“My sister-in-law, the current Panthera pack leader, also turned out to be the long-lost daughter of the Souris’ royal family.”
Etienne was incredulous. “You’re one lucky motherfucker.” While alliances were, of course, not easily broken, it was a different matter altogether when they were strengthened by filial ties.
“If you’re in the lookout for a bride,” Domenico drawled, ” I do still have two younger sisters…” He paused. “Unless, of course, the rumors are true?”
Etienne grimaced. “So you’ve heard about it as well.”
“The sound of hearts breaking over the news could be heard across the Everglades…or so my wife says.”
Domenico’s sardonic expression had Etienne fighting back a grin. From what he knew of the prince’s mate, the words were exactly the kind the rather whimsical Misty would say.
“It is true then?”
Etienne didn’t answer right away. It suddenly occurred to him that Misty, just like Spencer, was human, and – just like Spencer as well – happened to be a former employee of Domenico.
“How did you know?”
Domenico was puzzled. “How did I know what?”
“Misty,” Etienne said stiffly.
“Ah.” Domenico’s lips pressed together. It used to be that people only sought his opinion on war and politics, but nowadays people had started seeking his opinion on relationship matters as well. And of course, he only had one person to blame for that.
Misty, my love, you never fail to cause trouble.
Turning back to Etienne, he said bluntly, “Before I give you any kind of advice, you should know that my reasons for marrying Misty in the first place were far from honorable. She had certain qualities that I found useful, and that was basically why I wanted her to be my wife and future queen.”
When Etienne made no comment on this, Domenico continued, “She fell in love with me first, and while I didn’t intend to return her feelings, it happened anyway.”
“It happened?” Etienne’s tone was skeptical. “How does something like that just happen?”
“There is no formula for it,” Domenico said dryly, “if that’s what you’re hoping for. I can’t tell you how, why, or when it happens, Hirsche. But one thing I can guarantee…” Domenico’s green eyes darkened with remembered pain. “If you lose her…”
I almost did, Etienne remembered tensely. Although it almost seemed like an eternity ago, he still remembered with painful clarity the feel of his blood turning cold with fear when he came home to find Spencer gone and finding out that she had realized he had been lying to her.
“And you’d do anything to have your woman back…”
Domenico’s words kept hauling out memories Etienne wished he could forget. He had always prided himself for his integrity, but when it came to losing Spencer, he always seemed to end up lying to her.
“You’ll have your answer then.”
Etienne’s dark gaze swung sharply at the wolf prince, and a pair of green eyes stared back at him in quiet contemplation.
“Seems like you already had your answer for a while now,” Domenico drawled. “Something was just holding you back from seeing it.”
Chapter Eighteen
The only time Etienne remembered having his heart beat this hard and fast was when he was fucking. Yet here he was, heart racing like an adolescent boy’s, and all because he had taken Torv’s unsolicited advice and stopped on the way home to buy her flowers. It was cheesy as fuck, and if it didn’t work, he was going to fucking rip the man’s throat and let him bleed to death.
Torv was puzzled when his employer came out with a box rather than a bouquet. “Changed your mind about the flowers, did ya?”
“I have the box, don’t I?”
He had heard about flowers in boxes, but they were usually imported roses sold individually. The box that the prince held in his hand, however…
Etienne saw the older man trying to take a peek and swiftly hid it behind his back. “Quit it,” he said irritably. “It’s a surprise for Spencer, and I’d prefer she was the one to see it first.”
“It’s really flowers?” Torv asked, unconvinced, when they were back inside the limousine.
“I took your advice to the letter, alright? There is no way Spencer won’t understand my feelings—” Etienne could still feel himself freezing up at the word. “—once she sees this.”
“If you say so.”
“Have you forgotten I manage a billion-dollar company and rule among my kind?” Etienne was exasperated. “Why the hell are you acting like I’d mess up when I’m just buying flowers?”
“You’re right.” Torv was feeling sheepish now. “Probably just typical Caro paranoia,” he admitted.
“Exactly. Now, will you get back to driving?”
“Your wish is my command, Your Highness.”
Etienne didn’t bother responding. The words were a blatant lie, anyway. Like Anderson, Torv had been with him for over a decade, and nowadays, his command was only their wish when it suited them to follow him.
The silence inside the limousine soothed the ragged edges of his nerves, and as soon as he closed his eyes and leaned back, images of Spencer flashed behind his eyelids.