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“Why, thank you,” he mocked.
“Even so, you have always made your intentions abundantly clear,” she said, her tone turning more fiery and intense with each word, “to eradicate each and every one of our brother’s lineage. Which is why I don’t believe anything, not even love—”
“I am not in love with her,” he said to no one as neither of them was listening.
“—will stop him.”
Laria looked at him with such loathing that, for a flash of an instant, Kenton wished it could have been different between them. As with the brother, he’d always held a measure of respect for Laria despite his hate for her family. Honorable, though to a different cause, he had no quarrel with her other than their very different opinion on how to keep their families safe.
“Believe what you will. I really don’t care, my lady.”
He used the old title to remind her of their common origins. Of the courtly values with which they’d both been raised. He had no desire to be followed each and every moment by this woman. Unlike Lawrence, she would not be subtle.
“But my word does mean something, my lady, and listen well.” He could not take these words back. But neither did he wish to. “I will not kill Alessandra Fiore, either now or after the temporary truce is over. You’ve spent seven hundred years attempting to convince me not all Cheld are dangerous. It seems you’ll have a chance to prove it. All I ask is that you not tell her the full truth of what we are. Yet.”
God help him. His brothers would kill him for this, and Kenton would deserve it. Part of him felt he’d lost his way, but it didn’t matter. He was in the thick of this situation, like it or not, and he’d follow through on his words.
“We shall see,” Laria said finally. “But know this, you pompous ass. If you attempt to harm her, I will be there to stop you. You will not prevail. Not this time.”
He didn’t doubt it.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Kenton said. “I have an assignation to prepare for.”
Laria’s expression—all ladylike affront—made him smile, and he was still smiling two blocks later as he arrived home. He needed a drink and a shower, in that order.
An interesting night lay ahead.
