Page 24 of Married to the Devil

Stoneheart nods to the demon who keeps his eyes on him. “Barnes reminded me that Stella is Kalos’s mate’s best friend. They have a vested interest in her comfort and safety.”

He hadn’t said quite as much as that in my presence, but it’s true.

“If Stella would rather someone else—” Ben starts.

“I wouldn’t,” I interject. Everyone turns to me, and I stumble over the responses available to me before finally shrugging. “I welcome this arrangement.”

I’m being dumb. I shouldn’t accept this. If not because of the temptation it will offer, for the reason Stoneheart arranged it.

Francesca gives me a look that says she agrees that I’m being dumb, but Stoneheart beams in a way that makes me suspicious.

How does he benefit from this?

“This is just a surprise,” I say. I’d told myself to stay away from Ben for his safety, but when given the choice, his presence is a steady support. Silas and Francesca have been friendly toward me, but they are Stoneheart’s people, not mine, not yet.

“Am I to understand that we will be open with all our information with Kalos at this time?” Silas asks tactfully. Anything Ben learns here can technically be used against the gargoyle.

Stoneheart shrugs. “Kalos has an interest in staying on his side of the territory. I hardly think we need to start keeping secrets from him. If Stella is kept safe and happy, he won’t interfere.”

“You should be careful in leaving your scent on her,” Francesca addresses Ben, her tone pragmatic, tapping her nose and turning to Stoneheart. “The Leonids will be looking for any reason to take issue with your mating, Remy. I don’t know what your plans are, but this could cause issues.”

Ben opens his mouth, but Stoneheart makes a sound of disagreement.

“Lions aren’t monogamous, Francesca,” he muses.

What the fuck?

She shrugs. “And Stella is a witch. We don’t know what expectations they’ll have for her. I’m not warning him away or anything. Far be it from me to judge.”

Silas and Francesca share a look and seem to come to the same conclusion. They’ll accept the intrusion of Ben because Stoneheart has decreed it.

I’m not quite sure what exactly he is decreeing. As of last night, he didn’t want Ben touching me. And now it almost sounds like it’s his plan. The whiplash of this gargoyle.

“I’m sure Barnes will behave.” Stoneheart’s eyes dance. “And I’m sure my wife will enjoy my generosity.”

“That depends on your motives,” I snap. The eyes of the room are on me with mixed emotions. Silas for one, looks sympathetic. I clear my throat, unused to being diplomatic. “But thank you. I do feel better having Ben watch over me.”

I want to smack away Stoneheart’s smug look. I don’t know what he’s playing at, but it can’t be anything good if last night is to judge.

“Think of it as a belated wedding gift,” he purrs.

8

REMY

“What are you planning?”Silas asks after giving Ben and Stella access to our records for the Leonid territory and leading them from the room so we could start our morning meeting.

I’m on board with being open with the information we have, but I’d rather have the ability to choose what Ben hears when it comes to what we discover.

Stella had locked eyes with me before leaving, the look on her face announcing loud and clear that this is the last morning meeting she’s going to miss. I’m surprised. In all my strategy, I did not think that Stella would have an interest in being involved with the running of the territory.

I’m continually miscalculating around her. I would be more troubled by it if I didn’t have a plan to deal with that.

“I’m securing assets,” I say. Both of my seconds sit on the other side of the table. Silas is next to the projector we use for debriefing, his fingers steeple in front of him while Francesca has one leg slung across the arm of her favorite chair, defying the expectations of one wearing a suit.

They have very different personalities in how they approach problems, and it makes for the best sort of collaborations. I collect the people around me with care.

“You think that Ben Barnes will leave Kalos and give Stella his sole loyalty?” Francesca asks.

---