“No, Susan.”Buzz. “I would never do that!”Buzz. “Now, please call off your dog. I’m bleeding, for Christ’s sake!”
He was. His light blue jeans were stained dark with his blood.
I shrugged. “He’s not my dog, Vincent.” I turned away. I couldn’t even look at him anymore. “Of all the things you’ve done to me, this feels like the thing that might kill me. My sweet Rusty,” I whispered. “He never hurt anyone. And he loved you.”
“It’s not my fault! He started peeing on the rugs, and Seraphina is allergic… Ow! You little… Call this damn animal off now, Susan!”
“I told you, he’s not my dog. I don’t own him, Vince. You can threaten me all you like, but it won’t get you anywhere this time.” Tears flooded my eyes, but I didn’t want him to see me cry, so I walked towards the buzzer and hit thethumbpad. The door clicked open. “Don’t come back, Vincent. I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“Ouch! You bitch! You fucking old hag— Ahh! I swear to God, Susan, I’m going to get my lawyers out here so fast, and they’re gonna—Ow! You little… My lawyers are going to take this building, and your new salary, and everything else! I’m going to— Ahhh! My balls!”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Violet House had made me my own private elevator. I saw it as soon as I walked inside the atrium—beautiful scarlet and gold embossed doors with an old-fashioned bronze birdcage around it. It had one button, a security thumbpad. I smiled sadly. I’d just been thinking about how much I desperately needed some solitude, and my House had given me the peace I needed.
“Thanks, Violet,” I whispered. The birdcage gates slid aside, and the doors opened. I entered and pressed the single button. Penthouse.
Above the door, two lights flashed, one after the other. Guest Quarters. Main Suite. Guest Quarters. Main Suite.
Violet House was asking me if I wanted to check on Audrina. “Is she okay? I thought she’d probably be asleep by now.” It was well past midnight.
The Main Suite light clicked on and stayed on. Okay, Audrina was fine, and Violet wanted me to get some rest. I’d check in with Audrina tomorrow and make a plan to deal with her horrible mother.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. I pushedthe birdcage gate aside and stepped directly into my beautiful drawing room.
My heart gave a stutter.
Donovan was there, by the window, looking out. He’d changed out of his beautiful dinner jacket and trousers and was back in his princely fae attire—tight black leather pants with a loose black shirt.
“You’re okay,” I exhaled. I hadn’t realized it, but the fear niggled at me like a thorn stuck in my foot. It still did, in fact. For some reason, I was still worried about him. But he was here, and he was safe.
The rest of his company would be fine, too. Donovan wouldn’t be here if they weren’t. They must be in their quarters, resting.
Donovan turned to face me and smiled. “I am.”
I swallowed roughly. He’d left the buttons of his shirt undone, as if he’d thrown it on as an afterthought. I must have interrupted him getting changed. The glorious, hard muscles of his chest were on display.
He took a step closer to me. “I have been waiting for you, Chosen.” The candlelight flickered, throwing the features of his blisteringly handsome face into greater contrast. Those cheekbones. That hard, masculine jaw. The curve of his lips as he smiled at me softly. Oh, God.
I felt… terrified. “Y- Y- You have?”
He nodded, walking closer, his footsteps slow and deliberate. “I wanted to talk with you before you retired for the evening.” Dark emerald eyes bored into mine, devouring me.
“You did?” My voice squeaked. “About what?”
His eyes dropped to my collarbones. “The future. What will happen after all the spark stones are closed.” He came closer still, and I caught a hint of his scent—dangerous, explosive like whiskey and fireworks.
“What…” I swallowed. My heart beat wildly, like it was trying to escape out of my chest. “What about the future?”
His beautiful lips curled up again. “We should discuss the prophecy.”
“P–P–P–Prophecy?” My knees shook.
“Hmm.” The low rumble of assent came from deep within his chest and vibrated through me. “You have a say in your own fate, Chosen, but you must be curious about the prophecy.”
I remembered Donovan mentioning a prophecy once or twice before. The first time, in fact, he’d shouted so loud my ears hurt.Damn the prophecy.
