Page 41 of Reign

Shannon scoffed a little. “Yeah, and you’d just love that to be you, wouldn’t you, Stone?”

He glared at her.

“I don’t know about him, but I know our beta would. Eh, Owen?” said Kawan, laughing at Owen’s grin.

“Oh, yeah. That octopus demon was one hell of a ride. I’d go back for more, anytime.” Owen waggled his eyebrows comically.

Drake laughed, his green eyes glinting like jade chips. “Well, seeing as you’re working with the Prime tonight, how about I keep her busy?”

Sophie cast him a dirty look and pushed her chair back. “Is that all, Prime?”

Connor’s eyes narrowed on her and his gaze flicked between her and Drake. “Yes, Sophie. That’s all.” Then he hesitated before nodding almost to himself. I swear Ifelta pulse of resolve from him. “Actually, no, that’s not all. You won’t be doing street surveillance tonight. Stone’s right. We need eyes in the club. If Rex is going to sell the Halo somewhere, he’ll take it to the one person who has contacts in this realm and access to Hell.”

Sophie swallowed, and I swore she looked slightly green. “You want me to go back to the club?”

He set his jaw and gave her a steady look. “Yes. You will be safe. Balthazar will not claim or kill you, not if you are with one of my pack.”

“Are you joking?”

Owen growled. “Careful, she-wolf, he is still your king.”

Sophie glanced at him, then back at Connor. “Fine. But I won’t be safe. He thinks I betrayed him. And he never forgives a betrayal.”

Connor smiled, but it was cold, not reaching his eyes. “Maybe not. But he also wants an alliance with me, and to keep it, he will be careful not to break our laws. He will not kill, or take one of my pack as his prisoner. Besides, you will be going with Drake, and he can charm the pants off anyone. Maybe even the Count. I hear Balthazar likes men as well as women. That could be useful.”

“Prime?” growled Drake, all levity gone from his face.

“Yes, brother. You will take Sophie into the Gambit and keep your eyes and ears open for anything that could help us hunt down Manivera. If you hear anything, you’ll call me, and we’ll be there.” Connor glanced at Sophie, then Drake. “You will make sure no harm comes to Sophie. She is yours to protect…”

“I don’t need his, nor any other male’s protection, Connor, and you know it!” Sophie snarled.

Connor glanced at her, a smirk curling his mouth. Jealousy stabbed me right in the heart at the look that passed between them. They obviously knew each other well enough to read each other’s thoughts.

“Maybe not. But perhaps he needs yours.”

Sophie rolled her eyes at Connor, but her mouth curled upwards. “I guess he probably does. All those women being octopus demons and all, trying to get in his pants. He’s probably not capable of fighting them off.”

Drake growled, his eyebrows dipping over the bridge of his nose. “Who says I want to?”

Sophie tipped her head and smirked. “Oh, please, hot stuff, if you let more than one handsy female demon play with your junk, you’ll be lost to the pack forever. They’ll give you the night of your life just before they suck out your soul. And, just like every other male I’ve seen in that place, you’ll be too high on sex hormones and pleasure to realise they’re doing it.”

Drake cocked his head. “Just how many times have you been to that club?”

She laughed. “More than you have.”

Drake opened his mouth, but Connor chimed in first. “Drake, listen to Sophie. She knows what she’s talking about. I want you both low key and watching every fucker that goes in and out of that place. You’re there to back each other up. I don’t want any mistakes. You both stay in one piece and safe.” He glared at Drake and then Sophie. “Understood?” Connor’s eyes turned black and, for a brief moment, flared with flame.

I shivered at the power emanating from him. Drake swallowed hard and met Sophie’s gaze.

“Yes, Prime,” they said simultaneously.

After the pack left, Connor took me back to the dining area. The ugly Faerie, Somnelaire, who I’d discovered was a shadow fae, served us. His brows dipped as he studied me. “You know the Count could help with her memory,” he said to Connor. He peered into my eyes. “D’you not remember me at all, girlie?”

I thought back over my memories from my dream. There was nothing. “No, sorry.”

His already thin lips thinned more. “Well, it’s not your fault, I don’t suppose, Yellow.”

Connor frowned. “Her name is Ember.”

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