Page 14 of The Grip of Death
“And the photographer?”
“Niko’s figuring it out with Flint Lockstone. Something about flying crystals and gemstones and lenses? Like our very own armada of drones.” I stretched my legs out and sighed. “Relax. We’ve got it all covered.”
“Feels like you’ve got an answer for everything.” Xander narrowed his eyes. “I liked you a little better when you were having nightmares about the wedding cake and the floral decorations.”
I laughed, pulling him a little closer. “But you helped me relax when I was freaking out over it, remember? That’s why we’ve got each other. That’s why we’re marrying each other. We help each other chill out.” I booped the end of his nose with one finger. “Glacia. Am I right?”
He rubbed his nose, frowning. “You’re lucky you can’t actually cast that spell or you would have frozen my nose off. And right before the wedding, too. Very expensive to replace this beauty last minute.”
This time I kissed the end of his nose instead. “You’ll be okay. We’ll be okay. We always are.”
I pulled him so that we both sank back into the cushions. My hand on his chest, I could feel how his heartbeat had slowed to something calmer, his muscles no longer so tense. Cuddling was imminent.
Xander slipped an arm under my torso, wrapping me in half of a loose embrace as he sighed. “If I’m being perfectly honest, I think a huge part of me being all stressed out about this is knowing that all the rest of the Wrights are coming to the wedding.”
“All the rest of them? How many of you nerds could there possibly be?”
He smacked me on the arm and chuckled. “Mother and Father must have invited nearly a hundred of them in all. Not just the Wrights, but extended family too, all the cousins and aunts and uncles.”
“That many Wrights?” My jaw dropped. If I hadn’t just gone through the hassle of calming Xander down, I would have started spinning out myself. Instead I placed a hand behind my head and sighed. “And a handful of Prydes to represent my side of the family. Sounds awful.”
Xander laughed. “You don’t get it, Jack. My parents are sparing no expense because they’re thrilled to show off that I’m getting married. You have to remember. The Wrights are very big on status and appearances. Don’t take this the wrong way, but keep in mind: I’m marrying a guild master, after all.”
I sat up, my mouth opened even wider. “So you’re telling me that a hundred of your snootiest family members are coming from all around the world — from all across this known reality — because they’re excited to see you marry little old me?”
He scrunched up his nose. “That’s not what I said at all and you know it.”
“Really? Because it sounds to me like everyone is dying to get a good look at the musclebound guild master who gets to marry the most eligible bachelor in the entire Wright bloodline.”
“You think you’re going to get away with complimenting yourself by complimenting me, and — well, you’re probablyright. But look at you. Suddenly you’re okay with becoming Master Jackson. What’s changed?”
I sighed again. “I figured if it was going to happen, might as well get used to it, you know? Instead of being embarrassed, maybe I’ll even let it go to my head a little. Master Jackson Pryde. Has a nice ring to it. Makes me look all macho and tanned and muscular.”
“Very unbecoming of a guild master, don’t you think?” he teased. “I mean, even Master Vikhyat backs his leadership up with raw talent, cunning, and charisma. That’s why they let him go shirtless all the time. Because he’s brainyandbrawny.”
I glowered, falling right into his silly little trap. “I’ve got muscles and mind power in equal measure. See? I can alliterate, too.”
Xander yawned, patting his open mouth with one hand. “You’re certainly good at talking. A lot. Too much for my taste.”
“But the fact that you can make magic at all means that you’re automatically disqualified from guild membership.” I booped him on the nose again, just to see him scowl. “How does it feel to finally see a velvet rope you can’t make your way behind?”
Xander scoffed. “Why should I care about being banned from admission to the Halls of Making when I’m sleeping with the boorish, vain, self-important buffoon they’ve decided to make their guild master?”
“Careful, now. Under the rules of the Black Market’s guilds, that kind of talk could earn you a reprimand for insubordination.” I clenched my jaw, sensing a little danger and spice behind his words. “Perhaps even punishment.”
His face so close to mine, his perfect teeth clenched like a bright crescent moon, Xander replied.
“Do your worst, Master Jackson.”
I pinned Xander against the mattress, one hand on his chest, straddling his hips with my thighs. I could move so swiftly whenever my ego was bruised, and I was getting harder by the second, too. I dragged the end of one finger across his lips, relishing his smirk, how it made me think of all the horrible things I would love to do to him.
“The Wrights can sniff out weakness, Master Jackson.”
Fuck. Xander was really enjoying this, his wicked words, his cruel little game. And fuck, it was turning me on so much, too.
I leaned in, our faces so close together, my scowl and my stubble pressed against his smarmy grin. “See if I give a shit about what the Wrights think. You’ve seen the things I can do. There’s no world where I’m not worthy of this post. Go ahead. Try and tell me otherwise.”
Xander only kept on grinning, saying everything with nothing.
