Chapter 24 #2
I let out a bark of laughter. “I’d be a fool to trust the man who let me bleed out with absolutely zero remorse.”
He let out a breath. “I’ve apologized.”
“I’m aware.”
Alric put on his earnest face, the one I knew was full of shit. “Alex, what can I do to make this up to you?”
I pulled out two mugs from the far back of the cabinet that Beckett had missed.
One of them had three witches dancing naked in the woods and said, God forbid women have hobbies. I set that one aside for me. The second said Resting Witch Face. That one would go to Alric.
“You can’t make up for failing to render assistance to someone in as much danger as I was. And asking me to forgive you is kind of a shit thing to do.”
Alric blinked in surprise before a thoughtful look stole over his face. He sat back on the stool he’d taken and rubbed his jaw. “You’re right,” he said after a moment. “I suppose I’ll have to show you then.”
I removed the carafe before it had finished brewing—thank goodness for the auto stop—and poured us both a hot cup of coffee before remembering I had no cream or sugar.
“Sorry. You’ll have to drink it black. I have no groceries.”
I had a million things to do today and had forgotten all about going grocery shopping.
“I prefer it this way,” Alric said. “Though I don’t take tea without milk.”
I sipped my coffee and shivered. “Favorite tea?”
Alric held his coffee mug like a dainty lady. “I’m partial to oolong, but I’ll never turn down Earl Grey.”
Two of my favorites, though I was far more of a coffee person. “London Fog for me.”
“A dressed-up Earl Grey, then.”
I nodded. “The lattes are hard to pass up.”
“I will remember that.” From the way he was staring at me, I had an odd feeling he genuinely would.
Conversation stalled as we sipped our coffee. I had a running list of things to do in my head and needed to get started. Leaving Alric unsupervised was not going to happen, though.
“Thank you for the clothing your strategist brought over. The extras were unnecessary but appreciated.”
His eyes flicked over the cardigan and camisole I wore. “They suit you.”
“Yes, well, I’d still like to pay for them. They seem expensive.”
Alric waved a hand. “Consider them a peace offering for everything that has occurred.”
Just then, Alric’s strategist walked in, her gaze immediately falling on the Prime. Leo came in behind her, wheeling a massive cart. She flicked her hand toward my bedroom. “Take them in the bedroom and hang them with care.”
I stared at Leo. “Hang what?”
Leo ignored me and went right to the master.
“Hang what?” I asked again.
“Replacements,” said his strategist.
I shot a look at Alric, who merely saluted me with his mug. “Again,” he said mildly. “Another peace offering.”
“I’ll write a check for those as well.”
The strategist snorted. “If you’d like to drain your retirement fund, be our guest.”
Alric flicked a displeased gaze at the woman. “Please forgive Vesper. She forgets herself sometimes.”
Vesper didn’t seem afraid of Alric. At all. Interesting. She rolled her eyes and followed Leo into my room. Alric’s lips thinned as she walked away.
Several people walked out holding large pieces of shattered furniture. I swallowed hard, unable to speak. I saw parts of my dresser, a broken half of my footboard, the top of my nightstand, and other pieces I couldn’t identify.
“Trouble in paradise?” I asked sweetly, needling him on purpose to avoid thinking about what was going on inside my bedroom.
He gave me a baleful look and ignored the question. “This is good coffee,” he said instead. “What blend?”
“My boss mixes it for me. I’ll give you some if you want.”
His eyes widened at my offer. “Really?”
“It’s the least I can do, since I’m sure Leo is about to load my closet with things I can’t afford.”
Alric’s lips twitched. “Fair enough. I’d love to take some home.”
I reached into the pantry and took a round container with a lid out, examined it for damage first, before filling the filter with a generous portion of the coffee blend. “It tastes the best when you make it in a French press, but I’m lazy and addicted to caffeine.”
“Duly noted.”
I pushed the container over. “Don’t worry about returning it. I have a million of those stored in the basement.”
“Thank you, Alex.”
“You’re welcome.”
We smiled at each other, and for a moment, things felt… different. Easier. I wasn’t angry, and he wasn’t being a bossy asshole. We were just two people sharing some coffee.
I cleared my throat and straightened up. “Well. Do you think they’re about finished? I have a million things to do today.”
Alric’s slight smile held an edge of regret that made my stomach twist. For a moment, I wished we’d met under different circumstances.
We might never have been friends, but maybe we would better understand each other because if my attack happened later, when we were already familiar with each other, he might never have done the things he’d done to try to bend me to his will.
But we hadn’t and Alric, a total stranger and powerful player in the supernatural world, had tried to compel me to do what he wanted. Instead, his plan had backfired, and I knew myself well enough to realize I would never agree to help him just out of sheer stubbornness.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Alric asked quietly.
“Things could have been different between us.” I didn’t mean to say the words aloud, but I wasn’t upset I did.
Alric nodded. “I approached this all wrong.”
Amusement filled me. “You continue approaching this all wrong.”
He let out a rueful laugh. “As you no doubt enjoy telling me.”
The cleaning crew came out just then. One of them nodded to Alric, then jerked his head to the others. They all filed out of my bedroom, Vesper and Leo following behind, the latter pushing the now-empty cart.
Everyone headed toward the front door, while Vesper walked over to us. She had a way of making me feel like I didn’t exist. Her eyes slid over me and away, dismissing me as soon as she saw me. My fingers tightened around my mug.
“The room has been restored,” Vesper said.
“All traces of him removed?”
The strategist nodded. “She will need new furniture.”
“She is sitting right here.”
Vesper’s light gaze flicked over me and back to Alric once more. “By your leave, Prime.”
Alric stared at her for a moment before giving her a sharp nod. Vesper turned on her heel and stalked out of the house.
“She’s full of personality,” I observed.
A faint smile. “Vesper is the brains behind my operation. Underestimate her at your peril. She does not need a personality to function admirably as my strategist.” Alric rose and placed his mug in the sink. “But don’t let her icy exterior fool you. She burns hot as the sun.”
Without saying goodbye, Alric walked out the front door, pulling it closed behind him.
I slumped and reached for the carafe, pouring myself one more mug. Why did I always feel so exhausted every time I talked to that man?