Chapter Four
The suite that Kremoryn had sent them to was the royal suite. Rolf was the suite’s butler. Anything they needed was to be provided with discreet speed.
Vaia said softly, “Could we get some food? I have been on hospital food for a few days.”
“Hospital?”
“I was shot. I am feeling much better now. Nothing like having one’s mate with you to perk you up. A steak from anywhere, medium rare. Azreen?”
“The same.”
“Of course. Wine?”
“It hampers my self-control, so no. Water with lemon for me.”
Azreen nodded. “I will take the wine. A red.”
Rolf nodded. “There is a direct line on the table. Just lift it and state what you need. No need for pleasantries. They will confuse the concierge. Good evening. Anything in the suite is for your use.”
Vaia paused and whispered into Rolf’s ear. He smirked slightly. “Wardrobe near the bed.”
“Okay. Great. Things to avoid.”
“So, you are aware of what this suite is used for.”
Vaia grimaced. “I think I was conceived in it. Please tell me the mattresses and sheets are rotated frequently.”
“Yes, miss. Everything is fresh since the last event.”
She slumped. “That’s a relief. Thank you, Rolf.”
The butler was chuckling silently as he left the room to get their orders.
Azreen looked at her. “You were conceived here?”
“From my mother’s description, yes. They were at her bachelorette night, or the night for one of her sisters.
She is always a little vague on that matter.
But they met in a local club and were both coming back here, so he invited her and the other ladies to the afterparty.
She left with a party favour. Ta-dah!” She raised her fingers and pointed at her head.
He said softly, “So, that is why we are compatible. Complementary energies. My father is very much on the dark side of things.”
She nodded. “I remember reading that in the contract. Your mother handled your end of things?”
“Yes. She had them look into you to make sure you were suitable and not pregnant at the time.”
Vaia snorted. “I wasn’t allowed to leave the house once I graduated from school.”
He took her hand and walked with her to the couch. He exhaled dragon fire across the couch, and she laughed and hugged him. “Thanks for that. I get this feeling that this room has more of his DNA in it than I do.”
Azreen burst out laughing.
They sat on the couch, and he held her hand. “So, I was not counting on waiting so long to come back to you, but my mother always had something for me to do.”
“Yeah. I wonder what Kremoryn is going to find. I really pity anyone he does find. He looked way too excited to go and play.”
He sighed. “They deserve what they get. They nearly killed you.”
“Yes. It’s a good thing I am not short.”
Azreen closed his eyes for a moment and said, “I need to check my phone.”
She nodded. “Cool. I get the remote. Dear lord, let it be for the television.”
He grinned, and she turned the TV on, searching for a documentary and sitting back with her head resting on the back of the couch.
She watched as Azreen’s face got troubled, and she took his hand.
“To her, I was just a body that might not explode. We needed the wedding with her authorization to put the familiar link in place. No way they could have just linked me to someone who was technically a child unless we had a legal relationship.”
“Is that why?”
“Yeah. I think so, according to the documents I still have.”
“Damn. I thought it was because I asked for you.”
She looked at him. “What?”
“I asked for you. I saw your file in my mother’s study, and she wasn’t going for it until I said that I wouldn’t take anyone else. Oh, she didn’t like that.”
“Where was your dad?”
“He was curled up in the back yard. He hates being in human form and only did it to have me.”
“How do you live?”
“Oh, he’s loaded. I have a job doing voiceovers for movies and videos.” He smiled slightly as he glanced at her. “I can do it from anywhere, but I go to a lot of conventions for the characters I have voice-acted.”
Her eyes widened. “I knew that voice was familiar.”
He grinned and kept reading. “Well, my mother isn’t admitting to sending the later waves of assassins, but she isn’t admitting to anything. I have mentioned that your father is looking into things, and she hasn’t responded.”
She nodded, and there was a discreet knock. She went to answer the door and checked through the peephole. It was Rolf and two other servers.
She opened the door and stood aside. Her skin tingled as Rolf stepped toward her, and she pushed the door shut. “Nope, nope, nope.”
Azreen was at her side in a moment. “What is it?”
“Another shapeshifting murderer.”
He nodded. “Step back.”
He opened the door and sent a blast of fire into the hall. The two behind the fake Rolf dove to the side, but the man was caught in the blast, and his expression went from fury to blank.
“Come in. All of you.”
Azreen pulled the man in, and it changed into a brownie with some ogre vibes. The other two followed and stood with heads bowed. “Why are you after her?”
“The shadow born and dark fire master was betrothed to our king. She refused him.”
