He yanked me out of Van’s arms. “That’s it. You’re done. Both of you. Lust-drunk fools.”
Then his voice became gentle, syrupy sweet. “Come, let me run you a hot bath, my star. Rose and honey bath bombs, right? I’ll wash your hair with that fancy shampoo your sister gave you last Christmas.”
Wait, what? I blinked at him, confused.
He smirked, eyes swirling with obsession and adoration. “My star, I knoweverythingabout you. You’re my reason for living. Why would I pay attention to anything else?”
Honestly? His words didn't even surprise me, and I was starting to really like it. All that extra crazy focused entirely on me made me feel like his sun and moon, and I thought I deserved it. And that bath? Sounded fucking amazing.
“Sounds good.”
We left Lucus and Van bickering over who got to use the second bathroom first when I felt a set of eyes on me.
Turning, I saw Maso. He hadn’t moved from the couch. He was just lying there, still as stone, but his eyes were open now. Those brilliant blues were locked on me, watching everything.
Yeah….Thatbomb was still ticking, and I was going to need to figure that out soon.
But for now? I just wanted to be pampered. Bathed in roses. Slathered in lotion. A girl like me had standards, and no man, no matter how stalkery or sexy or magical they were, was gonna get in the way of that.
After the bathRas gave me, I felt utterly ruined—in the best possible way. He didn’t let me lift a single finger. Every instruction I gave, he followed like gospel. He washed my hair with careful precision, then scrubbed me down inch by inch, not missing a spot.
Just when I thought it was over, he slipped behind me, hand curling between my legs like it belonged there. Then he touched me, slow, patient strokes that soothed every jagged edge left behind from earlier. My orgasm didn’t shatter me. This time, it unraveled. Quietly. Beautifully.
When my body finally gave out, melting into something boneless and content, Ras didn’t stop. He lifted me with reverence, dried me off like I was made of porcelain, braided my hair with gentle fingers, dressed me, and tucked me into bed. It was the mostrelaxed I’d felt since taking over the Winged Palace. Five stars. Phenomenal service. Would highly recommend.
Once I got over the part where he just sat there watching me sleep, I knocked out for a few hours and woke up recharged, ready to face the night, but the bed beside me was empty. No Ras. Weird.
I slipped on my robe, grabbed my phone, and stuffed it in my pocket before leaving my room. Most of the guys were already in the living room, freshly showered and dressed, glowing like supernatural GQ covers. Each of them had their own aesthetic, their own flavor, and I didn’t have to choose. I could have them all. Yummy.
“Good, you're up,” Van said, strolling in like sin incarnate. Burgundy button-up, sleeves rolled, a few buttons undone. Black slacks that hugged his body just enough to make me bite my bottom lip.
God help me. I was a slut.
“I forgot to tell you something…” Van began.
The club. The bomb. Vengeance. Finding Glen and the mystery man. Right. I needed to get my head back in the game.
I turned to him, already in mission mode, my thoughts sliding toward blood and strategy.
He took a slow breath, which confused me. “Calix is at the club.”
“What?!” I snapped, heart lurching. My brain kicked into overdrive. “When? Why hasn't he contacted me? What the hell is going on? He’satthe club right now?!”
Before he could answer, I was already moving, my feet pulling me toward the door like it had magnetic gravity.
Ineededto be there. I was the owner. There was no reason I shouldn’t be overseeing whatever he was doing because, with Calix, you never knew.
Sometimes, he was a genius. Like the time he made a pair of stilettos where one heel turned into a dagger while the other became a gun when you spoke the trigger word. Other times? He was a walking disaster. Like the time he tried to enchant all my outfits to sparkle like the night sky and set them on fire instead.
Calix was at the club,my club. What kind of shit was he doing? The possibilities were endless.
Van and Alic beat me to the door, and I almost called on my power to force them out of my way. The only thing keeping me from doing it was that voice in my head.Do it and watch as you turn out to not be what they desire most. Won't that be fun to know.Only the dread made me pause.
Van threw his hand up to block me. “Ni,breathe.He called me yesterday, but you were asleep, and then…” His eyes glazed over as his memory clearly took a detour into X-rated territory.
I snapped my fingers in front of his face, jolting him back.
“…then you fell asleep again,” he finished, clearing his throat. “Nothing bad’s happening. He brought Rack with him.” That was marginally better. Rack was the business and magic to Calix’s mechanical creativity and madness. He would make sure Calix didn't get too creative.
