Chapter 10
Conversationand exotic dishes rounded the table faster than Dove could keep track. Though she’d only had one glass of wine, her head floated on a fluffy pink cloud. At some point, Marcus had slung his arm across the back of her chair, the position possessive and so appealing. Where his hand rested on her bare shoulder, he drew sleepy circles with his index finger. Whether it was part of a ruse or not, her lady parts were totally on board. Goddess, it was as if he were stroking her between her legs. Earlier, he’d almost succeeded. Curse the magister’s timing.
Dove fanned her cheeks and pressed her thighs together. “I’m not sure what they’re putting in these drinks, but I like it.”
Marcus’s dark chuckle tickled her insides, and she shivered. Perhaps because she hadn’t heard him laugh before?
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Horny,” she blurted out. Laughter twittered around the table. Within moments, another round of jovial toasts was made.
“To being horny.”Glasses clinked.
Marcus growled low in response, the heat of his glare sliding over those gathered. Several cast him a cautious glance, lowering their heads to their plates.
Though some were oblivious to his chilling warning. At the end of the table, one of the couples fed each other dessert, staring into each other’s eyes. The moment raw and passionate. At Dove’s throaty groan, Marcus tightened his grip on her shoulder, drawing her closer.
He dipped his face to her ear, and it was all she could do to resist planting a kiss on his firm mouth. “It just occurred to me,” he whispered, “there’s something you may not know about our host.”
She leaned into him, her nipples pebbling against her top. “What’s that?”
“He’s an incubus.”
Her lust-drunk brain failed to register what he was saying. “You smell really good,” she confessed, tucking into his side.
“Xavier exudes pheromones capable of affecting those around him.”
“That’s nice,” she said with a breathy exhale.
She peeked up to find Carina eyeing them, venomous gleam in her eyes.
“Perhaps we should call it a night,” he murmured in a voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Yes. Let’s.” Dove desperately wanted a moment alone with him.
“Marcus!” Xavier bellowed. “Before you retire, I want to show you my new helicopter.”
“I’d love nothing more,” Marcus growled, failing miserably to sound sincere. “Just let me see to my Chosen first.”
Oh, but that sounded dirty. Yes. He should definitely see to her.
Before Dove registered that they were leaving, she was out in the hallway, her head floating in a lusty cloud. She leaned into Marcus’s chest, and he set his hand on her bare waist. She peered into the depths of his hood, whispering, “Did you know that a faerie’s glyph is an erogenous zone?”
His grip tightened on her, squeezing her flesh. “I’ve heard as much.”
She sighed, savoring his smokey scent. “Every faerie is different as to where they prefer to be touched. How hard or soft they prefer to be stroked.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Do you want me to touch you, sweet dove?”
“Very much so.” Where their bodies connected, her skin grew heated.
She stroked his chest, caressing him as she wished he would her. “Tell me, Lord Steele, how would you like to be touched?”
Toned muscles tensed beneath her fingers. The flesh under his collar pulsed with a soft amber glow. She stared, fascinated, until he grabbed her hand, stopping her exploration.
“Why did you stop me?” she asked, bottom lip rolling out.
His heated gaze locked on her mouth, his brow furrowing. “Because I believe you’ll feel differently once you’re away from Xavier.”
“Will I?”
“Yes,” he stated, the delightful warmth in his tone hardening.
“And if I don’t? If I still want you to touch me?”
“Then—”
Behind them, a voice cleared. Marcus’s head popped up.
“Boss? You ready?” Bishop asked.
To her disappointment, Marcus grasped her elbows, setting her back from him. “Yes. You can see Dove to her room.”
Dove turned to face the lycan and her breath caught. Was he always this handsome? She beamed up at him. “Celeste was right. You totally rock the rugged bad boy look. Seriously, are those pecs for real?” She reached a hand toward his chest.
“Dove,” Marcus growled her name, and she jerked her hand back.
“Good grief.” The realization of what she was about to do washed over her and she hugged her waist. Apparently, the lust she’d experienced wasn’t limited to Marcus. “What the heck is wrong with me?”
Bishop coughed a laugh.
“See to it that she gets some fresh air,” Marcus snapped, his scowl bearing down on her. “The night is far from over.”
Dove scrunched her nose. “I almost forgot. I still have a job to do.” Once Marcus went to sleep tonight, she needed to ask Shadow her next question.
