“The process involves my marrying the Mykos Hellion?”
“Exactly.”
“Respectfully, I disagree.”
“Is that right? Explain to me how you plan to avoid this marriage that took over a hundred years to come to fruition.”
“Neither of us are suited. We have different visions for our future.”
Hell, even her family agreed and offered me a fucking port to back out of our engagement. Though, I couldn’t say any of this to Draco, since the terms of my agreement with the Mykoses remained between us.
Draco remained quiet for a few moments, a line forming between his brows. “Are you saying this meeting with her was business? Is that what you are telling me?”
He knew damn well it wasn’t.
“I’m not going to lie—my fiancée is beyond attractive. However, just because I want us to stay entertained for the next year doesn’t mean I want to tie myself to her for the rest of my life.”
The hardening of his jaw told me he found my response lacking, and I’d essentially pissed him off.
Well, fuck. This wasn’t turning out anything like I expected.
“And has she agreed to your choice of entertainment?”
Keeping my tone emotionless, I responded with, “We’re working out the terms.”
“She isn’t the naive girl the world believes, Simon. You’ll get more than you can chew if you don’t watch how you play your cards with her.”
I studied Draco.
The annoyance had shifted in his black irises to a calculating glint, something I had no doubt he planned to keep to himself.
And his comment about her being part of his circle meant they shared some affection between them.
“Cards? Are you saying she’s a card shark?”
“She’s definitely that. Don’t play against her unless you plan to lose.”
“I’m less likely to lose if I go in with the odds heavily in my favor.”
“You have more to lose than you realize.” Draco lifted his tumbler to his lips, took a healthy gulp, and shook his head. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
“Enjoy what?”
“Watching you crumple at the feet of the goddess of night.”
“I’m called the master of darkness. Darkness conquers the night.”
“Wrong. You need to brush up on your mythology. Nothing conquers the night. Darkness is a companion of the night as long as she allows it.”
It took all of my strength not to roll my eyes. Was I actually receiving an ancient Greek mythology lesson from a Yakuza mob boss?
“That’s all I’m asking of her, an agreement on how to handle our engagement for the next year.”
“It looks as if you are going to proceed with your plan no matter the advice I send your way.” He pursed his lips and sighed. “You know where to find me when things fall apart.”
“What, exactly, do you think is going to happen to me?”
“The same thing that happened to me.” He held my gaze, something like resignation flashing in his irises.