Page 25 of Betrayed in Blood
He’d wanted fifteen minutes with her before the rest of the cadre joined them, but she was being stubborn, and he could wait another five. He enjoyed the game, and it had been so long since they’d played.
Simone hadn’t had an easy life, and now she was close to being the mistress of her own House. He had no idea where it would be. It didn’t matter. They would always be close. She was a good friend, not just the administrator of his businesses and Oasis. She’d been battle-tested on many fronts, and it was critical that she remained integral to not only follow in their war against Venizi but also to lead.
War came in many shapes, and these days, it wasn’t on horseback with thousands of warriors. It was executed with sophistication, technology, and power plays. But the basic tenets of any battle and whether you would win or lose never changed. And, in Devon’s opinion, one of the most critical principles was to know your adversary.
She sighed and gave the cooler a curious look. “You win. What’s in the cooler?”
He grinned and leaned over to open it.
She peered inside and blinked. Her first move was to sit back, then she leaned over again. “I was not expecting that.” Then she considered where he might have gotten it and laughed. “Have you been carrying that around with you for the last five days?”
He nodded, and she threw back her head and gave a throaty laugh. He grinned. It had been a long time since she’d shown such joy. The next few weeks, possibly months, would see little of that.
She wiped her eyes. “The only thing missing is the handcuffs tying it to your wrist.” Her tone was filled with mirth.
“Don’t think I hadn’t considered it.” He closed the cooler and leaned back in his chair, then turned to open the blinds another quarter inch. He’d missed home and the cadre. Then images of Cressa, topless under the summer sun came to him, then the two of them splashing in the surf before things turned more intimate. Would they ever have time like that again? What would life look like on the other side of what was coming? Would he still be alive?
“Where did you go, Devon?”
“Sorry. Just thinking about our growing agenda.”
“I told the cadre about the children.”
He nodded. “Cressa said she’d given you the option.”
Her brows knit together. “Was she testing me?”
He snorted. “Probably. But you made the right call, and it will save time when the cadre comes in. How’s Lyra?”
“Better now that Ginger is back.”
“Has there been any word from Hamilton?”
“No. Nor Colantha.”
He picked up the white crystal he kept on his desk. It had been his father’s, and it made him feel closer to him. “I wonder what my father would say if he knew we’d found the book.”
“Damn time, I imagine.”
He couldn’t argue the response. “Does Lucas seem alright? I haven’t seen him yet, but we both know what it’s like to be close to death and have to depend on others to save you.”
“He wasn’t alone. That was the important part. I didn’t give Ginger enough credit for what she did. He doesn’t talk about that part of his mission. To be honest, as important as it was to him to find theDe første dageand Philipe Renaud, I think reconciliation with his sister foreshadows everything else.”
Devon understood. He had the same connection with Lyra and had made it his mission to save her from her mental prison. “Did you have anything for me?”
“I’d like to add more shifters to Oasis.”
That surprised him. Simone had questioned the wisdom of adding them to their security detail but had been willing to test it out after reviewing the data Decker had provided on the rogues. After seeing Aramburu’s compound and the defenses he’d built over the centuries, Devon had immediately seen how difficult Oasis would be to defend in a massive attack. At the time that he’d built Oasis, the idea of war hadn’t come to mind. How quickly the assumption of safety could change.
Oasis could have gone decades without anyone learning of it. At the time, he’d known it would be his weak point, but he’d never guessed how expansive his mission would become. How deep the deception had grown within the Council.
“The shifters have proposed additional options for guarding our borders,” Simone continued. “And I agree with them. I’d like to discuss it with Decker but wanted your approval first.”
“You have it. I’d like to see what you have so far and include Sergi. He’ll be able to offer suggestions in battle logistics.”
She nodded, and though she didn’t grin, it was easy to see she was pleased. It was something in her posture or maybe the slight lift to her chin. He’d never been able to put his finger on how he could interpret her mood beyond her blank expressions. Maybe it was his own way of looking at her when her leadership skills shined. Maybe it was the growth in her weaker areas that made him proud of her.
The knock at the door told him their fifteen minutes were up, and she gave a quick glance at the cooler before her lips twisted into a smile. She wanted to know more.
