Page 26 of Heavy is the Crown
“It’s Shadow.”
“Motherfucker,” I curse. “I’ll be right there.”
Ciaran looks at me in question.
“I have to go. It seems my mate took up the old idea of ‘the mice will play if the cat is away.’” I push to stand, buttoning my suit jacket again.
“Drago, he’s going to try his hardest to push you away, particularly now with only a month left. He’ll do anything he can just to hurt you so that you’ll walk away,” he says. "Don’t let him.”
I only nod. “Make sure Ava knows I left, but don’t tell her why. I’ll be back for her in a while.” I pause before walking away. “Are you okay?”
He lets out a dark laugh. “No, Drago. I’m far from okay. But my issues can’t be solved as quickly as yours can.”
A frown twists my face. “I’ll call you. We’ll talk.”
He nods, holding his glass up in response, gaze tracking back out to the crowd.
Ava
I walk back up toward the VIP booth I know Drago and Ciaran are sitting at, having just checked in with my staff after changing my destroyed panties and slipping on a flowing pair of harem pants, the black material loose against my legs but gathered tightly at my ankles. As I pull the curtain back, I see Ciaran looking out over the crowd, but Drago is nowhere to be found.
“He got called back,” Ciaran says. “He said to wait for him here.”
I flop down on the chair next to him, causing Drago’s scent to bloom off the material. It tugs at me, and I rub my chest. “You mean Shadow did something, and he’s cleaning it up before I get back?”
Ciaran raises his eyebrow at me, and I shrug. “I’m not dumb. I know Drago plays damage control for Shadow so I don’t see anything.”
“We do what we have to for our mates.” His words send a chill through me, and I look up to find his eyes are a deep storm.
“What’s going on, Ciaran?” I ask, tucking my feet up under me on the seat. My skin pebbles with goosebumps, not from a chill but in anticipation of his next words. Because somethingisgoing on.
He stays quiet for a long while, and I almost think he isn’t going to answer, until he finally lets out a long breath. “Astrea’s magic is a lot. Being tied to it. I don’t know how she doesn’t get pulled under by it.”
“Because of you,” I reply automatically. “Because you tether her.”
He shakes his head. “I shouldn’t have been the tether. I shouldn’t have access to her magic like this.” I frown at the statement, but he keeps going. “Regardless, I don't know how to help her. Which is why I’m here.”
“I can’t help, I don’t know anything about the Harbinger magic, or at least, I don’t know enough to be helpful.”
“That’s why he called me,” a voice from behind me says.
I whip my head around to spy Kallen standing in the entrance to my lounge. Her skin is soft and milky, that long white hair flowing down her back. The soft curve of her stomach shows between the dark sports bra she is wearing and the tight leather pants that hug her full hips and ass. Flanking her is agiant redheaded man, his hair pulled back in a thick bun and his beard trimmed. On her other side is a Hispanic male, his mismatched blue and green eyes standing out brightly against his tanned skin. He traces over me, his gaze far too perceptive for my liking. Both men are wearing leather cuts signifying they are from an MC, but the logo is blocked from view.
Kallen smiles and walks forward, the action not reassuring. As both men move forward with her, I see their logo appear. Primal Knights MC.Drago is going to fucking lose it.I glance at Ciaran, whose reaction is calm as he takes in the two shifters in front of us.
“Hello, littleprincesa,” the one purrs, his accent thick on his tongue. I stiffen slightly, my body coiling inward. He makes no indication that he notices my movements, the stillness of his gaze unnerving. “Estás muy lejos de casa.”
Kallen smacks the man in the chest with the back of her hand. “Dios, leave her. We are here for Ciaran.” She looks at me, a strange understanding passing between us. Two people who have seen a devastating future and are keeping it from those around us. “Ava has enough she’ll need to face without your bullshit.”
Ciaran stands up, setting his drink down and looking toward me. “Thank you for the drink. Tell Drago I’ll call him.” He looks back to the three others. “Let’s go get this over with. I’m not looking forward to how angry Astrea will be about this.”
Kallen’s eyes widen in feral delight, as if the knowledge that Astrea will be angry is the best news she’s heard all day, as she creates a portal. The man she called Dios looks me over once more before stepping through, close on the heels of Ciaran. Next, the giant redhead goes, giving a subtle nod of his head toward me before he too disappears, leaving only me and Kallen in the lounge.
She looks me over, eyes narrowing. “We need your magic if we are going to win this.”
“I know,” I say simply.
She crosses her arms. “So, what are you doing about it?”
