I discreetly touched my ear. “Nash?”
“Nothing on cameras,” his voice came through my earpiece.
I gritted my teeth. I wanted this over.
There was still a chance Lark would run in some misguided attempt to protect me. If Dean didn’t show tonight…
My hand tightened on her hip. I wasn’t letting her go. There was nowhere she could run that I wouldn’t follow.
No cost I wouldn’t pay to keep her safe at my side.
It was humbling to realize that I’d give up everything I’d amassed for her.
She spun toward me, her hands to my chest. “You’re tense.”
“I want Dean to make his play.”
“Where’s the patience that the Reaper is notorious for?”
I cupped her cheek. Her lips were bright red to match her dress. “I’ve no patience when it comes to keeping you safe.”
“You’ve got to stop saying things like that.” Her voice was breathy.
“No, you need to get used to hearing them.” I tugged her closer. “I have more to say to you.”
I saw flicker of fear in her eyes. “Bastian…”
“In time. When you’re ready.”
“What if I’m never ready?”
“You will be.”
She rolled her eyes. “So arrogant.”
Then she pulled back. “Screw Dean, I’ll get us some champagne. I know you’ll only be serving the good stuff.”
I watched her head toward the closest server. Her red dress billowed out behind her. Dragging my eyes off her, I did another scan of the room.
I spotted all my friends and caught Nash’s gaze. He shook his head.Dammit.
“Bastian, such a lovely party,” a booming voice said.
I turned and saw the local governor. “Joe, good to see you.”
“Yes, yes.” He shook my hand and gestured at the woman at his side. “I wanted to introduce you to Kathy. Our new mayor. Kathy, Bastian here works on Chance Tyler’s team here at the Avernus.”
I made small talk and extricated myself as quickly as I could. Then I frowned. Lark still hadn’t returned.
My gaze skimmed the crowd until I spotted red.
One of the male Egyptian servers had his arm around her, hurrying her out of the ballroom. I stiffened, my pulse going crazy. From the way he was angled, he was holding a weapon jammed to her side.
Fuck. I touched my ear. “Dean is here, dressed as a server. He’s got Lark.”
I heard a chorus of curses.
She hadn’t activated her earpiece. Either she hadn’t had the chance, or she was trying to deal with him herself.
