Page 8 of The Lawgiver's Firebrand
Like everyone else on her team, Ari’s eyes ping-ponged from Firebrand to Firebrand. Lots of shaking heads. Lots of shrugs. Lots of arched brows.
ChapterFour
Ari, along with herfrerons, had grumbled about the assignment. They whined, pleading with Commander Nace, who listened but out-stared them. He may have punctuated his silence with growls, which slammed lips tight.
So, here she was, with other Firebrands, ready to provide security at Daire’s big shindig. Lawgivers. Justices. Directors of ministries. Tradespeople. CEOs. Shakers. Movers. Money. Snobs. They needed protection in case bad guys crashed the party to drink up the expensive scotch or guests got rowdy when they ran out of beluga caviar.
Decked out like a damn fashion model, Ari waited with her team in the lobby of Daire’s overpriced condo to be buzzed up into his overstated opulence.
Yesterday, the asshole lawgiver had sent clothes for each Firebrand, his note saying he was ensuring they dressed appropriately for the occasion. As if they were rubes, too stupid to be aware of what “black tie” meant. Or too poor to buy their own fancy duds.
He’d also set appointments for each to be “styled.” She’d been scrubbed, lavender-bubbled, plucked, and her face gooped. Laden with pins and sprayed, her hair would crack knuckles if some idiot punched her in the head.
Dickwad.
Clad for the festivity, she balanced on strappy, four-inch heels. The hem of her slinky, backless gown swept the floor. If she had a plastic tiara and a wand, she could play princess dress-up.
The worst instructions came in a note addressed to Nace and shared with her. Since Daire was without a hostess for the event, she was to be on the lawgiver’s arm.Bingo.She’d rather spend a horrifying night in Angor, where bad Aeternals went after death for punishment.
Gag.
Or did she protest too much because he pushed her hot button?
Once approval was granted from the penthouse, the Firebrands moved to the elevator and ascended. Ari worried she might need oxygen when it rose to the top. Of course, the tank would have to be black like her dress. No mismatched accessories for this female.
Her group stepped off into a grand foyer where the tiles were so polished she could fix her makeup in the reflection. Ari glanced left. Right. The damn incubus must own the entire floor.
Daire greeted them, clad in a luxurious black tux with a shiny shawl collar and white shirt accented by black buttons and a bowtie. It fit well enough to highlight his masculine attributes. He had many. Ari closed her mouth, which had dropped open on its own. He was gorgeous, and her heart drummed against her chest, even if he was a dickwad.
Spiffy.
Alongside Ari, Marciella gasped and whispered in her ear, “I’m willing to protect his body.”
Ari frowned at the aside but stared at the hunky Daire, her lungs unable to draw air.
A momentary stunned look flitted through his eyes. That fast, it disappeared. “Good,” he said. “You are acceptable.” He pointed at a rigid-backed incubus standing beside him. “Hinrick will give you your instructions. Arianna, with me.”
Screw his acceptable. She’d looked in the mirror before leaving her condo. Playing at dress-up or not, she was fabulous. Stunning. So stunning that she’d taken a selfie and shot it off to her parents and Rubeus. No replies. Ari canted her chin, allowed her lids to assume a half-mast insouciance, and dragged her gaze along her up-tilted nose. “By all means, boss.”
He grinned.
She locked eyes with the snobbish lawgiver, refusing to be embarrassed by her Blood Shed behavior. That night had been a celebration of her advancement to full-on warrior. So what if she’d imbibed a bit too much. So what if the arrogant incubus had given her an orgasm. In a dark corner. With only his long, beautiful fingers.
Damn. She was a slut. But a happy one. No harm, no foul.
Smiling and batting her lashes, she slipped her hand through Daire’s offered arm.
Galante.
He leaned in, whispering, “Where do you keep your blades in that deliciously tight gown?”
“You’ll have to pat me down to find them,” she drawled. Two could play.
“A game. Perhaps later.”
Ari nodded. “So, who’s here?”
“People I know. People I don’t know. Aeternals I like. Aeternals I don’t like. It’s a business thing.”
