Yeah, no thanks.
Rin frowned. “Not following.”
“It’s personal,” Sila filled in before Zane could even decide whether or not he wanted to elaborate. He grabbed his brother’s shoulder and shook him before taking a step back toward the parking lot where he must have left his hovercar. “He didn’t mean to tell us that.”
Zane went on alert, the mood shifting to one less friendly. The implication that Sila understood he’d been referring to his own relationship with Aodhan made him uncomfortable and suspicious. Just how closely had that particular Varun been watching them to be able to even make an educated guess as to what Zane could have meant?
Rin took a protective step closer to Sila, shielding him somewhat, as though he thought his brother incapable of defending himself. Perhaps that earlier comment about Zane’s abilities in the ring wasn’t merely an offhanded compliment.
There was no reason for Zane to fight anyone for Aodhan though. Definitely no reason for him to kill for him. He didn’t like people knowing his weakness, hated how that brought them a step closer to the secrets both he and Lyra kept, but that was the extent of it. He certainly wouldn’t risk enraging Kelevra by having a physical standoff with his Royal Consort’s twin.
“I would prefer it if we were friends,” Zane said. “Even if your advice just now had ulterior motives.”
“Do you have friends, Doctor?” Sila asked.
“Do you?” He held his ground.
“You can call me any time,” Rin said, tugging his brother by the sleeve. “We’ll get going now.”
“Pavel is on the first level,” Sila called, that questionable grin back on his face as his brother pulled him away, muttering something Zane couldn’t hear under his breath.
The main level acted as a receiving area and branched off. One direction led to the elevators, with a seedier bar area tuckedaround the corner almost out of sight, while the other led to the first floor of the restaurant.
Zane got through the tall double doors with ease, greeted by two doormen who opened them with a flourish to receive him. He stepped into the large foyer, loafers clipping against white marble as he made his way toward the front desk. According to Sila, Pavel was somewhere here, but that didn’t narrow it enough for him, and he wasn’t about to waste any more of his precious time on this than needed.
There were several people behind the front desk, and all of them couldn’t seem to help but stare as he approached.
“I’m looking for—” he couldn’t even get a full sentence out before the woman directly in front of him beamed and cut him off, tossing her arm out to the side with a flourish.
“Of course, Mr. Solace. Mr. Hart is in the restaurant. Would you like me to escort you, or would you like to go on your own?” she asked in the sweetest voice he’d ever heard. Almost like she’d been explicitly coached to kill him with kindness if he ever arrived.
“I can go on my own,” he said, not even making it two steps before she was calling after him.
“You have full access to Concealed, Mr. Solace. Feel free to wander about at your pleasure. And if there’s anything I can help you with, my name is Tammy!”
If Zane liked Pavel as much as the guy claimed to like him, there was no way in hell he’d let any Tammys near him. Yet the staff had obviously been told to treat him this way and lavish him with attention.
Did that mean it was all one big game to him after all?
Zane kept going, heading down a long white hallway with gold detailing. The marble flooring continued here, leading into a sprawling restaurant with three levels, two of which overlooked the main floor. The entire wall across from theentrance was made of floor-to-ceiling windows, the view of the city from the upper levels probably spectacular.
Round tables with curved white leather booths filled the center of the room, with smaller square tables set against the window and larger party tables closer to the entrance side. The lighting was dim, golden orbs floating around, bobbing to simulate bubbles caught on the breeze. They kept the ambiance rich and romantic, setting the scene for diners. It obviously worked too, since the place was packed, but the volume was kept at an intimate level.
Until the sound of breaking glass to his right wrecked it.
Zane turned just in time to see a man lose his shit, practically shooting out of his seat with fury in his eyes. That anger was directed at one of the waitstaff, and it only took a second for Zane to recognize him.
Wasn’t that the guy Ledger had been helping out lately? He’d even gone to Madden and asked him to get him into Vail mid-semester.
Even though he’d recently been the one accosting a waiter, Zane moved to put himself between the angry customer and Ledger’s man before realizing, operating under the same set of subconscious rules he always had. If it had something to do with the Retinue, he protected it. Period.
Zane felt a hit to his shoulder, but it was nothing, didn’t even hurt as he twisted to move the waiter out of the way. He was so unconcerned by it that he took a second to ask, “Nikita, right? Are you okay?”
He nodded and then flinched, trying to pull Zane forward, no doubt in an attempt to help him avoid another blow.
It wasn’t necessary though.
Zane heard a grunt behind him, followed by a wave of shocked gasps and screams from surrounding tables. When he spun on his heels, he was met with broad shoulders and a longback, gaze momentarily trailing down toward the curve of a fit ass.
