“You just made this?”
He nods. “You try.”
“With what?”
“Anything you like,” he says and smiles.
I close my eyes. Something from Nothing. I clench my hand into a fist and then open it. “For you,” I say shyly.
He peers down at my outstretched palm and grins in delight. “I love it. Very thoughtful.” He pulls the ring out of my hand and puts it on – to my chagrin – his left ring finger.
“It wasn’t meant for…”
“It fits,” he interrupts determinedly and admires it. I start to get a tiny bit worried. “Very nice work.”
I have to admit; I’m quite impressed with myself. I’d wanted to give him something meaningful as he gave to me and as I thought of the painting downstairs of Dracul, I conjured a ring of a tiny Dragon with ruby red eyes. His ancestor, my brother.
“Well, you are a quick study, my Queen.”
“So, I’ve been told,” I say wryly. “Although, to be fair, everything that is in your Grimoire, is now in my head.”
I shrug at his amazed look and add, “It’s a thing with me. I have more info stored in my brain than I care to think about.”
“Most impressive.” He looks at me admiringly. “Well, now that the ritual is complete, I suppose I should get you back to your…entourage,” he says wickedly.
I snicker at the word. “Don’t ever say that in front of them. There is enough grousing as it is.”
“Mm, I can imagine. How you have pulled them into this is still a mystery.”
“There was no pulling involved,” I growl. I’m not taking the blame for this. Devon and I have been together for five hundred and seven years. Cole and I are married. CK suddenly decided he wanted more from me again once he felt threatened by Cole and Lincoln chose me…and my mother accepted him. Screw this. As soon as I get back, I’m going to talk to Devon. It’s ridiculous that he thinks I’m just going to accept his behavior.
“Take me back. I have issues to deal with.”
“Of that I have no doubt. What will you tell them about us?” he asks slyly.
“There is no ‘us.’ Not in a personal sense. It's just business.”
“For now,” he murmurs as he takes my hand and Astraports me back into his casino office.
“Thank you. It has been a very informative afternoon. Please tell your parents I was honored to meet them.”
“I will, Your Majesty,” he says sarcastically, bowing to me. “I will also tell them that you will be seeing them soon.”
“Oh? Why is that then?”
“Because you will come to me, and I will take you there,” he says casually.
I glare at his tone. “Good day, Xane. I will make a note to come and see you later, where I expect a report on our Domain.”
“Good day, ValamAtrux. I look forward to it. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
“I’m sure we will,” I say stiffly and with a final bob of my head, I beat a hasty retreat out of his presence before I do something I will regret.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE
I make my way across the casino to the hotel lobby. Sebastian catches up with me and pulls me into an empty conference room.
“Well?” he asks.