Vaia blinked. “I don’t have dark fire. I can’t even move my shadows. I just eat like a psychic vampire.”
The assassin frowned. “But you are tied to the small oracle. It has to be you.”
“Nope. I... oh... I know what has happened.” She pulled out her phone and contacted her assistant. Min sighed and walked from the end of the hall.
“Minayel, do you know anything about this?”
“Yes, and no. I didn’t know it would happen now, but I know who they are looking for.”
“Min?”
“Well, you know my roommate Hura?”
“Sure. The artist.”
“Right. Well, uh... she’s the other dark fae that I know, but she has control over dark fire. The last time I did an oracle reading, there was mention of the dark monster’s beloved, and I think they thought it was you.”
“When did you do the reading?”
“About a week ago. I was with Jen at the Patchwork Dragon, and we did a prediction-off. We may have gotten a little loud.”
“What did yours say?”
“The dancer, beloved of the king of dark monsters, wielder of the dark fire, will bring light to shadows and rend the darkness when she and her mate collide.” Min smiled weakly. “It sounded very dramatic, so I won a shot of espresso.”
“Oh, hell. That explains it. You call her; I will call Kremoryn.”
Min winced. “Why?”
“Because she is the dancer, and he is the king of dark monsters. At least if they are together, it will be a fairer fight than just Hura on her own.”
“She’s gonna be pissed.” Min pulled out her phone and made the call.
“Hey, Hura. How’s your evening going? Nachos and pyjamas?
Great. Um, you know that vision I had a week ago?
It wasn’t about my boss; it was about you.
So, things are at a head right now, and we are together to figure out what is going on.
You might be in danger.” Min waited and then frowned.
“Oh. Oh! Well, can you get to me? We are at the... yeah. That’s it. Okay, as fast as possible.”
A shadow formed, and Azreen tensed, but then it turned into a woman with her hair in a sloppy ponytail, a deep dish with nachos on it in her hands, and a phone tucked under her ear. “Fast enough?”
Min grinned and tapped her phone. “Can I have some?”
Hura held out the deep dish, and Min wandered over and dipped her fingers in. “Oh, it’s still hot.”
Vaia asked, “I’m Vaia. May I have some?”
Hura held the dish out, and Vaia had some of the gooey cheese covered with toppings barely held together by a tortilla chip.
Vaia sighed happily. “That’s really good.”
Min asked, “Where are the assassins?”
“Floor. I wasn’t going to have folks in while they were here with deadly intent.” Vaia asked with her eyes, and Hura snorted and walked over to the bar, setting the food down.
Azreen tried it, and his eyes widened. Vaia, Min, and Azreen went nuts over the nachos.
Vaia looked at Hura, and tendrils of shadow were slowly surrounding her. “Hello, Father. Don’t molest the guest.”
Hura looked to her side and smiled. “Hello, King Kremoryn.”
“Dancer? You look remarkably relaxed.”
“Thanks, you look less creepy than you normally do. Must be the lack of leather.”
“Oh, sweet, I still have the leather. I can bring it out with just the whisper of a request.” King Kremoryn leaned toward her, and Hura didn’t move. She just raised a brow.
“Father? Back up while we figure out what is going on.”
Watching a male made of horny shadow parts was quite the end to her evening. Vaia said, “Min, explain what you cast as your reading.”
“The dancer, beloved of the king of dark monsters, wielder of the dark fire, will bring light to shadows and rend the darkness when she and her mate collide.” Min mumbled while not looking at Hura.
Vaia explained to Kremoryn, “She made that assessment in the middle of a public coffeehouse. So, I am guessing some folks heard your name and started to put things together.”
Kremoryn murmured, “Beloved isn’t a word we use for our children. It’s a spouse reference. I don’t have a spouse.”
“I am not a wielder of dark fire. I mean, I have it, but I don’t use it.” Hura shrugged and licked the cheese off her hand.
Kremoryn wrapped a tendril of shadow around her hand and pulled it toward him. His long tongue wrapped around her fingers, and Vaia blushed as Hura simply accepted it as if it were normal.
Kremoryn sighed. “Definitely not my beloved. My beloved would have reacted.”
“Aw. Poor you. Sorry, I have to go disinfect. I have a pretty good idea of where you have been.”
Vaia stifled her giggle as Hura walked past him as if he weren’t there. He looked offended.
“Right, so now that this information has been shared, they will continue coming after me.” Hura was drying her hands on a towel.
Vaia blinked. “Continue?”
“Sure. They have been trying for the last few days, but I have shadows and fire, so I am good.”
“What does the fire do?” Azreen asked.