“No, I don’t mean fascinating like that. I mean like how you would never take your eyes off a forked tongue red snake. If you meet its gaze, it won’t attack. But the moment you turn your back on it, its fangs will be buried bone deep in your leg.” Brandth pleased to note Perri’s posture had relaxed somewhat.
“That… that is surprisingly perceptive of you.”
“Flatterer. But be warned, Lady Perri, it will take more than the hard won occasional compliment to win my heart. You’re going to have to work a lot harder than that.” Perri’s head swivelled abruptly, presenting him with an unobstructed view of the almost opaque scarf. He imagined if he could see her eyes they’d be as big as saucers.
“You… you’re deranged.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. Brandth adored that waspish edged tone in her voice that she appeared to reserve only for his benefit. It meant that the real Perri Gloomenthrall was poking her head out of that dark shadow she hid herself away in. “You know what they say about mad men, don’t you?” He leaned in, noting that her ear was perfect and petite. “We make the best lovers.”
“Something I shall never likely discover for myself, Lord De’Luca.”
He wasn’t sure if she was aware of what she’d said – likely? He’d been teasing, but suddenly his cock was stirring, his gut heating in anticipation of getting his hands on those curves that he’d only tasted ever so briefly back at the Lair.
Brandth considered himself a discerning man. When you were the heir to a fortune and best friends with the Prince of the Realm, you needed to be extremely careful where you sowed your wild oats and what promises you made.
Ever since he’d accidentally pulled Perri down on top of him back at the infirmary, he’d known he could happily while away several hours in a bed with her. But until this moment, he’d hadn’t realised how badly he wanted that to happen… with her, only with Perri.
Well, damn. Now he had a secondary mission. His first remained unchanged. He now knew Baron Soutner was Perri and Alia’s objective. But why and what they actually intended to do was still a mystery to be solved. Secondary to the solving of that puzzle was his new, admittedly suddenly much more exciting objective, bed Perri Gloomenthrall.
It would not be easy. Nothing about this woman was. But that didn’t deter Brandth one iota.
Movement in the crowd caught his attention. Given her height, the sun making her plaited hair gleam golden bright, it was easy to spot Alia Gloomenthrall pushing her way through the throng. The Prince, Brandth observed, trailing in her wake. The gleam in Talac’s eyes letting Brandth know that despite the haughty bored expression on his friend’s face, he was actually having a grand time.
He wondered if Talac was aware that the Gloomenthrall sisters’ target was Baron Soutner. Knowing his friend as he did, he would have already surmised that detail. So, the fact that Alia, with Talac close on her heels, was right this moment closing in on the Baron was intriguing indeed.
A confrontation between the two parties appeared imminent. Brandth sensing fireworks would be in the offing, given the glittering intent gleam in Alia’s eyes. The hunter was closing in on her prey.
Seriously, Brandth was having the best time ever. A mystery still yet to uncover. And a beautiful snappish woman to coax into his bed. Let the games begin.
Dropping his voice to a mere whisper, so only Perri would hear his words. “Let me know if you need help when it comes time to dispose of the body.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Hello, Regal. Long time, no see.”
“A-Alia?”
“It must be ten years almost to the day since we last crossed paths.” She noted those clear blue eyes of his flicker ever so momentarily to the jagged ridged scar high on her throat, but apart from that, and the slight hesitation saying name, Regal appeared nothing but cool and collected. Bastard. “Congratulations. I heard of your ascension to the title.”
Dimples deepened, gifting her with an angelic smile. “I heard of your own ascension. I believe congratulations are also in order.”
Once, Alia wouldn’t haven’t register that as a threat, but now that she knew Regal down to his blackened soul, she understood he was warning her. Overstep with him, and he would happily announce who Alia was to the snobby crowd of aristos. Interesting, it appeared Regal had some intelligence sources of his own. He’d heard she was now Beast of Gloomenthrall, but he hadn’t been expecting to cross paths with her here at the Golden Palace.
Alia gifted him a smile of her own, letting him catch just a glimpse of the fangs and claws she wielded these days. “Your timing is nothing but impeccable. Ten years roaming the world, only to finally return to witness the tragic and… unexpected deaths of the young Baron and his two brothers within a few short weeks.”
“It was exceedingly fortuitous, Gods bless them all. The quick transition ensured that the Soutner coffers and trade agreements remained unaffected.”
“Your family has exceedingly bad luck. Many having died so very young. Do you ever worry for your own well-being?”
“Not a jot.”
“And your heir?” Alia noted Regal’s eyes narrow slightly, but that slight amused smile never slipped. “How is his health these days?”
“Good.”
“Merely good? Given your history, I suggest you work hard to secure it. Perhaps you’ve forgotten how invested my own family is in his health and welfare.” Unsurprised to see a fleeting flash of smugness radiate from his pretty eyes. Unless you were watching for it, you would have missed it. Regal was beyond pleased to be reminded he had another arrow in his quiver.
“Ah, yes. How is your father’s health these days?”