“I’ll be along shortly, once I’ve had a chance to speak with Xavier alone,” he stated, the warmth he’d shown her fading.
Her face burned, reality slowly returning. With Marcus occupied, maybe she’d use the time to take care of the ache between her thighs. The sooner, the better. Before she tried to fondle anyone else. “Welp. Catch you later, Steele. Have fun with Xavier.” She headed down the hallway with Bishop close on her heels.
“Keep her out of trouble,” Marcus called after them.
“I’m on it.”
Dove strolled at Bishop’s side through the beautiful corridors. Her head cleared by the second, her heated blood cooling. “Sorry I tried to feel you up.”
The lycan snorted in response.
“Don’t tell Celeste. Okay?”
“Our secret,” he said, amusement in his voice.
Suddenly, it struck her. She was alone with Bishop for the first time in forever. Now was her chance to chat up her friend. “You know, Celeste is a real sweetheart and she’s been so much help. It’s so great she agreed to come with us, don’t you think?”
She peered up at the heavyweight champ to find him eyeing her with one thick brow raised. Was she that transparent? Come on. That was totally subtle. Before she could try a different angle, footsteps sounded behind them. Bishop turned and tensed. “Magister?”
“Bishop. Hold up a moment.” With long, ground-eating strides, Tiberius caught up to them. “I spotted Marcus leaving with Xavier. With all that’s transpired, it doesn’t seem wise you leaving him unprotected. I’ll escort Dove while you return to his side.”
Bishop’s massive shoulders drew back. “Apologies, sir, but I’m under strict orders to escort Dove to Lord Steele’s suite.”
Tiberius leveled steely eyes at the bodyguard. “And your magister is ordering you to do your duty and ensure the safety of Lord Steele. Unless you believe me incapable of walking one little faerie to her quarters.”
“No, sir.” Bishop glanced in Dove’s direction, his frustration a palpable force. Even she knew that Marcus wouldn’t be happy about this.
“You’re dismissed,” Tiberius barked, and Bishop set off.
She watched him go, trepidation swelling in her chest. Everything about this situation felt off. Bishop disappeared around the corner, and then she was alone. Dove, the underachieving faerie necromancer with the head of the Council, Magister Tiberius Steele.
Gulp.
She strolled at the magister’s side, muscles tight with tension. He maintained a slow and steady pace, forcing her to do the same when all she wanted was to race back to her room. This time, her haste was for very different reasons.
He was so close to her, their shoulders touched, the contact far from pleasant. Goose bumps peppered her arms, and a chill danced along her glyph. Why the heck were her spiritual senses firing up when the magister was flesh and blood?
Down the hallway, a misty figure took shape. The flickering image appeared as one of Xavier’s guards. The apparition glanced over his shoulder, pressed the buttons on a keypad beside the door, and evaporated into the wall. Ah, so that’s what had her glyph tingling. Apparently, even exotic resorts could be haunted. It really shouldn’t surprise her. After all, it was a resort that catered to the underworld.
Words filtered into her brain, breaking her focus. Oh crap, the magister was talking to her. “Sorry?”
“Lovely evening,” he repeated.
“Um, yes. It was. I mean, it is.”
“Marcus seemed rather preoccupied.”
Perhaps due to the way Dove was fondling him beneath the table. Holy cow. She’d really done that. Her cheeks heated. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
Down the hall, the spirit reappeared. Once more, it looked in their direction, punched the keypad, and vanished into the wall. Aw, poor guy was stuck in a time loop. Dove was beginning to feel the same, walking next to the magister.
“Perhaps it was due to Carina’s presence. I invited her because she begged me. She felt badly for how she treated Marcus and wanted a chance to make amends. They were quite the item for a while, even planned to get married.”
“Marcus and Carina were engaged?” The news was a punch to the gut. It was possible he was still interested in the awful woman. And here Dove had been throwing herself at him half the night. It would have been nice if he’d told her the truth about them.
“Yes, Carina believed this would be the only way to speak to him in person. Since his accident, Marcus has rarely left his penthouse, except for business. He’s become quite the recluse. I was certainly surprised when Xavier told me he’d be in attendance this evening. More so, given his distaste for the male.”
Finally, they entered the first breezeway. Tiberius paused, resting his hands behind his back, gazing out at the courtyard as though they had all the time in the world. Despite the gorgeous view, tension thickened the air. “Tell me, why is Marcus really here? It certainly isn’t to vacation on a tropical island.”
