“What did you mean by that?” She speaks to my back, and as much as I’d love one more glance of her, to take her in for another moment longer, I don’t.
“Just what I said.” I pull open the door and step outside. With my back still to her, I glance over my shoulder, allowing her to see my profile, but not far enough that she can see my eyes.
They say eyes are the windows to your soul. If she looked at mine right now, she’d see just how fucking dark I can go.
“Don’t ever think you can run, because once I’ve made my mind up, there is no escaping me.” I tug the door shut with a loud click and make my way to the elevator. It doesn’t take long for me to get to the garage and slip into the driver’s seat of my father’s Aston.
I don’t know how we’re going to stop this bullshit ritual, but I’ll die trying. I pull out my phone and hit call on Dad’s number. A few rings later, and I hear his voice come through the line.
“What did you learn?”
“They’re going to initiate her into the sanctum, into the circle.” I keep my voice low, hoping and praying that he has an answer for me. That Dad will be able to help me save her. She may think she’s merely the entertainment, but this means so much more than Rukaiya can ever imagine.
She’s my little wolf, and no one else will take her but me.
I’ll make sure of it.
“They can’t do that. She’s not twenty-one yet, and even so, the Elders will never allow it.”
“They’re not doing it in London,” I inform him. “They’re flying to Amsterdam.”
I hear the breath that leaves my father’s lungs at that moment. I’ve heard about the European societies. Everything I’ve heard has made me wary of her going there, and the fact that Fergus thinks he can initiate her into a circle of filthy assholes who will then own her—that’s utter bullshit.
“Okay, we’ll sort this out. Get back to the mansion, and I’ll get the jet ready, we’ll fly out there tonight.”
I hang up, start the engine and peel out of the lot and down the busy London streets. It’s going to take me at least an hour to get out of the city and to my father’s new home.
Enough time to plan exactly how I’m going to gut Fergus Harrison.
Walking into my father’s office is like taking a step back in time. The room is rich with history, with ghosts from the past, and it holds a certain danger that seems to lurk right beneath the surface. I wish I could be anywhere but here.
Not because I’m afraid, but because this is a place I’d rather never visit. Even though I’m proud to be a Crown, I don’t approve of a lot of what they do here. Dad isn’t as bad as his predecessors, but power brings a hunger for more.
“What have we got?” I ask, as I settle in the chair opposite his desk. My father is someone you’d envision running a secret society. His dark hair with hazel eyes and handsome smile make him seem like an easy-going family man. Always dressed in a suit, and if I didn’t know better, I would peg him for a lawyer or some shit.
“They’re meeting in two days. We’ll fly out tonight, and I’m reaching out to them to attend the ritual.” Confusion creases my face as I regard my father. “What?”
“Attend the ritual? We have to stop this. We can’t have her out there prancing around, so every man in the fucking society can look at her!” My voice booms through the office, and I know I’m being loud, rude, and disrespectful, but the thought of my little wolf dancing around in nothing but a fucking leotard that I know will hug her slight curves and bubble butt has jealousy coursing through my veins.
“Etienne Eros Durand.” His voice is cold, controlled, and he uses my full fucking name. I know I’m fucked, but I don’t give a shit. “Listen to me, and you listen very fucking well.” Dad pushes up from where he’s sitting, his hands splayed on the smooth surface of his wooden desk. “When I say we’re doing something, it’s my call.”
My body vibrates with frustration and anger at my father’s words. I want nothing to do with this if he’s not going to help me or Rukaiya. I’ll do it myself.
“And if I even hear you’re trying to fuck up my plan then I’ll send you back home and you won’t be allowed back here.”
“Plan? Attending the ritual isn’t a plan. You’re sending her into a den of fucking lions,” I bite out through clenched teeth, fisting my hands at my sides to keep from punching the goddamned wall.