A shiver ran down her spine as Raphael’s sharp gaze turned to her. “You seem … distracted, Lovely Lola. Are you quite all right?”
Lola resisted the urge to hurl a pillow at his smug face. “Just ready to get this trip over with,” she bit out.
The damn demon had the nerve to look amused, like her clearly evident hostility entertained him. He just loved trying to get under her skin.
Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Standing abruptly, she set Otto on the couch. “Taras, Lyra, if that’s all the info we need, we should get ready to leave first thing tomorrow, don’t you think?” She angled her body toward the door in clear dismissal.
Raphael took his time rising from the settee, brushing imaginary lint from his jacket, no doubt just to irk her. “Bright and early. I look forward to having you ladies … under my care.” His gaze turned smoky as he eyed her and then Maddie.
Lola cringed inwardly.Could he be any more obvious?She felt like a gazelle being toyed with by a lion.
She gave him a brittle smile. “Great. See you then.”
As she scooped Otto up and herded Maddie quickly from the room, she heard Raphael’s low chuckle behind them. Lola gritted her teeth. She was so done playing his games. But she’d put up with the demon if it led them to the priestess.
Otto twisted to glare over Lola’s shoulder, tail lashing. “I bites him if he hurts yous or the Maddie,” the lizard declared ferociously.
Despite her unease, Lola laughed. “Thanks, Otto. We’ve got this.”
With her prickly protector at her side, maybe she stood a chance against the demon’s mind games. For Katy’s sake, into the snake nest she’d go, and dare the vipers to strike.
Nico lounged atop one of the elaborately carved settees in the silkies’ receiving chamber, but his sharp gaze took in every detail as they awaited an audience with the spider king and queen.
He cataloged each exit, the patterns of the guards’ patrols, and the way sound echoed slightly off the vaulted ceilings. One could never be too aware of their surroundings when dealing with royalty, even supposed allies. Especially in their own web.
“You look ready to stab someone,” Roan rumbled from his tense perch nearby. “I thought arachnids were your kind of people, with their crazy, shifty eyes and sparkly, silk clothes.”
Nico grinned. “Oh, I like them just fine, when youknowthey’re hustling you.” He flourished a hand lazily. “But when the silkies put on airs of civility, that’s when you gotta watch your back.”
Callon shook his head, leaning against a pillar across from them. The lion seemed tired, likely worrying after his new mate. “Not all of us assume the worst in others, Nico.”
Nico shrugged, unbothered. “Hey, just calling it like I see it. Everyone’s got an angle. Me? I prefer when they don’t pretend otherwise.”
Before Callon could reply, the far doors swept open. Lyric glided in, followed by an elegant couple that could only be the king and queen. Nico sat up straighter, taking their measure.
Queen Athena moved with refined grace, her beauty more striking than the loveliest sunset. But it was the calculating gleam in her bright eyes that gave Nico pause. This one was clever, shrewd, and not to be underestimated.
King Aurelius cut an imposing figure beside her, power evident in his broad shoulders and commanding air. His sharp gaze sized them up just as closely as Athena had done. Nico inclined his head in a show of respect.
Once seated, the pleasantries began, Lyric making introductions. Nico let the conversations flow around him, only speaking when required. His role here was to watch and listen.
Finally, talk turned to the reason for the meeting. “We have heard troubling rumors about dissent from within the kingdoms,” Callon said gravely, “but know not from where this unrest stems.”
“You seek to root out Azure’s allies,” Queen Athena surmised, her voice smooth as silk. “A dangerous game, Lion Prince.”
Nico didn’t miss the glance she exchanged with her king at Callon’s title.Interesting.
Callon either didn’t notice or ignored it. “Dangerous indeed, should war break out,” he conceded. “We hope only to avoid further bloodshed. We’ve all been down that road and know where it leads.”
“Peace is fragile, now more than ever,” King Aurelius said solemnly. “Perhaps some alliances are best left in shadow, for the good of all.”
Definitely interesting. Nico sat forward. “Respectfully, Your Majesty, shadows can conceal vipers as well as mice. If we knew which nobles treat with Azure, they could be reasoned with, brought back to the light.” He kept his tone polite, only vaguely cajoling.
Athena’s piercing eyes turned on him. “And what would you know of walking in darkness, Chaos-Bringer?” The question held a biting edge.
Nico widened his eyes innocently. “Very little, My Queen. I prefer the open road, as wild and free as my Kingdom’s namesake.” He paused. “But even I know serpents thrive in shadows if the sun is too bright.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed, but whatever she might have said was interrupted by the king’s rumbling laugh. “It has been a long time since I have entertained the shaman of the Kingdom of Chaos. I have forgotten how sharp and cunning your tongue can be.” The king looked at Callon. “You have an interesting associate, Prince Callon.”
