to return.
It's been too long.
Why isn't he back?
I pick up my phone and text him.
Me: Where are you?
Vaughn: Not far. There was an accident. It took me a bit to get past it.
Me: The items are secure?
Vaughn: Yes.
Me: Did she want you to tell me anything?
Jesus, I sound desperate.
Vaughn: No. She's really kind, though. She'll make a good queen.
Me: I agree, but what makes you say that?
Vaughn: I don't know. She has an aura about her.
Is that what you call it?
Me: Come directly to my place.
Vaughn: I am.
Me: Did she send a letter back?
Vaughn: No.
My gut sinks.
How will I know if she likes any of the dresses?
What if she refuses to get initiated into The Underworld?
The Omni will have no choice but to behead me.
The elevator opens, and Brax appears with a bored expression. He leans against the wall with his arms crossed. His knee is bent, a sneaker flat against the metal. He gripes, "When are they fixing this thing?"
Irritation floods me. "Get your shoe off the wall. Show some respect."
He pushes off and steps into my foyer, arguing, "Seriously. You live in one of the most expensive buildings in Chicago. When are they fixing this piece of shit?"
I grunt and move into the living room. The sun's high in the sky on a cloudless day, turning the cold waters of Lake Michigan into a sparkling, breathtaking scene. It's one of the things I appreciate about my penthouse the most.
I should have sent the shorter version of the letter.
Brax inquires, "So what's the big emergency?"
"Who said anything about an emergency?" I retort.
He scowls. "You pulled me out of my workout. I was in the ring with Sean. I had to make excuses to Finn about why I had to leave, and he knows I'm lying. It was written all over his face. He's starting to not trust me."
"Not my problem," I say.
Where is Vaughn?
I shouldn't have given him such an important job.
I need to stop instilling so much faith in these new members.
I glance at my watch again.
Brax warns, "Don't tell me I'm late. I left as soon as you beckoned."
I match his scowl, leering at him.
He scrubs his face. "Come on, Kirill. I have an entire list of things to do today. If I don't get them done, Liam is going to be all over my ass."
"Once again, not my problem," I state, scolding myself another time for not sending the shorter letter.
"Well, well, well! Look who the cat dragged in," Valentina's voice chirps.
I turn as she walks through the door, smirking at Brax.
He whistles. "It's the sexy little minx, gracing us with her presence." His gaze drifts to her cleavage, then the bottom hem of her miniskirt .
She bats her eyes and chirps, "Are you in trouble again? Does the king need to get out his belt and whip you?"
Brax unties his sweatpants and turns his back to her. He drops his pants, displaying his muscular ass, and looks over his shoulder, taunting, "Assume you want to volunteer?"
"Enough!" I bark, then order, "And pull up your goddam pants in my house!"
"Such a barbarian," Valentina adds.
"Enough from you as well," I reprimand.
She widens her eyes. "Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed."
"He's been like this since I arrived," Brax interjects, tying his pants.
"What's wrong?" Valentina questions, pinning her concerned gaze on me.
The sound of the door buzzer shrills through the air.
I rush over to it and push the button. "Yes."
"Vaughn is back," Jasper informs me.
"Send him up," I instruct, my pulse racing.
"Letting our little baby Brax learn something new from Vaughn today?" Valentina asks saucily.
Brax scoffs. "Please. He got initiated two seconds ago."
"And you had your special night over eight months ago. Yet your mark is still colorless. Why is that?" She purses her lips together.
"You can't forget that night, can you? My ceremony haunts your dreams," he jeers.
I roar, "Will you two shut up?"
Valentina's head jerks backward .
Brax clenches his jaw.
My chest tightens. I step out into the foyer, slamming the entry door behind me. Those two never stop. I normally find some humor in it, but not today.
I pace the small area, cursing the building management for not fixing the issue with the elevator. Time drags by until it finally opens.
Vaughn has the garment bags over his arm and the white box in his hand.
My mouth goes dry as a desert. I point at the perfectly tied gold bow, probing, "She didn't open it?"
"She said to tell you to open it," Vaughn answers.
I narrow my eyes. "I asked you if she wanted you to tell me anything and you said no."
He nods. "That's correct."
I step closer, glaring down at him. He shrinks back, and I continue, "You just told me she instructed you to tell me to open this box." I tap it.
He nods. "Yes."
"That's a message!"
"It is?"
I slide my hands under the garments, grab the box, then demand, "Get out of here."
"Sir, I didn't?—"
"Go!" I roar.
He pushes the elevator button.
