I shook my head and drew my fingers through my hair. “You weren’t there last night, G. He barely notices her, hardly even stands her. And he won’t be around her most nights to pick up the trace. All he cares about is having a hole to fuck, not what’s beneath the skin. And he’s so focused on breaking her that he won’t notice the layer of protection thickening her blood. You wouldn’t even notice if you didn’t bait me into revealing it.” Because that was what all this had been. He smelled her blood on me and jumped to a conclusion I acknowledged only out of friendship. “No one will notice.”
“And if you’re wrong?” was all he asked in response.
“Then it’s a good thing I’ve had you as a sparring partner for the last twenty-odd years,” I replied, relaxing again. “The link gives me access to her thoughts, her location, and her feelings. Once I obtain a better understanding of her, I can master her.”
He busied himself with his drink for a long moment, his black irises disappearing into his widening pupils, the blood satisfying him immensely. The flick of his gaze to the bar in the corner showcased the simpering waitress.
Of course she’d used her own blood to taunt him.
Desperate little demoness.
She wasn’t even his type. Grigory preferred badass females who played hard to get, not little pixie toys who would strip on a single command.
He set the mug down, his distaste evident in the downward curl of his lips, but he didn’t comment. We both knew he’d either let her down harshly or kill her, depending on his mood. She’d fucked up his drink. Grigory didn’t take kindly to that.
“Did you prod her mind last night?” he prompted. “Dig deep into her conscious to learn her likes and dislikes? Determine how best to manipulate her?”
“No. I fostered a healthy night’s rest.” Something she had desperately needed. “And put on a show for Necros.” Which had been a hell of a lot harder than I anticipated because all I’d wanted to do was fuck the beauty in my arms, but I refused to defile her in such a way. Pleasuring her in front of the masses had been degrading enough.
“Have you considered why you haven’t dug into her mind?”
“Because she’s not ready.”
He tsked, shaking his head. “A poor excuse and you know it. Think harder, brother. I think you’ll find you pity her and wish to play the role of knight, not conqueror.” He held up his finger. “Emotions are circling you, Adrik. Specifically, fury. And considering your goal, I’d say it’s not your right to be pissed. Not when you plan to destroy her on a level she’ll never recover from.”
“What is with the pep talk this afternoon?”
“Isn’t that why we set up this meeting?” he countered, his tone knowing. “To ensure that I kept you in line? That you wouldn’t forget your overall purpose? Bonding to a female as you did fucks with the mind. We both know that. I’m here to keep you grounded and focused.”
“By reminding me that I have a job to do,” I muttered, glancing upward at the purple-tinted sky of Noxia Kingdom. “I already miss it here,” I admitted, palming the back of my neck and blowing out a long breath. “Necros reeks of death.”
Grigory chuckled. “Soon it will be lost to the sulfur pits of hell.”
“Now that I can celebrate,” I replied, amused once more.
Until I felt a pang rattle my chest—Valora’s panic. I winced beneath the onslaught, my heart racing in time with hers.
Grigory frowned. “Is she all right?”
I pulled on our tenuous tether, searching for the cause of her overwhelming fear, and growled at what I found. “He’s just informed her of who she’ll be bedding tonight.”
“Already?” My best friend glanced at his watch. “It’s only five o’clock.”
“Apparently, Necros wants her to get a head start.” The bastard planned to give her to one of his most lethal lieutenants. Lavios. I’d wanted to kill the sadistic demon last night but knew it would have infuriated Necros to lose such a valuable soldier. It also would have painted me in a suspicious light, something I desired to avoid. “He’s going to rip her apart.”
Grigory sighed. “What can you do?”
“Kill him,” I replied immediately.
“And risk everything in the process over a woman you hardly know?” He shook his head. “You’ve done what you can, protected her in your own way. It’s up to Valora now. Maybe she’ll surprise you, brother.”
Yeah, that was doubtful. I’d watched her shut down last night and accept her fate without much of a fight. Even the slight show of fury she’d given me died beneath my touch. “I need to get back,” I said, pushing away from the table. It would take me thirty minutes to traverse the realms via the teleportation network, but at least I would be nearby should she need me to intervene.
Grigory gave me a look. “Don’t do anything stupid, Adrik.”
“Like kill Necros’s favorite lieutenant?”
“Yeah, like that,” he replied, his brow coming down sternly. “This girl has gotten into your head, and you barely know her.”