That sucked but it was true.
I was also glad they seemed in good spirits, assuming that meant it was going well with the ancients they’d invited. I smiled when I saw Ricco and he was a perfect gentleman, commenting in front of many others that my partner was very lucky and talented.
“You might not be so light on your feet, but I’m very sure you’ve got moves that would make any woman swoon too, Ricco,” I replied with a wink, most of his party chuckling.
He deserved the chest puffing moment. After all the help he and his people had been—howhonorablethey’d been in our dealings, he definitely deserved it.
Several faces looked familiar, but others didn’t. I was a bit confused at that and also trying to ignore Dylan staring at me. He’d been better but… He wasn’t my problem anymore.
I excused myself to leave, but a wolf asked for a moment, dipping his head to me. I swallowed down my nerves when I felt his power and agreed. As much as I wanted to ask one of the others to come with me, I knew it would look bad when I was a councilwoman.
I had to stand on my own.
The wolf took it all in and I ignored the worried desires of the demons closest to me.
“I didn’t want to scare you, young one,” the wolf said gently. “But my Alpha sent me in his place. You made a lifelong friend by what you did and he’s made it clear that is his stance with the wolf council. He also looks forward to the chance to work with you and bring all supes into the future you want and have shown of Germany.”
I sensed his desires even if they were a bit muffled since he was so old. “And this message was important enough to tell me face-to-face. Your Alpha is kind in showing such respect to a young lust demon when he knows how we’re treated.”
“But you worry I ruined it by making you move off to the side and speaking to you alone,” he said for me, not making me point it out. “You can make enemies by having such powerful friends. He wanted the decision to be yours how you handle this information instead of risking another mess from good intentions. So many large egos make idiots.”
He flinched and looked over my shoulder with a frown.
“Sorry, I forgot the way to the bathroom,” Dylan’s deep voice said. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
The wolf snorted but then dipped his head to me. I thanked him and his Alpha and told him that I hope he enjoyed our hospitality because it was given with the best of intentions.
See, I could do politics… Sometimes.
The wolf left and I turned my head slightly so Dylan could see me better, but I didn’t have to look at him. “I’m okay. I can handle—”
“Of course you can. I just needed to take a leak,” he muttered as he moved up next to me. “I’m not trying to mess with anything that’s not my business.”
I thought he was going to leave it at that, but then he paused when I turned to head towards the portal.
“You were beyond beautiful when you danced,” he said so softly I barely heard it. “I’ve never seen anyone more graceful than you, Jasmine. I’m glad they liked your idea.”
He was gone by the time I turned around.
Not that I would have known what to say, but… Damn him.
Damn fucking bear.
19
The next day, I had a lunch meeting in between the choreography marathon. I knew who it involved and could guess what was going on, but it made me nervous since it was the twins.
“You can say no and we’re fine, love,” Owen promised me and gave me a soft kiss. “You and what we have is the priority. Nothing more.”
That helped, especially when Evan said about the same thing.
Joshua actually took the lead which surprised me. A few other ancients who were VPs were there and that surprised me too… Especially when Natalia was locked down and clearly hesitant.
“I want us to buy their club,” Joshua started with a bang. “They want to sell it and I think—we’re not branching out into normal dance clubs tomorrow, but just as your idea of trying something new was smart, I think this could be.”
“You want a test case,” Natalia muttered. “See if we can get more demons in to work at a real, nice club instead of the whores.” She let out a long breath and looked away when we all flinched. “I know I do the job of being the public face well, but I’m not even the lust demon of us and that’s all I hear. That is what people will say.”
“She’s not wrong, but I also don’t think it’s a bad idea,” I said quietly. “Diversifying never is and we know the industry. There’s no reason we can’t have two different types of clubs in one city when it’s one like Denver. It gives our people living there more protection too.”
