Chapter 21 #3
Paloma flagged down a server walking by with a tray of shots. “Just leave it here, thanks,” she said to him and handed me one. “Well, while you’re still a free man, do you want to play a game?”
“What kind of game?” I asked, the alcohol I’d consumed hindering my judgment.
“It’s easy.” She smiled. “Whoever drinks the most, wins.”
“And what do they win?” I asked, throwing back the shot.
“Anything they want.”
Another two shots and my hands found their way underneath her dress to her underwear. “You better catch up,” I whispered, snapping the band of her thong against her skin. Paloma’s smile grew wider, and she took a sip from the glass she was holding, then poured the remainder down my throat.
“I’ve already won,” she declared and slid herself farther up my body. “Let’s have our own private party.”
The setting was perfect, Drake had vanished, and if anyone saw us, Council or otherwise, word would travel about how little I thought of their plans.
Yet, my thoughts were circling, blighted by images of blue and black and grey, of long legs and pink lips…
lips that had probably moved on to those of another by now.
I remembered what I wanted most to forget. To moving on.
We were alone. Or so she probably thought. Paloma had no idea of the one who followed me, the vengeful phantom of a mate bond foresworn. She whose memory rendered everything below the belt inoperable and out of commission.
“Another time, Paloma.”
Her hand stopped stroking me and her eyes flashed green at my refusal. Paloma was fiery, quick to temper, and didn’t like to hear the word no.
“Maybe you overdid the whiskey,” she said calmly, now noting how nothing had been stirring beneath my pants. “It’s happened to the best of them.” She shrugged it off by looking at her nails and slipping off of me, but her disappointment couldn’t be clearer.
“Perhaps,” I said quietly.
She gave me a conciliatory kiss on the cheek and went back to the party, no doubt in search of a suitor who could perform and would find her attention most welcome.
The night was over for me. The alcohol was leaving my system, and after taking a few moments to steady my head, I got up to return to the castle.
My desire to escape was not to be fulfilled.
“Alpha!”
Kendrick’s red, priggish face came into view.
“We’ve been looking for you, my boy.” He gestured to two other alphas who were with him.
One was a young, newly appointed, very ambitious Cabinet member by the name of Cillian of Pack Carrhae and the other was the seasoned, at times ruthless Alpha Kai of Pack Issus.
“What a night, Alpha!” Kendrick looked around him in admiration, swaying where he stood. “We were saying, your sister is an artist, putting together something so beautiful.”
“She has quite the eye.” I nodded.
“That she does. Do you think she’d consider coming to work for me? I have several events scheduled for the future.”
The three alphas snorted, and Apollo wanted to rip them bloody for their slight against his kin.
“Kendrick,” I said coolly, addressing him but speaking to all of them.
“You would do well to remember that the subject of your nonchalance is currently next in line for my seat, and–,” I held up a finger, “as I do not have any heirs yet, should something happen to me, it might be best practice for yourself and others not to be so informal in regard to her.”
I looked between them. “Am I clear?”
“Of course, Alpha, of course.” He nodded furiously. “Just a bit of light humor.”
“The announcement was received well, don’t you think, Alpha?” Cillian drawled, eager to change the topic to one the three of them found more stimulating.
“As well as it could be,” I answered.
Kenrick lay a sausage-fingered hand on my arm.
A hand that I had seen hold one too many glasses of drink tonight and grope the waists of a few too many women than were willing.
It would be so easy, even with two witnesses.
Here in the dim corner of the grounds, outside the scope of Penelope’s moonstones.
A couple more glasses of scotch together with the Alpha Command and none of them would feel a thing. Or make a sound. Ever again. The thought was tempting.
What stopped me was her. Her face popping into my head at this most inopportune time. What would she think if she knew her mate was a cold-blooded killer? Or someone who flaunted his power to rule through fear?
“Don’t look so sad, son,” Kendrick slurred then winked, having no idea of the murderous thoughts I possessed. “We’ll make sure she’s to your liking.”
Or to yours.
“Of that I have no doubt,” I replied and immediately took my leave before I acted on my urges.
The castle was especially quiet, which was atypical given the number of staff, officers of all ranks, and families it housed.
I took my time, roaming the halls, finally allowing my feelings some freedom to flow.
I knew there would be heaps upon heaps of questions, but I smiled to myself.
The Nine had played right into my hand as I had hoped they would.
Now that it was out in the open, they had no choice but to busy themselves with their new project, which meant that they would be preoccupied, and not inserting themselves into my affairs.
“Tinos?” It was Greta, coming up the stairs holding a sip cup decorated with wolves, their ears tied together with pink bows.
“The little princess requires her evening drink.” She spoke as though bothered, but Eleni could do no wrong in Greta’s eyes.
“You didn’t join the festivities you guilted me into having?” I teased.
“Listen you,” she began, “I’ve seen more alphas and parties pass through these grounds than I care to admit. I’m tired. In fact,” she shoved the cup into my hands, “take this to your niece, you look like you need her sweet company instead of the riffraff outside.”
I nodded.
“I was listening, you know. I still can’t believe their gall.”
“If you’re still shocked, Greta, then you haven’t been around as long as you claim.”
She gestured to me to bend down and grabbed my shoulders. “I hope you know what you’re doing, and whatever it is, I hope it will one day involve bloodshed. Theirs.”
I sometimes forgot how vicious our head of staff could be.
She kissed my cheek, and we bid each other goodnight.
Eleni was expecting Greta, but she squealed when she saw it was me. “Let’s play tea!”
I took a seat in the rocking chair Cyrus had built for Penelope while Pen had been nursing. “You’re supposed to be getting ready for bed.”
Eleni climbed into my lap and made herself at home. Her downy curls tickled my chin.
“Was the party fun, Uncle K?”
“It was,” I replied, “but this is funner.”
She sat up and giggled. “That’s not a word!”
“Well, it should be.”
My niece grinned and settled back in, fitting easily into the crook of my arm. Her light breathing relaxed me. Greta was right, this was what I needed.
“Can I ask you something, Uncle?”
“You can ask me anything you want sweetheart, but…” I squeezed her sides gently. “It doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
There was a pause, and I thought maybe Eleni had fallen asleep but then, “you liked her, didn’t you?”
“Liked who?”
She pinched my chest and looked up at me conspiratorially. “Roxie, silly. You liked her.”
At the sound of her name, I froze but hearing it coming from my niece made it more bearable, and the truth easier to admit. This room felt safe, and its occupant trustworthy.
“I did.”
She nodded knowingly; her head growing heavy from the sleep that was quickly falling upon her. “I did, too.”
My niece was annoyingly observant and too wise for her years. I began rocking in the chair, hoping to lull her in faster.
“Leni?”
“Hmmm?” She murmured.
I interlaced my fingers in her tiny hand. “This will be our little secret, ok?”