Page 17 of Wolf Queen Ruin
The implication that he’d been observing my body closely enough to determine my measurements rushed heat to my face.
“I should go,” I muttered, standing abruptly.
Damien rose with fluid grace.“Of course.I’ll have a car take you back to the Repository.”
“I can manage,” I said.“I’ve been getting around New Orleans on my own for years.”
His expression grew serious as he gestured to the window.“It looks like rain, and you seem tired.Allow me this small courtesy?Consider it practice for our engagement charade.I’d hardly let my fiancée walk home in the rain.”
I wanted to refuse on principle, but I found myself nodding instead.“Fine.”
As he made arrangements, I took the opportunity to study him more carefully.Despite hours in my company, he showed no signs of fatigue.I tended to wear people down.
His movements remained graceful and precise, but he’d relaxed considerably since our first meeting.The rigid formality had given way to something more natural, though still elegant.
How much of his perfect composure was habit from centuries of careful self-control?And how much was armor against a world that had clearly wounded him in ways he wouldn’t discuss?
“The car will be here in five minutes,” he said, returning his phone to his pocket.“Shall I show you out?”
I nodded, following him through the mansion.At the front door, he paused.
“Luna,” he said, my name sounding almost musical, “you did exceptionally well today.I believe our cover will be more than convincing.”
Coming from him, it felt like high praise.“Thanks.I’ll try not to embarrass you in front of your fancy vampire friends.”
“I’m not concerned about embarrassment,” he replied, his expression growing serious.“I’m concerned about your safety.Selene’s gatherings can be dangerous for the unprepared, so I’ve heard.”He searched my eyes with surprising intensity.“I’d like to keep you whole and unharmed.”
I shrugged off the warm kindness in his voice.“I can take care of myself.I’ve been doing it for years.”
“I know,” he said.“Your resilience is remarkable.But there are supernatural politics at play that would target you specifically because of your unique position between shifter…and not.”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping lower.“Stay close to me at the party, not because you need protection, but because united we present a stronger front.”
Put that way, it was harder to argue with his logic.“Fine.But I’m not going to simper and hang on your every word.”
“I would be disturbed if you did,” he said with a laugh.“It would be entirely out of character for you.”
A sleek black car pulled up outside, saving me from having to respond to what felt dangerously close to a compliment.Or at least I took it as a compliment.
As I stepped toward the door, Damien reached out, his cool fingers gently catching my wrist.
“One last thing,” he said, his voice lower than before.“If anyone asks how we met, the official story is that I hired you to authenticate a rare shifter artifact, and we discovered mutual interests that led to our arrangement.”
The touch of his fingers against my skin sent an electric current up my arm.
I pulled away, unsettled by my continuous reactions to him.“Got it.Love at first artifact.Very romantic.”
“Business at first artifact,” he corrected.
I shook my head and stepped out toward the waiting car.“Bye, Damien.Try not to overthink our fake relationship.”
“Bye, Luna.Try to remember which fork to use for the fish course,” he said.
I flipped him an elegant middle finger without looking back and was rewarded with a rich, genuine laugh that followed me all the way to the car.
Chapter five
Damien
