A corner of Vera’s mouth quirks up. “She’ll deal. There’s no harm in some healthy competition. How many of you are working on that this week?”
“Me, Hojo, and Tanaka,” Hel says. “We also have some dancers coming in from Danika’s studio. Ri didn’t want to offer her girls, so we had to go to Danika.”
“Danika’s girls are good. It’s been a while since we worked together,” Vera says and takes a sip of her steaming green tea. “Remind me to host Danika and her girls sometime for dinner. When the trials are over and we’re not pressed for time.”
Hel salutes Vera. “You got it, boss.”
Vera looks at Bart. The tattooed man sits on the other end of the table. He’s on his third plate already. And here I thought I was a fast eater. “What are you up to, handsome?”
He looks up from his plate and puts the utensils down. “I’m accompanying Noblewoman Genji to her lake house this weekend. We leave on Thursday and should be back on Sunday evening. Her husband is out of town for business.”
Vera nods. “Good. Her lake house is beautiful. Have fun.”
“Oh, I will,” Bart says and flashes Vera a wild smile. “Noblewoman Genji has an appetite.”
“We know all about it,” Hojo says and giggles.
Tanaka scrunches her perfect doll nose. Even like that, she’s stunning. I wish I had her beauty.
“Vera, Nobleman Uringi requested you for the event next week. He needs an escort for a party Ezkai Reizei is throwing,” Hel says. “He precisely asked for you and nobody else.”
Vera sighs and nods. She cups her clay mug between her delicate palms and leans backwards in her chair. “I’ll talk to him and see what I can do. I might have time for a party. Especially if it’s one organized by the Talbots.”
“I could go instead of you, if you desire so,” Tanaka says quietly.
Bart and Hel exchange a glance. But don’t comment.
“Thank you, dear, for offering. Unfortunately, Nobleman Uringi is a stubborn man. If he wants me, he won’t accept anyone else no matter how beautiful they might be.”
Tanaka nods and returns to eating.
I find Vera’s studio politics fascinating. After living with her and her crew for weeks now, I am much more knowledgeable about what Caetras do.
After the dinner, everyone scatters around the studio. Vera and Bart go to the tattoo bench to work on finishing something on Bart’s body. Tanaka and Hojo retire to the home library tostudy something because they have yet to graduate their Caetra training. Whatever that might entail. Hel leaves to deal with some last-minute preparations. It’s only me and Jax left.
I sit on the leather armchair next to a fireplace. Since last night, I have trouble getting warm enough again. It’s like there is a permanent hole deep inside me.
I catch Jax staring at me, amusement dancing in his gaze.
“What are you looking at? Don’t you have something better to do? I’m surprised you’re not busy flirting with some poor girl who has terrible taste in men.”
A lazy smile spreads across his face. “I’m exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I need to be doing. Jealousy again, darling? Sorry to hear you’ve got such bad taste in men.”
The tips of my ears burn. My bad for attempting a conversation.
“Fuck you.”
Jax’s dark eyes sparkle. “You only have to say a word.”
The silence that stretches between us is charged. I don’t know how it always happens so quickly. I clear my throat and revert my gaze. I focus on watching the logs in the fireplace get devoured by wild flames.
After a long pause, I ask, “What happened last night? When I—when I used emotional manipulation to kill those thugs? What did you feel?”
I don’t dare look at Jax. I’m terrified of what his face might reveal.
“I was filled with dreadful fear,” he says. “It rose out of nowhere, and even though I understood it was you working your magic on those men…it was still, well, terrifying.”
I swallow. It was so reckless of me to attempt to use my power like this, with Jax and Vera right next to me…I could have harmed them. They could be dead now, just like those four Caligos.
