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Zee showed him his middle finger.

They were so into each other.

With a sigh, Reynard released me. “If I return with you, I will lose all I have left—this company, my wealth, everything. I’ll have nothing but the clothes I wear now. What use will I be to you and the hotel?”

“From the sign over the door on the way in,” Zee drawled. “Looks like Gideon already fucked you into submission anyway.”

“I’m . . . That is . . . They’ve already replaced my name?” he asked, sounding hollow.

“The swanky fountain has his initials on it too,” Zee confirmed. “You’re fucked.”

Victor’s face fell. “I hoped I’d have longer. I wasn’t able to shut the software down. There’s more to do. I’m not ready. If I stay, I can make a difference.”

“Maybe,” I said, drawing his gaze back to me. “Or maybe Princess Daisy is coming here right now to grind your bones to dust. You have a better family now. We care about you.” I glanced again at Zee, who rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that worth fighting for?”

Zee raised a finger. “I object, Your Honor. I never said I cared for Fancy Fangs.”

“And it was never your money that mattered,” I added . . . Although, I was going to have to cancel Gremlins Gone and find a cheaper way to solve our gremlin problem. “Come back with us. Whatever this is, walk away. While you still can.”

Reynard glanced between us both, then around at what had been his office and was now some kind of torture chamber. “What will happen to my staff?”

“If you come with us, you’ll be alive to figure that out.”

Victor glanced at Zee again.

“We can fix you a new sex den at the hotel, if you like,” Zee said, then caught himself and shivered. “Ugh. What the fuck was that? Me being nice to him? Vampires suck. Fuck off.”

Reynard’s lips ticked, a sure sign he was smiling inside. “Alright. We should leave. Getting out will be easier than it must have been for you to get inside. How did you get down here without being stopped?”

“Zee glamored himself.”

“The chance of me packing all of this magnificence away for a second time is exactly zero,” Zee said, gesturing at himself. “So don’t ask. Now I know where I’m going, I can poof out, but you two will have to walk. Can you do that, Daddy Vampire? Without getting caught, or kidnapped, or put in a pie, or some other fucking drama that I will be forced by Adam’s sad face to rescue you from?”

Reynard glowered, and rolled his sleeves back down. “I am sure I can manage one elevator journey and a walk through the lobby.”

“Good. Then I’ll meet you outside. I’ll text the driver, because it’s sunny and your precious vampire complexion will fry. If you don’t show in five minutes, imma lose my shit and cause a fucking riot in the lobby.” Zee smiled at me, then planted a quick kiss on my forehead. “Be good and bring Daddy Vampire home.” He poofed away.

His words sealed it. This was the right thing to do. I held Victor’s gaze. “Are you ready to come home?”

His hard, steely gaze softened with emotion he’d rarely let others see. “I am, Adam.”

We were going home. All three of us. Together. My heart did a happy little leap in my chest. “So, are we going to just walk right out and hope nobody notices?”

He held the office door open for me, but after I’d passed through, he lingered a while, taking one last look at his ex-office. “You are right. I never liked it here.”

I’d known that, as soon as I’d first seen his office. He’d been forced into a role he despised, but now he was free. It felt good. With a true smile, he clicked the door closed, and we walked the short distance back to the elevator.

But there was just one thing chipping away at the happy vibes. One question I had to have answered. And as the elevator doors pinged open, I asked, “Did the prophecy factor into your leaving?”

I couldn’t look at his face and see the truth there, fearing I knew the answer. “It’s just that you left right after you read the guide and learned about me, and I’d understand it—” We stepped in and the doors glided closed. The elevator lurched upward, swooping my stomach. “If that’s what it was, I get it. Everyone leaves, or they die. Or I have to uhm . . . deal with them. Permanently.” I glanced over and caught his raised eyebrow, then quickly looked away. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“I doubt you could,” he said, with a hint of humor.

I smirked and tucked my thumbs into my pockets. “I definitely could.”

A little curl of his lips teased a smile. “You would have to be inordinately strong.”

“I am.” It felt good to finally speak the truth, to be free of the lies. “In fact, I am super strong.”