“Do I?” She sets her glass on the table. “Five days isn’t much time.”
“Darling, you don’t have to know all the answers by the end of the week.” I should leave it at that. I know all too well what comes from letting my emotions get the better of me and grasping for things just beyond reach. Pain. Disappointment. The kind of loss that burrows down deep and leaves scars in its wake. Astounding that this girl is able to dredge up these old fears in me, but I’m old enough to see situations for what they are, rather than what I wish them to be. I take a slow breath. “If you stay, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
“As simple as that.”
“As simple—and as complicated—as that.” I reach out before I can think of all the reasons not to, and place my hand over hers. “You’re not in this alone, Zurielle.”
“Ursa?”
“Yes?”
She licks her lips. “My friends. Uh, the people who care about me. They call me Zuri.”
“Zuri.” I say it slowly, testing it out. I know Alaric calls her that, but I chose to keep the distance between us. This is a small step toward something more, a step I have to force myself to take at a measured pace. “It suits you.”
Alaric returns, his blue gaze jumping from me to her and back again. “You both look incredibly serious right now.”
“Nothing to worry about, lover.” I slide out of the booth and hold out my hand to Zuri. “Let’s have some fun.” It wasn’t necessarily what I had in mind when I decided to bring them to the Underworld tonight, but it’s glaringly clear that it’s what we all need. A release. A break from navigating treacherous waters.
I lead them toward the door back into the public and private playrooms, smiling when I recognize the Black woman leaning casually against the wall. “Allecto.”
“Ursa.” Her lips curve, though her gaze stays cool and professional. “Going to get into trouble tonight?”
“Of course not, darling.” I smile at her. “I don’t suppose tonight is the night you’ll finally take me up on my offer?” I’ve been trying to tempt her away from Hades since I first met her—ever since Monica met her and demanded I find a way to bring Allecto onboard. It’s a lost cause—she’s one of Hades’s Furies, one of the three women who answer directly to him and keep this place running—but I still get a perverse amount of enjoyment in trying. Allecto is the head of security at the Underworld, and anyone who can run a tight ship and keep all the powerful people here in line is someone I want on my staff. Granted, one of the very things that makes her such an asset it the very thing keeping her from ever accepting my offer. She’s too loyal. It’s a shame, but I enjoy ribbing her lightly about it.
“The answer’s never going to change, Ursa.” Allecto shakes her head. Like every other person Hades employs, she’s beautiful, all dark-brown skin, long black braids, and a strong body that could kill anyone in this room in half a dozen different ways. Really, she’s a gift.
“It can’t hurt to keep asking. You never know when circumstances might shift.”
She rolls her eyes and motions to the door. “Go play with your submissives and get out of my hair. Don’t cause any trouble tonight.”
“I never do.” I save my troublemaking for other places. The Underworld is too valuable a hub to risk its doors being closed to me. I might enjoy irritating Hades when I get the opportunity, but I obey the rules of neutral territory just like everyone else. The benefits far outweigh any inconvenience.
I can feel Alaric and Zuri at my back, and the thrill of knowing they’re both mine has me fighting not to pick up my pace. I feel…possessive. Like I want to strip them down and play with them where everyone can see, stamp my mark all over their bodies so everyone in this city knows who they belong to.
I almost veer off toward one of the empty sitting areas in the room. Almost give into that impulse. Almost.
But in the end, they aren’t quite mine. Not in truth. Until we figure out the finer details, there will always be some doubt there, and while there’s doubt, I won’t let my impulses get the best of me. It’s not safe. Not for my territory. Not for my heart.
Instead, I lead them through the halls that contain the private themed rooms. Given enough time, I’ll plumb Zuri’s fantasies and enact them one by one, but for now I chose a simpler route. I open the designated door and walk through, holding it so they can follow.
It amuses me entirely too much to watch the confusion flicker over Zuri’s face as she surveys the room. It’s set up with a small stage against one wall and three couches arranged in a half circle around it. Simple, yes, but effective. There’s a wardrobe tucked back in the corner that holds a number of toys and tools to utilize, but I’ll get to it later. For now, this is about recreating something I know Zuri enjoyed.