I enter the main area, brush past a heated conversation between Brax and Valentina, and go into my bedroom. I shut the door, put the garment bags on my bed, then sit next to them.
My heart races faster. I take a deep breath and untie the bow, remove the lid, and pick up an everyday white envelope. It says, Underworld King on it. I flip it over and freeze, except for the grin exploding across my face.
It's sealed the normal way, but there's an F in red lipstick. There's a small imprint at the bottom of the letter that leads me to assume it's Fiona's fingermark.
She's creative.
I chuckle and slide open the envelope. I pull out a piece of white copy paper.
Dear Stranger The Underworld Calls King,
Thank you for sending me the items. Unfortunately, I cannot return the ring. I have not been able to take it off, knowing it was my father's and meant for my mother. I'm sure you understand. And don't worry about another one. I'd prefer to wear this everywhere.
Although I do feel guilty my mom never got the chance to wear it.
By the way, how old are you? Since you said you knew my father, does that mean you're his age? No offense, I hope you're not. And if you are, don't expect me to call you Daddy.
I start laughing so hard, tears well in my eyes. I calm and continue reading.
Regarding the dresses.. .
The first two are not me. However, the third one I opened I was rather impressed with. You say you have no fashion sense, but my guess is you have more than you give yourself credit for. And yes, it's the one with the dove. Since that one had my name on the tag inside, I assume that was the one you selected? Am I right or wrong?
So you know, the lingerie fits. Can't dock you for fashion points for that one either.
A visual of what I think Fiona looks like in the lingerie explodes in my mind. My cock hardens and the blood in my veins turns to fire. I continue reading.
I would love to say this is the first version I've written, but believe it or not it's the seventh. Do you think I inherited my dad's eccentricity with the number?
That leads me to another point of my confusion. As you pointed out, time is running out. This thing with the moon is another obsession I didn't realize my father had. Maybe I should have since he always took us outside whenever there was a full moon to stare at it. Yet I never knew it had more meaning to him.
I will admit to you, I don't understand any of this Underworld stuff. This king and queen thing is bizarre to me. Do you get used to people referring to you as royalty? I'm not sure if I will.
Well, that's assuming I go through with this. As mad as I am at Sean and Zara, I love them and the twins. However, I also love myself, and want to know what I'm getting into. This secrecy might be the worst part about this. And it's not fair that you get to know who I am but I don't get to know anything about you. So if you want me to go through with this, or even just feel a bit better should I force myself to do it for the safety of those I love, I would like to know something about you.
You said you had flaws. I don't know what that means. But doesn't everybody?
Or are they so serious I need to be scared?
Like, are you an axe murderer waiting to chop me into a million pieces?
Will you physically, sexually, or emotionally abuse me until I'm broken into pieces?
Or maybe your flaws aren't quite as severe but would still drive me insane until the end of time.
Do you refuse to shower and stink like my brother's room when he was in high school?
Are you a vegetarian? I'll be totally honest with you. That's a deal-breaker. Don't keep my meat from me.
Perhaps you take phone calls in public, speaking so loudly the entire building can hear you?
It would be nice if you would write to me and tell me if I need to worry about any of these flaws.
I chuckle again, but then my face falls.
No, little bird. My flaws are nothing you can imagine.
I stare out the window a moment, then continue reading .
I'll confess I don't understand how I'm in this position because of something my father created. I have a million questions ranging from the reason my brother promised me to you, to why my mom can't come to the wedding.
It's going to break her heart again. If you knew my dad, then don't you think she's had enough heartache? Could you please reconsider?
I sigh, hating how Bridget has to endure more hurt. Fiona is right. She's had a lifetime of pain, and I wish I didn't have to bring her more, but there's no way she can be there. I finish reading the letter.
I guess this is all I wanted to say. Seventh time's a charm for me! Forget that saying about a third! Oh, I did think it was nice of you to write to me.
I wish I could tell you I knew for sure what I'll do, but as of now, I'm still torn.
Sincerely,
Fiona
P.S. I'm curious if you figured out something borrowed yet.
The panic I've been feeling resumes. I still have no idea what to give her as something borrowed. So I rise and pace the room with the letter, rereading it several times.
A knock interrupts me.
"Kirill!" Valentina shouts .
"Yeah?"
She opens the door, glancing at the bed and then the letter. She meets my eyes. "What's that?"
"Nothing. I'll be out in a minute."
She arches her eyebrows. "Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I need to go. I've been ordered to check on one of the newbies," she states.
"Lucky you," I offer.
"The little-brained peon is still out there," she adds.
I groan. "You two are impossible. When are you going to get along?"
She scoffs. "When he grows up."
