Page 7 of Blood Descendants
Ares looks away, and I get the sense this isn’t something he shares lightly. This is something vulnerable. To someone more dangerous, more vicious, confessing who the only person you love is would put them in danger.
Once more, Ares is trusting me with something important.
“Augustus knows I’m back in the city,” he continues. “He’s keeping tabs. He’s waiting for me to come to my senses. To come back into the fold. And that’s how we’re going to findyour friend.”
My heart jumps in my chest. “What do you mean?”
Ares’ expression darkens. “I’m going to finally come to my senses. I’m going to return to the fold. But on my own terms, where he can’t shove it down my throat.”
My head is spinning just a little. This is already getting so damn complicated. I’m not sure I’m following his line of thought.
“I need you to pretend to be my fiancée, Lana.”
Chapter 3
“You’re insane.”
Ares lowers his laced fingers, his hands resting on the arms of the expensive chair. He leans farther back into his seat, and his eyes slide down me. But it doesn’t make my skin crawl, not in the same way Felix’s gaze did back at the party. He’s still evaluating me. Sizing me up. Determining my ability to do what it’s going to take.
“Do you want to get your friend back or not?” he asks. His tone isn’t critical. It isn’t spoken with a sneer. It’s simply logical.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I hiss out, my frustration rising.
“Then this is what it takes, Vengeance,” he says coolly. Goosebumps flash over my skin at the nickname. He doesn’t say it snidely. It almost comes out sounding like a compliment. “Augustus is tied to this. I wish it had nothing to do with him, but my gut instinct says it does. It’s all being paid for by his company. And they’re trying to hide it. You will not get anywhere near his company on your own. You’re a hell of a lotmore competent than I could ever hope for, but even if you’re the world champion MMA fighter, you still couldn’t go up against Augustus’ lackeys. So, I know this is sudden. I know it sounds insane. But if you want to save your friend, you need me. And I need you.”
“This isn’t just about Ophelia,” I declare. “You were looking into your father before I walked into that party. What do you actually need me for?”
Ares studies me, hesitance in his eyes. Again, here comes another part I know I’m not going to like. “A little distance and time have given me some perspective on my father. I always knew he did things his own way. But lately, I’ve had a suspicion it’s a lot darker than I realized. So, I started digging,” he says, his dark eyes fixed on me. “Like I said, to get back into my father’s good graces, to be invited back into his inner circle, I need to kiss his ass. I need you to go along with it that we’re engaged, and we’re already trying for a baby.”
Those last six words make my stomach lurch. A disgusted breath escapes my lungs. I shake my head and look out the window.
“I promise, there will be absolutely no sex involved,” Ares says, spiking anxiety in my system.
“I should fucking hope not!” I bark, looking back at him with a sneer. “But anything else…”
Ares sighs and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I need you to play a part, Lana, and we are both going to have to play it convincingly. So, yes, we’re going to have to act like we actually like each other when we’re in public.”
“Holding hands? Cuddling? Whispering soft nothings in each other’s ears? Kissing?” I clarify with disdainful sarcasm in my tone.
“Yes,” he says, his jaw tightening. “And maybe a little more.”
“What more could there be?” I bark in shock.
The look he’s giving me says he’s reevaluating his decision to propose to me. And it makes me bristle even more. I need to get my cool back.
I bring Ophelia to the forefront of my brain. I think of her smile. Her laugh. I think of late nights on her couch and dozens of nights out in the city.
I have no one left but her.
“Augustus is keeping tabs on me,” Ares pushes forward. His tone is softer now, more controlled. “He’s going to doubt the speed of this since you and I have never been seen together. If I just tell him we’re engaged, he’ll never believe it. To sell it, you and I are going to have to move in together.”
I simply stare into those hazel eyes of his for a dozen heartbeats.
What do I have to lose?
My life.
Maybe my sanity.
