“No. They’re not.” Lucien took a slow step forward. “But theyarehere because of you.”
Dillon raised his chin to meet the challenge. “They’re here because you kidnapped the heiress of Snowflake Corp.”
“Rook,” Lucien called without looking away from Dillon. “Come here, please.”
Oh God, here we go.
Padding in the white moccasins I’d found in the wardrobe, I braced myself.
Lucien grabbed me the second I was close.
His fingers burned. Faint steam curled from his collar.
Whispering in my ear, he said, “I need to touch you. I’m doing my best to keep my temper but...it’s hard.”
Sucking in a breath, I slipped into the glacier that’d wrapped itself tightly around my heart. I teased a few tendrils of ice free and pictured them soaking into Lucien. I still didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but it seemed to work as he relaxed a little, shot me a faint smile, then turned back to glower at Dillon. “So you agree that they’re here to protect Rook.”
Dillon sensed a trap but nodded. “That is literally their only job.”
“Good.” Lucien smirked. “In that case, they now work for me, and I expect them to come to Brimstone with me to murder a few people.”
“Say what now?”
“You heard me.” Lucien squeezed my hand. “We’re all going.”
“Ugh, do I have to?” I pouted dramatically. “I don’t want to see another dead body.”
“I’ll turnyouinto a dead body if you’re not careful.” Lucien pressed a kiss to my hair, making me shiver like an addict—hopelessly hooked on a substance that was dangerous to my health.
Dillon’s lips thinned in disapproval. “Rook? Are you seriously going along with this?”
I didn’t like the thought of more bloodshed, but...I’d promised to stand by Lucien in his revenge. I nodded like the ruler I was supposed to be. “Listen to him. Whatever he commands, just assume it’s my wish too.”
Dillon rolled his eyes at Lucien. “They aren’t your personal assassins, you know.”
“You brought them here, so yes, they are. Uncle Wen?” Looking around, Lucien frowned. “Where the hell did he go? He was literally just—”
“Here I am, Master Luxin.” Uncle Wen appeared by one of the koi ponds, a bag of fish food in his hands. “What can I help you with?”
“Do we have enough pavilions to house fifteen men?”
“Ah, probably not. However...I can find accommodations for them in the village.”
“Fine.” Lucien nodded. “Make sure they’re all fed and rested. Give them what they require.”
“Of course.”
Dillon never took his eyes off me. “You sure this is what you want, Rook?”
My heart swelled with gratitude that my grumpy bodyguard wasn’t my enemy. That I got to keep him. The urge to hug him came strong, but I doubted Lucien would be able to control himself if I did, so I settled with a smile instead. “There are people hunting him which means they’re hunting me. If you can help Lucien defeat those who locked him up, then...we can all go back to Iceland and figure out the rest.”
Dillon raised his hand as if to pat my head like he sometimes did but thought better of it as Lucien tensed beside me. “You’re definitely different but...it suits you.” Sighing, he added, “I’ll go get the men settled then, and—”
“Oh, you’re not leaving,” Lucien cut in. “They’re coming with me. Today. I’m not wasting another minute.”
“Going where?”
“Were you not listening?” Lucien stalked toward the gate. “To kill, of course.”