"You're not innocent," I point out.
"I am," she insists.
"No. You're not."
She beams, chirping, "Gotta go! See you later!" She shuts the door.
I sit down at my desk and take out my letterhead. I rip the top off and grab my pen, then study Fiona's letter.
My dearest Fiona,
Thank you for your letter.
"Kirill, what did you call me here for?" Brax booms from my bedroom doorway.
"Ever hear of knocking?"
"You've been in here forever. I have a lot to do today. Tell me what my task is so I can go on with my life," he orders .
I point at him. "You better watch your tongue, or I'll cut it out."
He closes his mouth and grinds his molars, shooting me a look of death.
I glance at the letter, then change my plans for him. "I'll tell you what. Go sit on the couch until I'm ready for you. Instead of the six-hour task I had for you, I'll give you a quicker one. But stop your bitching, or I'll make you work all weekend."
"Fine," he grumbles, then shuts the door harder than he should.
Ignore him, I tell myself, refocusing on the letter.
I carefully go through it and address Fiona's concerns. At least the ones I know won't violate any rules. I reread what I wrote, then get to her PS.
I have to figure this out, yet it seems impossible.
What to let a queen borrow.
I pace for several moments, then stop in front of the window.
I mutter, "How stupid could I be?"
I return to the letter and add a PS.
I fold up the note, stick it in the envelope, then add the skull seal. I write Fiona on it, then take it out to the main room.
Brax crosses his arms. "Can I please start my task?"
"Your Majesty," I remind him, tired of his disrespect. I don't throw my rank around a lot, but he's getting on my nerves.
He shifts in his seat. "Sorry. Your Majesty."
I point at him. "You need to change your attitude. Understand?"
His face hardens. "Yes, sir. "
I study him for a moment, then nod. "Good. Now, I have an extremely urgent matter, and it's important. I need to know I can trust you."
"You can," he claims.
"If you fuck this up, your head's on a platter, understand?" I warn.
His expression turns serious. "What is it?"
I hold out the letter, announcing, "I need you to go to Fiona's work. Give this to her and tell her she needs to read it immediately. Then wait for her to respond."
His eyes widen.
"Too much for you to handle?" I question.
He runs his hand through his thick locks, asserting, "She doesn't know I'm in The Underworld."
"Yeah, well, time she found out," I declare.
"Is that a good idea?"
"Are you the king?"
He shakes his head. "No."
"Good. Then leave the decision-making to me. Now, are you able to complete your task?" I prod.
"Yeah." He reaches for the letter.
I snap it back.
He freezes.
"Tell me your orders."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. Tell me what you understand your orders to be. "
He protests, "Contrary to what your little pet Valentina tells you, I'm not an idiot. I do have a brain."
"You do?" I taunt.
He scowls.
"Don't call Valentina my pet. She's my friend. Don't be disrespectful."
He grunts. "But it's okay for her to be?"
I scoff. "Sorry. I thought you were a man."
"I am a man," he claims.
"Then grow the fuck up. Stop being disrespectful to her and you'll see a different side of her. That's what you want anyway, isn't it? To get to know the real her?"
His jaw twitches. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't."
He pins his hardened eyes on me. "Can I go now?"
"Tell me again what your job is," I repeat.
He rolls his eyes. "To get Fiona the letter and wait for her response. Then run back here and tell you."
I pat him on the shoulder. "Good. And remember, she can't know who I am, or you're in violation of the law."
"Got it," he says and snatches the envelope from my hand.
I need to see this through.
I follow him to the elevator, grab the letter from him, and push the button. "On second thought, I'll take you there myself."
He scrunches his forehead. "Why? I can do it."
"I told you this is important." I grab my coat and slide into it .
"And I assured you I can handle the job."
I text my driver, and a miracle happens. The elevator opens. I motion for Brax to get in.
"This is ridiculous," he mumbles under his breath, brushing past me.
"Watch your mouth," I remind him, stepping beside him and hitting the G button for ground level.
The elevator takes forever to move, then stops on the next floor. The doors open and the redhead appears, sees me, and cringes.
"Get in or stay out," I bark, hitting the close button.
She huffs, then steps in on the other side of Brax. She bats her eyes at him. "Hi. Are you new to the building?"
"No. I'm visiting."
She glances at me, wrinkles her nose, then pins another flirty smile on him. "Oh."
I try to ignore her and my growing irritation as the elevator stops at every floor, even when no one is waiting for it. When we finally get outside, my driver is waiting.
I slide into the SUV, direct him to go to Fiona's work, then sit back, wondering what she'll reply.