I feel Gaeton go still at my back. We’re staying in Hades’s territory right now, renting places in a neutral space while we figure out what the fuck we’re doing if we’re not generals for the Man in Black any longer. Gaeton and I made our choices separately, but like in all things since I showed up in Carver City, we seem to be endlessly on parallel tracks. We can’t afford to ignore a summons from Hades.
I give Aurora a long look. “Since when do you run messages for the old man?”
Her expression goes a little sharp. “Since I took over Tink’s old position as Meg’s second-in-command.”
That, I didn’t expect. Tink was mean enough to keep even the Dominants in line when she needed to. Aurora is … not. But Meg isn’t the type of woman to make mistakes when it comes to the club, so she must see something I haven’t.
Still, it’s in my nature to push. “We’re a little busy.”
Aurora props a hand on her hip. She’s wearing a tiny white lace slip that hugs her curves and barely covers her enough to be considered decent. “That wasn’t a suggestion, Beast. Not for either of you. Hades wants to see you, and the longer you make him wait, the less likely the conversation is going to go the way you want it to.”
I raise my brows. “Someone’s been taking lessons from Meg.”
She doesn’t blink. “Stop patronizing me and get back there, or I’m going to have to get Allecto involved.”
“Shit, Aurora.” Gaeton huffs out a laugh. “Beast is just being a dick. No need to bring out the big guns.” He steps past me, not quite shouldering me aside, but damn close. “Lead the way.”
She gives Gaeton a smile. “Hey, big guy.”
“Looking good, Aurora. Like the dress thing. It new?” He falls into step beside her, chatting easily as if he’s not holding Isabelle in his arms, leaving me to trail behind. It’s just as well. Gaeton is better at charming people than I am. Likely because I never bother to try. It’s easier to intimidate if you speak less, because it gives your enemy no traction to guess your thoughts. Gaeton prefers a different strategy.
She leads us back to Hades’s public study. It’s decorated in shades of gray and carefully positioned lights that leave the man behind his massive desk bathed in shadows. Hades doesn’t need all the theatrics to intimidate, but he sure as hell seems to like them.
Gaeton doesn’t bother to take a chair and I’m content to follow his lead. I glance at Isabelle to find that she’s fallen asleep in his arms. My chest gives an uncomfortable pang, but I stifle it. She came here with every intention of doing whatever it took to bring us back. If she accepted the price we laid out, then she has only herself to blame.
Besides, she needs this little catnap. Dawn is a long ways off, and we have a whole hell of a lot to compress into the two-week timeline.
Hades steeples his fingers in front of his mouth, bringing our attention back to him. “You two are dancing a fine line with this one.”
I give him my full attention. “That’s our business.”
He pauses, letting the silence tick out, letting me know exactly who holds the position of power in this place. Him. Not me. It shouldn’t irritate me so fucking much, but here we are. He sighs. “War is everyone’s business.”
Gaeton goes stiff next to me, but I don’t look at him. “Say what you mean to say, Hades. You’re wasting our time.”
“As you wish.” Hades, leans forward, bringing himself into the light. “You are living in my territory out of the grace of my goodwill. I highly suggest you do nothing to that woman that will antagonize Cordelia Belmonte. She will go to extreme lengths to protect her youngest sister, and that includes doing the equivalent of cutting off her nose to spite her face. If you both are removed from the equation, it’s entirely likely she will lose part—or all—of her territory to Ursa. You know what that means.”
It means the carefully balanced ecosystem of Carver City will potentially collapse. War between two territories is the kind of conflict that will send waves through the rest of the city, affecting everyone. I’ve seen it happen before. It’s why I ended up here in the first place, fleeing a losing war in Sabine Valley. Regardless of what happens with Isabelle, I refuse to repeat history. We’ll ensure she’s safe and the territory is stabilized. It’s held this long. It will hold for two more weeks.
I exchange a look with Gaeton. He nods, letting me lead this conversation. A fucking first, though I suppose that’s not strictly true any longer. Since our respective relationships with Isabelle detonated, some of the animosity between us collapsed with it. Not all, not by a long shot, but I can stand next to him without wanting to cut his fucking throat. An improvement.