Page 68 of Touched By Sin
Her eyes briefly flick over my shoulder when Daemon exits the bathroom stark naked, dripping water. “They call it Hell for a reason.” Her voice breaks through my X-rated thoughts.
I drag my eyes away from the water droplets on Daemon’s back and ass while he roots through a drawer for towels.
“Someone like you is worth a lot of money here.”
My brows pull low and I give a shake of my head to clear it. “What?”
Dariana taps her nail on the tub of salve in her hands. “I don’t know how much the boys have told you… Daemon’s father is a powerful man.”
When I don’t reply, she continues, “He received a bid for you yesterday.”
The atmosphere in the room turns icy. Daemon slams the drawer shut so hard, it doesn’t surprise me when it breaks and hangs sideways. “How do you know this?”
“A little bird sang.”
“What. Little. Bird?”
Dariana juts her jaw out. “I’m not telling you. If I do, you’ll go after them. We can’t afford to lose informants.”
“Fucking fine!” he growls. “Who made a bid?”
Uncertainty flickers in her depths, and I don’t blame her. Daemon is fucking scary. The vein in his temple pops when he fists her hair.
“Tell me right the fuck now so I can kill them!”
“Your uncle.”
Daemon drops her and stumbles back against the dresser. “Why the fuck would he do that? And why the fuck would my father go along with it?”
Alaric turns around, his hands in his pockets. “Your uncle offered to step away from active royal duty in exchange for the girl.”
Active royal duty? What does that mean?
I open my mouth to speak, but before I can get a word in, Daemon spits, “No fucking way. They’ve fought wars over my father’s throne my whole fucking life. Why would he suddenly offer to step down in exchange for the angel? It doesn’t make sense.”
It’s Ronan who breaks the ensuing silence. “A few reasons. He’s playing the long game. When your father defeated your uncle after he attempted to overthrow him, he forced him to sign the treaty. Your uncle was backed into a corner. The next heir to the throne is you, Daemon, not Dmitriy.”
“I know all this. What’s your fucking point?” Daemon says, pulling on a pair of jeans and leaving them unbuckled.
Ronan points the fingers with the cigarette at me. “You don’t want to admit it, but she’s become your weak link.”
Daemon throws his arms out, laughing disbelievingly.
“Steal the girl, and the future heir to the throne topples over like the queen on a chessboard. Your uncle wins. His son gets the girl and then the throne when your father dies. Voila, family fortune secured.”
Daemon starts to pace.
“Remember what it says in the contract signed by both Amenadielandyour father. If you hurt your cousin or uncle, the throne diverts to them. This is what they want. They expect you to come for Dmitriy.”
“FUCK!” Daemon roars, picking up his nightstand and throwing it across the room.
I stare in disbelief at the splintered wood while Daemon continues pacing like a caged animal.
“I need to speak to Father. I need to stop this.”
“What good is it going to do? He can’t see reason right now, not when your uncle is dangling a worm on the hook. Do you seriously think he’ll listen to you? Angel is nothing but a girl to him. He’s wanted your uncle to step away from the royal family as long as I’ve been alive.”
The royal family? Contracts?I’m so fucking confused.