While Dove was far from worldly, it didn’t take a genius to recognize that Tiberius was fishing. Marcus wouldn’t like this one bit. Worse, he’d be pissed at her if she got chatty. Come on, Dove, think of something, quick. “I’m, uh, not clear on the details. Marcus doesn’t discuss his personal affairs with me.”
“I wouldn’t expect otherwise, you being his Chosen,” Tiberius said this with disdain. “Still, you’re living and traveling together. I’m sure you hear things.”
Was he accusing her of eavesdropping? Sweat coated her palms, and she rubbed them together. “Really, I don’t hear anything Marcus doesn’t want me to, and this is the first time I’ve traveled with him.”
“What about Vivian? How is she doing?”
Dove blinked at the abrupt change of subject.
“I understand she recently had a run-in with some of Zion’s men. There’s a rumor Zion nearly burned her mansion down over a business deal gone bad.”
“What?” Dove choked out, chest puffing with indignation. “Vivian doesn’t associate with Zion.”
“Good. Good,” Tiberius murmured. “If she was involved with him in any manner, it could mean very bad things for her. The Council has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to conspirators.”
Dove shook her head hard enough to make her vision swim. “Vivian would never get mixed up in something like that.”
“And I’m sure you would be devastated if she were implicated. I feel the same about Marcus.” He leaned his shoulder against a pillar, growing pensive. “Since my brother died, Marcus is all the family I have left in this world. He is like a son to me. Unfortunately, he’s denied my help and refused my offer of medical assistance, nor does he return my phone calls. I know he’s keeping things from me.”
While Xavier’s posture was relaxed, the vibe he sent her was anything but. She hesitated to answer, her mouth going dry.
At her silence, he straightened, extending his hand. In it was a business card with only a number, no name. “This is my direct line. You’ll report back to me with anything of importance regarding my nephew.”
Her chest squeezed, smashed between the Council magister and her duty to Marcus. “Just so I’m clear.” Even she knew she tended to be a little dense when it came to these things. “You’re asking me to spy on him?”
“It wasn’t a request.” His voice lowered, sending a menacing chill through her. “Do this or Vivian may find herself the subject of an investigation.”
Fates save her. This was worse than being between a rock and a hard place. More like a wrecking ball and a runaway locomotive. How did she talk her way out of this one? “But the non-disclosure—”
“Dove,” Marcus called her name from the end of the corridor.
Relief flooded her system, her knees wobbling. Marcus headed in her direction with swift strides, ignoring his cane. Bishop followed, a dark scowl on his rugged face. Here comes the cavalry.
The stifling bubble Tiberius had surrounded her in seemed to lift. He snorted a derisive laugh. “Well, now, this just became twice as interesting.”
Once at her side, Marcus guided her behind him. She shivered at the chilly menace he emanated.
“Uncle,” he growled. “How unlike you to concern yourself with the welfare of another male’s Chosen. Bishop had orders to escort Dove to her room.”
Tiberius stepped back with his hands raised, a mocking smile on his face. “And how unlike you to care.”
“I’ve always taken care of what is mine. You would do well to do the same. I believe I saw Carina leave with Xavier’s concubine, Persephone.”
“You don’t say?” The magister smirked. “Should make for an entertaining evening. Very well. I’ll bid you good night.” He offered a half bow and retreated down the corridor.
Thank goodness. Dove glanced at Marcus to find him staring down at her. “What did he want?” he demanded. His voice tight.
Her stomach fluttered. Marcus wouldn’t like the answer. Perhaps she should tell him everything. Tell him his uncle wanted her to spy on him. Maybe he could help her protect Vivian. But why would he when he was busy protecting himself? And would he believe her or side with Tiberius?
She hated lying. The truth, or as close to the truth, was the best way to go. “He discussed his concerns for your welfare. Then asked what you were doing here.”
She sensed the heat of his scrutiny. He eyed her for a long moment as though trying to read any deceit in her expression. She forced her face to remain as serene as possible.
At last, he asked, “What did you tell him?”
“That you don’t discuss your personal affairs with me.” Like the fact he’d been engaged. Her molars ground together. She needed to remember her relationship with Marcus was a business arrangement. Nothing more. She wasn’t his type, Carina was.
He massaged his temples beneath his hood. “Damn him. I don’t have time for his games. Come.” He took her elbow, propelling her down the path. “You still have work to do.”
Right. Dove had a date with a demon.