Chapter Fifty-Seven
THE DRAGON COURTYARD FELT SO much smaller with fifteen armed men standing in it.
Black uniforms, tactical vests, and stern faces—the same protection detail I’d seen patrolling around Snowflake Corp when I was younger.
Dillon stood before them, back straight and eyes clear, despite his sleep deprivation from chasing after me.
Lucien lurked beside me like a match waiting to be struck. I did my best to cool him down, but Whisper wasn’t helping matters. The panther wouldn’t stop growling, licking his jaws as if each man represented breakfast.
The ice-blue dress I wore—yet another gorgeous gown of Lucien’s mother’s—fluttered around my legs with heavy silk and stitched butterflies.
“Thank you all for coming so quickly.” Dillon linked his hands behind his back like a powerful general. “As you can see, things were resolved before you arrived. I’ll arrange for you to return to Snowflake Corp as soon as—”
“Wait.” Lucien stepped forward, his voice smoky and rich. “You brought these strangers into my home and now you think you can just kick them out of it?”
Dillon scowled. “I thought you didn’t want them here.”
“I don’t.”
“Then...?”
“But they could be useful.” Prowling around Dillon, Lucien never took his eyes off my bodyguard. Whisper went to join him, slinking like a threatening shadow, knowing exactly what I was doing when some of the men shifted warily.
I rolled my eyes.
I could get involved but...the lifetime habit of avoiding stress still lingered. Not because I felt pain anymore but because this wasn’t my fight, and if I wanted the two men in my life to co-exist, they had to figure it out themselves.
“Miss Rook?” A soft voice sounded behind me.
I turned and found Auntie Mei—dressed in a dark grey gown, woollen cardigan, and holding an embroidered silk pouch. “Good morning, Auntie Mei.”
“Good morning.” She beamed as if I’d just complimented her on the delicious dumplings that I hadn’t been allowed to eat, thanks to Lucien dragging me out of his pavilion the moment I’d finished my shower.
Glancing at Dillon and Lucien as they bickered, she took my hand and pressed the pouch into my palm. “Here. This is for you.”
I lifted it and sniffed—earthy, astringent herbs made me sneeze. “What is it? Some sort of tea?”
“Not quite.” She smiled secretively. “It’s for...married matters.”
“Married matters...? Oh!” Understanding slapped me with a blush. “Ah...thank you. I...um...I really appreciate it.”
“It’s us who appreciate you.” She beamed.
“We can’t tell you how happy we are that Xiao Lu has found his perfect wife.
And of course, you want to enjoy your time together.
..before welcoming any children into the world.
” She grinned and leaned closer. “However, when that day comes, I will be overjoyed to help you raise them.”
I tried to reply but...words dried up.
Should I correct her that we weren’t actually married? That we couldn’t have children...possibly ever?
Deciding to hold my tongue, I tucked the pouch into the folded wrap of my dress’s bodice. “Lucien mentioned you might have something that could help. However, I wasn’t expecting you to be so quick. I hope we didn’t cause any trouble.”
“No trouble at all. I help the local doctors in the village, so I have most things on hand.” Throwing another look at the men, she smiled secretively.
“The cotton root bark and angelica sinensis will prevent any chance of pregnancy.” Patting my arm, she winked.
“You’re perfectly safe to...enjoy nightly activities. ”
Her blazing temper had been as sharp as a weasel when we’d first arrived, yet now she was as generous and welcoming as a mother hen.
I had to admit, I really, really liked this feisty auntie.
“Boil a teaspoon of it and drink twice daily. When you need more, just ask.” Bowing her head a little as if I was the new mistress of Ashfall Cliff, she bustled away just as Dillon blurted, “Hang on. You expect them to work for you?”
“Yes.” Lucien crossed his arms. Whisper prowled between the fifteen stoic men, his tail high and golden eyes narrowed.
“But they’re not your army,” Dillon snapped.
“No. They’re not.” Lucien took a slow step forward. “But they are here because of you.”
Dillon raised his chin to meet the challenge. “They’re here because you kidnapped the heiress of Snowflake Corp.”
“Rook,” Lucien called without looking away from Dillon. “Come here, please.”
Oh God, here we go.
Padding in the white moccasins I’d found in the wardrobe, I braced myself.
Lucien grabbed me the second I was close.
His fingers burned. Faint steam curled from his collar.
Whispering in my ear, he said, “I need to touch you. I’m doing my best to keep my temper but...it’s hard.”
Sucking in a breath, I slipped into the glacier that’d wrapped itself tightly around my heart.
I teased a few tendrils of ice free and pictured them soaking into Lucien.
I still didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but it seemed to work as he relaxed a little, shot me a faint smile, then turned back to glower at Dillon.
“So you agree that they’re here to protect Rook. ”
Dillon sensed a trap but nodded. “That is literally their only job.”
“Good.” Lucien smirked. “In that case, they now work for me, and I expect them to come to Brimstone with me to murder a few people.”
“Say what now?”
“You heard me.” Lucien squeezed my hand. “We’re all going.”
“Ugh, do I have to?” I pouted dramatically. “I don’t want to see another dead body.”
“I’ll turn you into a dead body if you’re not careful.” Lucien pressed a kiss to my hair, making me shiver like an addict—hopelessly hooked on a substance that was dangerous to my health.
Dillon’s lips thinned in disapproval. “Rook? Are you seriously going along with this?”
I didn’t like the thought of more bloodshed, but...I’d promised to stand by Lucien in his revenge. I nodded like the ruler I was supposed to be. “Listen to him. Whatever he commands, just assume it’s my wish too.”
Dillon rolled his eyes at Lucien. “They aren’t your personal assassins, you know.”
“You brought them here, so yes, they are. Uncle Wen?” Looking around, Lucien frowned. “Where the hell did he go? He was literally just—”
“Here I am, Master Luxin.” Uncle Wen appeared by one of the koi ponds, a bag of fish food in his hands. “What can I help you with?”
“Do we have enough pavilions to house fifteen men?”
“Ah, probably not. However...I can find accommodations for them in the village.”
“Fine.” Lucien nodded. “Make sure they’re all fed and rested. Give them what they require.”
“Of course.”
Dillon never took his eyes off me. “You sure this is what you want, Rook?”
My heart swelled with gratitude that my grumpy bodyguard wasn’t my enemy.
That I got to keep him. The urge to hug him came strong, but I doubted Lucien would be able to control himself if I did, so I settled with a smile instead.
“There are people hunting him which means they’re hunting me.
If you can help Lucien defeat those who locked him up, then.
..we can all go back to Iceland and figure out the rest.”
Dillon raised his hand as if to pat my head like he sometimes did but thought better of it as Lucien tensed beside me. “You’re definitely different but...it suits you.” Sighing, he added, “I’ll go get the men settled then, and—”
“Oh, you’re not leaving,” Lucien cut in. “They’re coming with me. Today. I’m not wasting another minute.”
“Going where?”
“Were you not listening?” Lucien stalked toward the gate. “To kill, of course.”