Page 2 of Bottoms Up
“The young lad has something I wish to bargain for.”
“And the young lad wishes to do so with counsel present.” She didn’t blink. “You have a way to contact Kirsten. Do so, and set a time for everyone to meet in the same room.Ifthere are any deals to make, they aren’t going to happen tonight.”
Xaephan turned back to me. Looked at me like he could see through bone and memory. My dick stiffened even more, my heartbeat trapped in it, and my empty pussy ached with need.
“I can leave your outside sexy bits the same and make it so you can get pregnant.”
I stared at him. Did I even want kids? I didn’t think so. At least, not a child I had to give birth to, but was that because I felt like a boy at the moment? If I felt like a girl tonight, would the idea of giving birth appeal?
But I remembered Kirsten’s advice and her warnings about how good he is at manipulation, at knowing what you want and figuring out how to offer it, so I told him, “No deal. I’m open to possibly negotiating that later, with counsel, but not tonight, so no deal. Please leave.”
Victoria tilted her head. “Your brother warns that Kirsten is close to Silver, and that harming Silver could put your son at risk.”
Xaephan’s eyes snapped to the winged woman. He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Justglareduntil I thought one of them might burst into flames, and then blinked out of existence.Poof.
Twenty seconds later, Kirsten was in the room, and she looked at Victoria with a nod. “Thank you.” She inhaled deeply. “I don’t smell brimstone.”
“I’m not convinced he was actually in the room. I couldn’t scent him. It might have been some kind of projection.”
“He asked if I wanted a roll in the hay while we negotiated,” I told her, “but I said no. No deals. I also told him to leave. Over and over.”
“Which was perfect. Did the hotel give you a way to check out on their app?”
I nodded, and she said, “You should do so. I’ll text Animal to come to your room. We’ll see if he wants a quick trip to Homewood, since that’s where I’m taking you. How were you getting home tomorrow?”
“First class, commercial. I can’t get my money back, but I don’t care. I’d appreciate a fast trip to your place, where he can’t get to me.”
“He probably had to put something together fast to come to you within hours,” she said. “If you’d offered to hand it over, he likely had a human on the premises you could’ve handed it to, and they’d have gotten it to him, if he wasn’t actually here.”
“You warned me it would make itself known when it wanted to be seen.”
Chapter 2
Julian
It was so frustrating, watching Silver’s interview when I couldn’t be there with her, but having her publicly acknowledge me as her boyfriend could cause all kinds of problems when she travels, should she enter the territory of someone who doesn’t get along with Marco. With the new Senatus, most of the state-level Masters can be in the same room together without bloodshed, but that doesn’t mean they won’t cause problems for the human girlfriend of another Master’s personal assistant just to be a bastard. Or a bitch.
Kirsten kept her phone close, ready to teleport to Silver if she was needed, but the text never came.
Until it finally did, and the second it came through, she disappeared.
Nathan had wanted to go, but he was in the kitchen getting more beer and snacks when the text came through, and she didn’t wait for him.
Man, was the Lion King pissed when he returned to find her gone.
Mordecai popped in about fifteen seconds later and told Nathan. “She’s fine. X was gone before she got the text. I sent one of my daughters to explain to X why he needed to leave, and he did. He’d blocked Silver’s phone — she sent the text shortly after he arrived, but X didn’t let the text go through until he left.”
Nathan dropped onto the sofa and crossed his arms. “She was supposed to take me.”
“She’s fine. I’m sure she’ll be back with Silver,” he paused and tilted his head, “and Animal, soon enough. The humans need to pack their things and check out of the hotel.”
“Thank you,” I told him. “I’ve been so worried.”
“Your Silver said all the right things. I’ll let her tell you what the demon offered as a bargain. I believe Silver’s considering it, or at least thinking about possibly considering it.” He didn’t look happy, but he noted, “As the current bearer of the metal portion of Freyja’s necklace, it’s Silver’s decision.”
When Kirsten finally popped back in with Silver and Animal in tow, Silver held her hands up to stop me when I moved toward her to hold her. “Not now. I’m going to put this blasted necklace in its case and hope it stays there, and then I’m going to getanothershower and go to bed.” She turned to Kirsten. “Thanks for coming to me, and for the quick trip back here, where I feel safe. I never want to have to face him again, especially when I’m alone.”
“Then we’ll make sure you aren’t alone for a while,” Nathan said, and he looked at Mordecai, who frowned.
