Page 37 of Wolf Queen Ruin
“My maker, Elliot, holds one of five seats on the Council,” he said.“As his only descendant, I’m expected to stand in his place during his illness, which I never asked for.I’ve avoided politics for decades because I can’t stand the faux outrage and constant backstabbing.”
“And our ‘engagement’ complicates things,” I guessed.
“Tremendously,” he said.“But that doesn’t change our course.”
The certainty in his voice, his refusal to be deterred, sent an unexpected warmth through me.Whatever barriers arose between us and our goal, Damien wouldn’t yield.
Neither would I.
Marcel stood near one of the animated ice sculptures, watching us with undisguised interest as we passed.I refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his presence, keeping my gaze forward.
“We have what we came for,” Damien murmured, his hand cool at the small of my back.“Best to make our exit now.”
“Agreed.”
We made our way toward the grand entrance as fast as we could without appearing suspicious, my smile strained as the urgency of our new information pressed on me.
Just as freedom seemed within reach, the crowd parted to reveal Marcel directly in our path, his timing too perfect to be coincidental.How he got in front of us so quickly I had no idea.
“Leaving so soon?”he asked.“The night’s festivities have barely begun.”
“An urgent matter requires our attention,” Damien replied.
Marcel nodded in false understanding.“Of course, of course.”His gaze shifted to me and sharpened.“I do hope our paths cross again soon, Ms.Rookwood.”
Why did that sound like a threat?
“I wouldn’t count on it,” I said with a sweet smile.
Marcel chuckled.“Safe travels.I hear where you’re headed, it’s particularly treacherous this time of year.”
He didn’t know we were headed to the Darién Gap.He couldn’t know, yet my blood chilled.
Damien stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Marcel with a single fluid movement that placed him in front of me.Though he didn’t touch the other man, the effect was as clear as if he’d physically shoved him backward.
“Your concern is noted,” Damien said, his voice dangerously low.“As is your surveillance of Luna’s residence.That ends tonight, understood?Or shall we discuss the matter more thoroughly outside Selene’s truce boundaries?”
Marcel’s smirk faltered.“No need for threats between professionals.”
“Not a threat,” Damien corrected him.“A courtesy.The next time I find someone watching my fiancée, I won’t bother with conversation.”
Marcel stepped aside, his casual demeanor forced.“Until we meet again.”
We continued past him, maintaining our hurried pace until we reached the entrance hall, where valets stood ready to summon our car.Only when we were inside the vehicle, privacy shields activated around us, did I release a shaky breath.
“You’re a man of many talents,” I said, studying Damien’s profile as our car pulled away.“You almost made Marcel pee his pants.”
He glanced at me, some of the hardness melting from his expression.“I’ve had ample time to perfect many skills.Diplomacy is merely one of them.”
“And the others?”
He smiled, not the practiced one he’d been wearing all evening, but something darker.“Let’s hope Marcel doesn’t force me to demonstrate.”
I found myself smiling back, strangely comforted by this glimpse of the predator beneath his polished exterior.“Do you think he knows everything?”
“No,” Damien said, his expression growing serious again.“Not everything.”
I closed my eyes briefly, visualizing the map Selene had shown us.In my enhanced state, I could still see every detail with crystalline clarity—the five locations, the cryptic symbols surrounding each, the connecting lines that suggested a certain sequence or relationship.
