“Adrian and I were of one mind in trying to protect you from the void-shadow, Layla, and from your powers twisting dark.” Dusk spoke with apology in his eyes. “Though Adrian binding you through it wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Touching you that day in the art gallery was my own weakness,” Adrian was wry but truthful as he leaned forward in his chair. “I saw you and I wanted you, even though I had told myself I wouldn’t use the cuff to Bind you. But you overcame me that day, twisting our passions together. I didn’t plan on touching your wrist when I put the talisman on you. But I couldn’t help myself in that moment – I had to touch you. I needed to.”
“So I’m just a seducer like Hunter, is that what you’re trying to say?” Layla spoke, feeling something crumble deep within her. Deep inside, a black pit suddenly opened up, devouring her happiness.
Reaching out, Adrian lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes. “You arenothinglike a monster that watches children get slaughtered and impersonates them for over a hundred years, Layla. You have a chance.Wehave a chance to make sure your magic takes a better direction than his. Mimi was a shining light, even without a talisman to protect her. You are her daughter – and far more like her than you know.”
Layla could see Adrian’s ideals in her mind suddenly, and it smote her with hope. But when she recalled the way her eyes had settled into a dark forest green like Hunter’s, with hot gold like a wrathful fire – her hope cracked like the pillars she’d broken in the Vault.
“But my rage sundered an unbreakable door.” Layla spoke. “And now I don’t have the Hamsa Bind to protect me from evil influences anymore. What’s to stop me from turning cruel and crazy like Hunter?”
“I can think of two things you’ve got that Hunter doesn’t.” Dusk gave a pointed look between himself and Adrian.
“But the three of us—” Layla glanced between her two men, realizing how ridiculously complicated this all was. “How can our magic take a positive direction if the two of you can’t even get along?”
They glanced at each other, Dusk’s gaze level and Adrian’s thoughtful as they shared a deep intensity. At last, Dusk looked to Layla. “When Adrian’s family took me in I was raw, Layla. I was antagonistic in my grief and Adrian was a hothead with his own axe to grind because of his parents fighting. Sometimes we got along; sometimes we fought like banshees.”
“Sometimes we helped each other,” Adrian picked up the narrative. “And sometimes we just tried to kill each other out in the dunes were no one would see. We have a complicated past. Dusk and I… we cannot promise to always get along, but I can at least promise to try.”
“I’ve already beenverygood.” Dusk grinned, rakish and handsome as he sat back in his chair. “I haven’t fucked you yet, and that’s an accomplishment for me. I was always more good-looking than Adrian though, so you’ll probably come to my bed first.”
And suddenly, Adrian laughed; that bright, free sound that somehow cleared the air. He was still chuckling as he reached for a glass of water, downed it, then set it back with a grin. “You might be good-looking, Dusk, but Layla bound me first.”
“Only because you had the cuff,” Dusk grinned, a challenge in his eyes.
“Only because I’m a better lover than you are.”
Adrian’s gaze flicked to Layla, something darkly possessive in his eyes as they flashed molten gold. That gaze made Layla’s heart pound, her lips fallen open. Adrian’s smile curled more, as if he could feel what she was experiencing. Dusk had stopped grinning, frowning between them now as Adrian sent a lick of wind curling up Layla’s foot, pressing in at her ankle and hinting at the roaring passion he could give her – anytime, anywhere.
It made Layla shudder, her breath fast. With a murderous, sexy exhalation, Adrian sent his jasmine-spice breath pouring in through Layla’s lips. His searing winds kissed over her tongue and dove down her throat – deep into her heart, drawing a sound of pleasure from her. Their eyes locked; Layla could feel Adrian moving inside her; deeper than any human lover could touch.
Just as deep as Dusk’s thread of light had taken her before.
Smiling, Adrian broke their connection with a snap that made Layla shudder. “And that’s not even a fraction of what I can do in bed. But you’re going to have to wait to find out.”
With a mean little chuckle, Adrian rose, then turned to address Dusk and Layla both. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to speak with the Madame. A dangerous threat has come to the Hotel and whether we like it or not, we must answer. Take some rest, Layla. Dusk, if you leave her side even for a minute, I will personally murder you.”
“Noted, I’m sure.” But Dusk gave a subtle smile, his gaze still dark with competition as he rose from the table also. “You should know, Adrian, there’s no charge I’d rather have for an afternoon. Or a night.”
“If you fuck her while I’m gone, I swear I’ll tear you apart.” Adrian’s gaze darkened; his power twisted through the room with a sting like desert sand, and Layla suddenly felt their accord straining. Dusk and Adrian were fiercely competitive, and too many women had come between them in the past. Two Royal Dragons, two big egos – and two big magics.
But Layla was the Bind between them. And she wasn’t about to let their bullshit wreck this chance.
Layla rose, finding herself steady. Strong actually; as if she fed off the warring brothers’ energies. Turning to face them, she put a hand to her hip, which would have been more sassy if she’d been wearing real clothing rather than a silk robe, but it was what it was.
“I don’t believe what I do with my body is yours to dictate, Adrian. This is the first and last time I will tell either of you that I give my body to whomever I choose, whenever I choose. Fight about it, roar about it, and watch how fast I kick you both out of my life, magical Binds or no. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.” Dusk grinned, his sapphire eyes lighting with amusement and a delicious passion.
“If you will it, so it shall be.” Adrian spoke, watching her with his hot aqua eyes. “Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth, trust that.”
With his Rumi quote and a dark, sexy smile that told her just how up for this challenge he was, Adrian bowed. And with a smoldering gaze that sundered Layla to her core, he departed – throwing open her doors and leaving in a swirl of desert-spice winds.
CHAPTER 29 – DECISIONS
Adrian Rhakvir was commanding as he stood at the head of the long table in the vaulted meeting hall. Pinning the seated Hotel Department Heads with blistering aqua eyes, he simmered with power in the crimson sunlight setting beyond the vaulted windows. Dressed in a navy pinstriped vest and pants, Adrian’s expensive ensemble caught the autumn light, his navy tie and platinum tie bar glowing. His dark hair was rakishly mussed, his shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, showing the coiling red and gold dragon tattoo on his left forearm – which seemed to writhe with a life of its own tonight as he stared down the table at the gathered Department Heads, and Layla.
Every face was somber, every ear attentive. Wine and sundries occupied the table, largely untouched. Called together by Adrian, all were here to discuss the future of the Red Letter Hotel Paris – a future that was now uncertain.
