The two of them are such a juxtaposition. Lachlan is quiet and mysterious, motivated by his desire to be here. Despite what happened between us a couple of nights ago, he’s been nothing but cold and indifferent toward me.
Alexander is… different. He’s warm and friendly. He doesn’t take himself too seriously.
“No,” Alexander says. “I was only telling Astern that we’re all supposed to get very close in the coming months and that she can talk to me about anything.”
Lachlan’s expression sours as he presses his lips together and looks at me.
“How kind,” he says slowly.
“The same goes for you, of course,” Alexander says, his voice a bit lower now that he’s talking to Lachlan. I can imagine that Lachlan seems intimidating to any observer.
Lachlan is quiet as he reaches for a protein bar, and once he closes the pantry, he throws me one. I catch it without fail, and then he gestures to the door.
“I’m going on a run. See you later,” he says, his eyes tracking over my face for a second too long before he leaves the kitchen.
“He’s nice,” Alexander says sarcastically.
I huff a laugh as I look down at the protein bar he tossed me. Even when he’s being grumpy, he’s still looking out for me.
“He’s alright,” I say, smiling. “See you later, Your Highness.”
“Call me Alex,” he says quickly, and then he stretches, both arms behind his head.
Jesus Christ.
My eyes catch on a faded, black tattoo on the inside of his right bicep. I’d missed it earlier, and when he sees me looking, he smirks.
“Is that a Black Sabbath tattoo?” I ask, grinning.
Alex blushes and shakes his head. “It was a stupid thing I did in my youth?—”
I laugh. “You are not what I expected,” I mutter.
“I hope that’s a good thing,” he responds, brows furrowed.
“It is.”
I walk out of the kitchen without another word, still laughing that the formal Prince who stood rigidly at all of the state functions when I was growing up has a tattoo.
CHAPTER 13
Max
The day passes quickly. After a quiet breakfast with Astern, Otto, Lachlan, and Alex, Harlow comes over with thick binders full of information we’re supposed to study.
“I’ve been compiling information for years?—”
“Good lord. You could kill someone with this,” Otto murmurs, holding the binder up. “Wait. Is that the point? Are these murder weapons?”
Harlow laughs. “I think you’ll find anything can be a murder weapon. But no, it’s just everything I’ve thought of writing down over the last five years.”
“Because of your daughter?” Alex asks, and everyone goes quiet.
Edith had made an appearance earlier to show us all her collection of black feathers–something we all found to be endearing yet not surprising. Sheisthe daughter of the Lords of Darkness, and I can’t envision her playing with dolls and teddy bears.
Harlow shrugs. “Yes and no. It’s true that after I got pregnant with Edith, I wanted to end the Lords. And we almost did a few times.” She looks down at the floor. “This job isn’t easy, but it’s an honor. Does that make sense?”
Alex nods. “I suppose so.”
