But this is his house. And Vyse is his contact. It seems like the kind of thing he should know about.
I pull out my phone.
REGINA
Vyse is here. Thought you should know.
VILLENEUVE
I’m already on my way.
That was…fast.
Of course he’s on his way. His wards probably alerted him to Vyse’s presence the moment the siren set foot on campus, like a fly in a spider’s web.
I pocket my phone just as the drawing room door bangs open.
Micah comes through like he’s expecting a fight, shoulders squared and hands clenched. His glasses are slightly crooked, which means he ran here.
“Where’s the creep?”
His eyes land on Vyse.
Vyse smiles and the room gets chillier.
“Well, if it isn’t budget Clark Kent,” he says in that silken voice. “Miss me?”
Micah freezes. “You—uh.”
“Eloquent as always.”
Micah looks like he’s trying to decide between fight and flight and has somehow ended up stuck squarely in the middle, which is just standing there awkwardly with clenched fists.
“Where’s Villeneuve?” he finally manages. “Sadie needs through the ward.”
Killian’s head snaps toward him. “You brought your sister?”
“She insisted.” Micah’s shrug is defensive. “You know how she is.”
I do know how she is. Sadie’s version of “insisted” probably involved threats of hexing someone’s junk.
The door opens again before anyone can respond.
Villeneuve enters first, looking so composed you’d never know I found him collapsed in his office three days ago. Behind him comes Sadie, her blue-black hair slightly windswept and her combat boots leaving faint marks on the expensive carpet.
She stops just inside the doorway, taking in the scene. Her gaze moves from Killian by the window to Rowan on the couchto Sean still hovering near the tea service like he’s guarding it from further insults.
Then her eyes land on Vyse.
And Vyse’s frigid blue eyes arealreadylocked on her.
Vyse stands.
The motion is sharp rather than fluid as usual. His eyes glow faintly as they sweep over Sadie from head to toe, lingering on her facial piercings, her band t-shirt, the stacked silver rings on every finger.
“Well, well.” His voice drops to a low, intimate purr. “And who isthisravishing creature?”
Sadie blinks. “I fucking hope you mean Sean.”
