Page 34 of Hers to Rule

Esmé’s dark eyes cut his way. “You, I believe can handle it. Her, I’m not so sure.”

“We’re a team,” Mari said into the silence that followed the most profound doubt she’d felt since her father died.

Esmé harrumphed. “We’ll have to see, then.” She leaned slightly and placed her hand on the person to her right’s hand. “Let them know we’re ready for service, darling.”

The enigmatic figure smiled at Esmé. They made a beckoning gesture with their right hand and whispered a few words in a language Mari didn’t recognize at all.

Moments later, two house witches dressed identically in crisp white shirts, black ties, and black slacks drifted into the room through the doorway as if materializing from nothing. They took orders efficiently and then moved to the staging area to do their incantations as unobtrusively as possible. One of the house witches put up a lightly shimmering privacy screen that would prevent them from hearing the conversation from the diners.

Esmé had ordered for her entire side, different meals and different drinks, without asking either of her attendants for their input. If they objected to her choices, there was no outward sign of dissent.

Mari tapped her fingers on the table, eager to get back to their conversation. “If you thought I might not be capable of running the city, why call for a meeting? Why not just rush in and take over while we were recovering?”

“Despite what your father may have told you about me,” Esmé said pleasantly, “I never wanted to take over the responsibility of running Las Vegas. I’m perfectly happy to carve out my little corner of debauchery and hoard the magic that grows from all of that delicious sin.”

That was definitely not what her father had thought. “He made it seem like you were always moments from trying to take it all by force.”

Esmé laughed, light and musical. “Darling, I rarely do anything by force if seduction can get me there.” She waved a dismissive hand. “No, your father was nearly as paranoid as he was cruel. While I wasn’t happy with the way he ran things, he was certainly preferable to many of the alternatives.”

“How do you mean?”

Esmé sighed. “Las Vegas attracts a lot of attention from all over the world and beyond. It’s a magical nexus, and it’s filled with lots of people living their absolute worst lives. That brings everyone from the mafia to the literal denizens of hell to our door, wanting a piece of the action. Your father was very good at keeping all of those predators at bay.”

“Due in large part to the wards that she powers,” Cisco added after a moment.

“Quite,” Esmé said. “The wards keep the demons out, for sure. They keep most magical creatures with bad intentions from trying too hard to take over or make things too messy. The healthy state of the magical protections your father put in place at the founding of the city is why I didn’t rush in to take charge immediately when he died.” She focused intently on Mari again. “Can you hold it? I need you to tell me if you can’t, and we’ll figure something out.”

Mari felt a blush rising in her cheeks as she held Esmé’s gaze. She looked toward Cisco, who smiled when she met his eyes, and then nodded sharply. She turned back to Esmé and marshaled every scrap of confidence buried inside her. “Yes, we can hold it.”

“Okay,” Esmé said after a few moments, the corners of her lips rising into a sly smile. “How can I help you?”

That surprised Mari so much she just stared for a few seconds before she could respond. “You want to help me? Why?”

“Because I owe your mother a favor I’ve never been able to repay, and I thought I’d never get the chance.” Esmé gestured across the table between Mari and her companions. “Because I like the vibe that’s going on here. It makes me tingly in my magical bits.” She grinned, slow and secret. “But mostly because a sex witch deserves to be in charge of Las Vegas, and that’s way more responsibility than I want in my life, so it should be you.”

Mari looked down at her hands for a moment and then back up. She decided to take the chance. “I don’t know much about my magic or about how the wards work. Could you help me figure that out?”

Esmé nodded, a little sadly. “I thought as tight as he had you locked down, there was no way you could be trained properly. That was cruel of him, not to mention stupid. You were an untapped asset he could have used to much better effect.” She hummed thoughtfully. “Well, it can’t be me. I haven’t the inclination to get involved in training a novice.”

Mari tried very hard not to feel offended by the twist in her voice on the final word. “Is there someone you can suggest?”

Esmé clinked her nails against her glass for a moment and then leaned to her left. “Marius or Danielle, do you think?” she asked the attendant seated there. Neither of them had been introduced, and that didn’t seem likely to change.

The person to Esmé’s left appraised the group across the table quickly with a frown of concentration. “No way.” Their voice flowed like warm honey, rich and sweet. They indicated Cisco with one finger. “He’s way too toppy to ever let either of them in his playground.” Cisco raised a dark eyebrow at that, but didn’t argue the point. They tapped that same finger against their lower lip in thought. “Pris, maybe?”

“Oh, Pricilla is an inspired choice. Yes, I think she’ll work nicely.” Esmé turned back to Mari. “Pricilla was a protégé of mine for many years. I’ll contact her and see if she’s available. She’s very talented.”

“I’ll need her full name to run a check on her first,” Cisco said.

“Of course, Francisco. Satisfy your drive to protect. I’ll send the information over once we’re done here.”

Chapter 11

Dinner was utterly decadent, and the conversation eased into more pleasant areas that allowed everyone to relax a bit. Mari enjoyed a perfectly roasted chicken with a rich red wine sauce that lingered on her palate even after it was gone. She praised the house witch who had prepared it and asked if they could send Giselle the recipe. The woman blushed and stammered a little before she agreed that she would be happy to pass along the details.

Once the plates were cleared and coffee and after-dinner drinks were served, the servers vanished back through the portal and Esmé settled back into business. “I want to discuss the club.”

Mari sipped her cappuccino to buy herself a moment to think. She had no idea what Esmé would want to talk about that. “What about the club?”

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