Page 32 of A Sweet Destruction

Even then, she knew better than to expose a potential weakness in front of the enemy. “While your protectiveness in much appreciated, sweetheart,” she said, obviously throwing in that term of endearment just to fuck with me, “I was having a nice conversation with Officer Edeka here. What were you saying?” she finished, directing a brilliant smile back at the still-shaking officer.

“I was sent to give you—well, technically your prince and princess that are over here—this letter,” he said, extending a piece of folded paper with an unsteady hand. Though I recognized the Muli royal seal on the paper, I snatched it out of Esme’s curious little hand before she could touch it.

“That could be poisoned,” she muttered, with less irritation and more restraint. I let myself pause and look at her, taking in the hard set of her jaw and the slightly wild look in her eyes.

I shouldn’t have felt as much satisfaction as I did realizing what was going on. The Bond was clearly back, if not in some small part, and was not happy with the fact that I’d placed myself in danger.

Long repressed parts of myself sparked to life, wanting to prod and tease. Luckily, the rational part of my brain was still in control and knew what would happen if I let Esme in on what I’d discovered. She’d shut down so fast and so brutally, she’d probably hurt herself on the way.

Besides, I had to be smart about this, especially if I was in for my own troubles with a fresh Bond.

Forcing myself to refocus on the task at hand, I responded to Esme simply, “I’m reading this, continue your conversation.”

I had no interest in speaking to that officer anyway. I spared him one more look, noticing a fair bit of obvious appreciation in his eyes. God, I hoped his Match was platonic if he was looking at Esme like that.

My true opinion on that look was much darker, a fact that came out in the brutal way I opened the letter, splitting apart the seal with no mercy.

Dear Princess Edelstenne (and other interested parties reading this letter),

Though we have mutually decided to end our engagement, I believe there still may be a positive relationship between us—of a political nature, that is. I’d like to invite you, along with four delegates of choice, on a diplomatic visit to one of our nearby cities, Salona. There, I hope to discuss plans for a revised treaty, as I believe you will be a more effective representative for your family and government.

I understand any hesitations to accept my invitation, especially regarding your personal safety. Allow me to express my sincerest apologies that you were harmed by one of my own. As reassurance, I am prepared to allow you to house one of my trusted associates, someone who I believe you’ll find great value in speaking to while I do the same with your delegates. I have instructed Officer Edeka to remain nearby until you have made your decision.

I would recommend that your Captains Esme Prescott and Ford Langley accompany you. I’d certainly like to meet the individuals who have such a widely renowned entrepreneurial spirit and presence on my planet.

Lastly, I believe that you understand better than most how thin our patience has worn. Please do consider that when making your decision.

At your service,

Caspian Silverthorn XIV

“I’ll be just over the hill,” Edeka was saying as I finished the letter, and I could tell Esme was only paying half attention to him, too busy on trying to subtly gauge my reaction to what I was reading.

Silently, I handed her the letter and waited for Edeka to place his attention on me.

Once he did, his blinks speeding up in fear, I demanded, “Hand over the pack and drop your weapons on the ground. If I don’t believe you, I will search you.”

With bumbling speed, Edeka shed himself of a gun at his hip, a knife at his thigh, and another pistol at his ankle. He turned his attention to his pack, looping it off his shoulders at the same moment Esme had finished reading.

Based on the time that had passed, I assumed she’d read it at least three times, needing to search for new clues and break down the handwriting and syntax and word choices again, despite memorizing what she’d read on the first pass through.

Though she’d never told me outright, she had a near perfect memory. Despite my head being up my ass for the better part of the last decade, I wasn’t stupid.

She’d been drafted right out of a children’s facility and trained specifically for service. Though she was a brilliant fighter, it was her mind that the Empire was interested in.

That fact had always been able to push me into a state of anger that felt capable of snapping my control like it was no more than a twig. I didn’t want to think about what would happen when the Bond caught wind of that.

Esme folded the letter back up and stuck it in her back pocket.

Based on the sounds of commotion approaching, Edeka’s presence had become known to the rest of the camp.

I kept my eyes on him, not satisfied with the idea that he just randomly stumbled upon Esme.

“How long?” I barked at him, feeling all too pleased at the way he flinched in response.

“I’ve been here since this morning.” He seemed like a fairly competent soldier—must have been to have hidden out undetected for several hours.

“Were you asked to deliver the message to her directly?” I asked quickly, knowing that things were about to get a lot more chaotic and I might not be able to ask what I wanted. Freya was normally the one in charge of interrogations, though I often helped.