Page 64 of Of Blood and Smoke

She rolled her eyes and tilted her head to the side, and then I followed her gaze. Josiah stood in the doorway, watching us. I had no idea how long he’d been there.

His heated scrutiny dragged up and down my body before he met my eyes. “It's time to go, beauties."

Ashley fake-swooned, the back of her hand to her forehead and her knees bent after he winked at her and walked away. He’d relaxed a bit and started leaving his glasses off around her, outside of work, and so far, she’d accepted the unusual tone as normal. I knew better than to ask.

THIRTY

Josiah

Micha sat across from me, clearly disturbed. We were in the limousine, on the way to The Mezzanine, Della and Ashley chattering away by my side.

I’d worked long and hard for this moment and everything was in place for Onychinus to be a runaway success. Exclusive contracts had been signed, so-called “back door” deals had been made, and soon we would be on to the next groundbreaking product. Our scientists were already busy, working hard developing new items.

Micha looked furious. I arched an eyebrow at him, and he shook his head, but not before I caught his quick glare at Ashley.Interesting. The girl hadn’t done a thing to earn his ire, and I couldn’t imagine what had his panties in a bunch.

Until I listened.

“So, sigma,” Ashley muttered dramatically. “Let’s bring the rizz.”

Della was laughing, holding her belly. “I can’t believe you have to read that stuff all day.”

“Ohio,” Ashley deadpanned.

“What?” Della’s shoulder brushed mine. “What does Ohio have to do with anything?”

Ashley shrugged. “Something skibidi? Ski-beady. Booty?”

Della’s friend was playing off her reactions, and Micha was so angry the atmosphere was as tight as a band. Neither woman had picked up on it.

“That’s enough.” Micha’s raised voice snapped harshly at the two of them, his fury barely restrained. “Ashley, contain yourself.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock and her face colored. Della gasped. “Micha,” I addressed my friend. He waved his hand lightly at me and glanced away.

I recognized both women were nervous about the big event, and I knew they were engaging in useless language as a distraction. Inane frivolousness wasn’t something Micha or I indulged in; it was much more a human trait based out of anxiety or juvenile silliness, than anything anyone of our kind engaged in. Unfortunately for the two women, Micha had spent even less time around humans than I.

Della sat back, wiped the underneath of her eyes where they’d watered from laughter, and placed her clasped hands in her lap.

Ashley scowled at Micha. “We were just having fun, Your Highness. Is that okay with you?”

He narrowed his eyes. “This is a work event and such behavior is unbecoming. I would think this conduct was beneath you, either way.” His gaze flicked down to her chest. “Cover yourself.”

Her face colored and she looked away, tugging at the top of her dress. A thread of something ran just under the surface of their exchange. I tried to catch his eyes, but Della interrupted my thoughts.

“I’m sorry, Micha, I think we’re both nervous and maybe we shouldn’t have drunk a half bottle of champagne already. We’re both lightweights. But thank you for that, by the way.”

I peeked down at her. She looked up. “He sent us some insanely expensive alcohol earlier,” she laughed, breaking the tension slightly. “It was good.” She giggled again.

Neither Ashley nor Micha would meet my gaze. It didn’t matter now; we had pulled up to the private entrance at the back of the hotel. It was showtime.

An attendant opened the door, and Micha exited first, holding his hand out for Ashley. She followed and batted him away the second both feet hit the cement. He warned me with his eyes not to question him. Out of respect, I wouldn’t.

We all filed through the door and into the building. Our security had arrived ahead of us and would shadow our group for the evening, staying far enough away to be unobtrusive, but close enough to assist if necessary.

Over the last couple weeks, I’d spotted multiple watcher-teams of Lesser demons observing us, and I’d even spotted a wraith in the park. No humans, unless they were an extraordinarily gifted psychic, would see a wraith but the Lessers blended in seamlessly with the crowds. Only one with non-human blood or possessing psychic abilities would be able to spot them. They’d continued to lurk on the edges of any activity outside our offices and I knew they were reporting back to the Ancients.

I feared it was only a matter of time before Ezra took drastic measures to try and rein me in. My security team could only do so much, and even then, all they could really do was sound the alarm.

I would make my stand when the time came; I wouldn’t let anything tear me and Della apart. I tried to keep life as normal as I could for her and not show her my worry. It was easyto forget the looming threat, getting caught up in life with her and running my business, along witheverything that entailed. It remained on the outskirts of my attention, but I was still cognizant.

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