Page 70 of The Devil's Hunt

"Thank you both," I smiled, appreciating how handsome they all looked. The three of them would turn heads in every room they went into, especially when they were all together.

"Where's Maddie?" I asked Kai.

"Fashionably late, like always," he rolled his eyes. "Speaking of," he nodded toward the stairs as Maddie came down. Her blonde hair was pinned to the top of her head, and she was wearing a bright pink dress that hugged her curves.

"Ah, Miss Maddie," Laurent exclaimed, his eyes widening with admiration. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Why, thank you, Laurent," Maddie said. "You always know how to make a girl feel beautiful."

A chorus of compliments accompanied her arrival, and she beamed with pride. She always had this overt confidence that I found endearing and was a bit envious of. I wish I were as confident in myself as she was. I watched her turn in a circle for everyone to admire her dress.

"She doesn't hold a candle to you, baby," Archer leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

I loved how he was so in tune with my feelings, like he could read my mind.

"Mila!" Maddie turned her attention to me, embracing me in a hug. She pulled back, keeping contact with my arms, and her mouth dropped. "You look like a goddess. Wow!" She admired my dress, touching the flowers on the bodice. "This dress is exquisite."

"Thank you," I smiled warmly at her. "You are stunning yourself."

I hadn't seen her since the night of The Hunt, and I wasn't sure what she thought of me after seeing me bash Emily's head with the golden apple. I had avoided having the conversation with anyone, but it didn't seem like she was phased by anything that transpired that night. Watching her push herself into the crook of Kai's arm, I knew she had settled into her role the same way I had.

Maybe we had both found our happiness.

Taking a deep breath, I smoothed my hands down my dress and held onto Archer's arm, feeling the swell of nervousness beneath my stomach. This would be the first time I brought a guy around my father, and I wasn't entirely sure how he would react. Archer, Kai, and Theo cast a protective shadow over me as they led me outside toward the blacked-out limousine. Archer wrapped his arm around me, holding me close, planting kisses on my neck. Kai and Theo climbed into the limo, and Laurent closed the door behind them, waving goodbye with a slight wave.

28

TWENTY-EIGHT

MILA

As we drove toward the city, someone started pouring champagne, and I gratefully accepted the glass Archer handed me.

"You look incredible, Mila. You have no idea how much I want to rip this dress off of you and fuck the shit out of you."

I choked on my champagne and looked around the limousine to see if anyone else heard what he said. Everyone was drinking and immersed in their conversations. I turned my head to look back at him, and he stared at me hungrily, drinking me in.

"After all the work Laurent put in, it'd be a shame to ruin it before I get to introduce you to my father," I said, swallowing my laughter when I saw his face become serious. "Wait, don't tell me the fearless devil Archer King is afraid of meeting my father?"

He raised his eyebrow, taking a sip of his champagne. "Of course, I'm not afraid." He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against mine. "But I'll do you one better. Not only will you get to meet my father, but you'll get to meet my mother too. And she is very protective of her baby boy."

"Baby boy?" I questioned.

"Yep. I have an older brother and sister."

"Things are starting to make a lot of sense now," I teased.

"How so?"

"Oh, nothing. You have baby sibling syndrome."

"What the fuck is baby sibling syndrome?"

"You know, the whole 'baby of the family' thing where you get spoiled and doted upon and get away withmurder? And in your case, literal murder."

Archer chuckled, shaking his head. "You're right, I do," he said, sipping his champagne. "But I promise, I'm not the only murderer in the family. Killing people tends to be our curse."

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