Selena shoots me a glare, as if it will deter me. She’s made me immune to those looks with how often she tosses them around.
I focus on Margery, my skin crawling. “I’m so sorry, but have we met before? I can’t place you and feel so guilty for not remembering.” I push a little southern drawl into my tone and let her melt all over.
“No, I don’t believe so. I’d remember someone as beautiful as you.”
It takes no effort to draw up an array of thoughts that force a blush into my cheeks. Let her think I’m sweet. That is her type, after all.
The server brings salad and bread for the table, then refills the drinks, and makes a hasty retreat.
Selena captures Margery’s attention again, but I make sure when Margery glances my way, she sees a sweet smile and dopey empty eyes. An easy mark for her to lay claim to.
“Who do you think is behind this attack?” Selena asks her friend and fellow councilwoman.
Margery considers her salad and then shakes her head. “I don’t know. No one has stepped up to claim ownership, and the others are worried. The society here in Chicago is worried. You need to take the throne, if even for one day, so you can reassure our people.”
I narrow my eyes at the way she says “our people” like they belong to her in a way that doesn’t completely fall under benevolence.
The women chat back and forth a little longer, forgoing dessert for a hot cup of coffee. I keep my attention equally split between them. The interaction has already given me more knowledge of how Selena’s mind works. In fact, I can see now how much she wants this. How much her council seat means to her. It’s not because she thinks it’s her legacy. It’s because she worked hard to earn her position and enjoys taking care of her people. How original. Many of the Five have learned the hard way that councilmembers can’t be trusted. Not even Selena.
After the other night, especially Selena.
I settle into my chair, but it’s not long before a hand squeezes my thigh.
One look between them, and it’s easy to guess who thinks they have the right to touch me. Selena won’t even look at me, let alone manhandle me.
Margery’s hand slides higher to the inside of my thigh, almost to my crotch. It takes all my self-discipline to keep from squeezing her wrist, showing her the strength she is fucking with. I clamp her wrist gently and ease her hand off my lap. When she glances my way again, I give her a cute little frown and send my curls spinning with a little shake of my head.
When lunch is over, I’m ready to take a shower and fill my brain with anything that isn’t the banal chitchat of this woman. Even the tone of her voice grates on me by the end.
She slips her card into my hand under the table and gives me a wink before leaving.
I turn my attention to Selena, sure she’d be looking anywhere but at me, except when my eyes reach hers, she’s staring, and staring hard.
“What the fuck was that?”
I tuck Margery’s card into my pocket above the table so Selena can see it. “What was what?”
She waves toward the door. “Why were you flirting with her? Oh, I apologize, was I supposed to flirt with you too? You didn’t specify what my duties were before we arrived.”
We glare at each other, and then she stifles a groan in her cupped hands. “How is this different from when we were at the casino? You called the shots then, but now it’s my turn. You can leave anytime that becomes a problem for you.”
“This is different because everything I did was to keep you safe.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “So fucking my face under the VIP room table was to keep me safe. Yeah, I get that. How about the numerous times you kissed me? Were all those to keep me safe too? You are so full of bullshit, Michail. You don’t even know what the truth looks like anymore. Hell, I bet you don’t even know the real you under all these masks…these acts.”
Her barb hits home, but I don’t allow her to see it. Anything I say right now will be laced with venom, so I will keep my mouth shut.
After a few moments of silence, she huffs and shakes her head. “Is it because you have a problem following the orders of a woman?”
“Why the fuck would that matter? I follow Valentina’s orders all the time. She gets bossier and bossier by the day thanks to Adrian’s influence. And something tells me your brother’s intended won’t shy away from a dictate or two when she’s integrated with us more.”