“Yes, it’s nice to keep things in focus. Selling off pieces that don’t fit or aren’t cherished anymore.”
Evander laughs. “Selling? Right, well... I suppose you’re set on staying.” He stands, and he’s even taller than the shirtless grump. He’s got a presence about him. It’s dangerous. I can only imagine what the girls back in the apartment would say if I showed them a picture.
“I...” Fake it until you make it. Right. “I’m the right person for the job. I will not fail Cloud Rift. I mean, the Cloud Rift collection.”
Evander’s face turns to the side, but I catch the smirk before I’m looking at the back of his head. “See that you don’t.” He walks to the door. And my stomach goes out from under me.
“Wait, Mr. Slate. I will sign the NDA, but I need you to know that I have sent some pictures to my sister. One of the outside turrets, and others of the entryway. Part of themosaic, not the whole thing, only a small part by my feet.” I get my phone and show him the shots I took.
There’s a quizzical wince on his face, but it vanishes quickly. “I see. Well, thank you for telling me. The one outside, of course, is fine. Anyone flying overhead or coming up the drive could see it. But this one ...? It’s also fine. The parameters of the NDA are laid out clearly. Be sure to read it thoroughly. Leo says dinner is ready and to make your way downstairs to the dining room.” He nods and slips out the door before I can get out my questions. Does he know where Percy is? Or where the dining room is?
4
EVANDER
Iglare back at the latch on what is to be our mate’s room. “Oh Leo,” I bellow as I race down the worn, circular, stone stairs to his office—part pantry, part office, with a desk piled high with papers that I’m sure are from Kieren’s grandmother’s time. “Leo?” I say into the empty space and pivot to the kitchen.
There are two cooks here today, both from our home. I’m not sure where the head chef is? The cooks and other staff take turns coming over. They incline their heads to me. I’m the right wing of the prince—not something my family thought would ever happen to anyone in our line. But fuck, there are worse things than being destined to be in a thunder with the prince of Crest Wing.
“Have you seen Leo?”
The two chefs look up at me like I’ve lost my scales.
“Leopold—have you seen him?”
“Not in the last ten minutes, sir. Have you checked the dining room?”
I wave my thanks and dart through the kitchen to enter at the side of the dining room. Leopold’s straightening forks on a table set for four. Four.
“There you are, Leo.”
His head snaps to me.
“Leopold, you’ve put the human in our mate’s chambers.”
“Because that’s where your mate should sleep.”
“Really? You’ve hired dozens of potential mates over the years. Are you just trying to push this one on us out of desperation? I felt nothing.”
The Ancestral’s eyes flick to the ground in front of my feet, then scan up my body. The male knows I’m lying. It’s why I didn’t shake her hand. But that doesn’t matter. “She hasn’t met all of you yet. Or touched all of you yet. The ceremony will decide.”
“It’s preposterous—” I cut myself off because what I think matters not. Having respect for the Ancestral of a prince—that matters. Fuck, he deserves more respect than an actual king. I’m sure he’s seen some shit over the years. Plenty of shit. And a hell of a lot of it has come from us.
“She’s the one. You will see.”
“A human?” We’ve had other humans, though most of our mate candidates were shifters.
“A human.” He nods and polishes another fork. “Did you tell your guest about dinner?”
“I told her.”
Leopold blinks at me. “And did you tell her how to find her way?”
“No. If she’s the magical mate, surely she’ll be able to scent out dinner with her human nose.”
“Very well. I suppose it will be good to have a mate who hates and resents you when the time comes.” With his whitegloves on, he places a well-polished fork next to the light blue china plate.
I look Leopold up and down. Kieren’s family Ancestral. Not every dragon family is lucky enough to have one. They are a blessing but also a pain in my ass. I cross my arms over my chest. Shit, he’s right, of course. “I will find her.”
