Page 14 of Savage Hunter

He takes my hand and slips the straps of my shoes between my fingers. “No more questions. I will find you. Go now.”

I swallow my next words and make myself move out of his arms. Twenty-five stairs up feel like a hundred by the time I get to the top. I force myself not to look back as I tuck inside a small service door on the second floor. It opens up directly into the hallway, giving the hired servants access from the outside as they tend to the grounds and the cleaning.

My feet are silent on the polished floor. Decorators have come and gone, leaving behind thousands of white flowers hanging from the oval-shaped balustrade that line the rim of an opening in the middle to reveal the first floor below. I edge close enough to spy the tops of a few heads. A solid curtain of flowers hangs from the carved stone and I use that to block me from view. From the sound of bubbly laughter, the guests are enjoying the champagne.

Good. I just need a few moments to fix my hair and makeup. I look down at the creases marking my dress. I’ll need to change, too.

My set of rooms takes up the opposite end of the mansion and my mother’s takes up this side with her adjoining home office in the middle.

I tuck close to the far wall and hurry. Soft light pours down from scattered scones tucked in between expensive art. Luckily my mother believes if it’s not valued at millions and hanging on her wall, it’s not worth owning. Appreciation for her love of art finally hits because I don’t have to worry about anything standing between me and my bedroom door.

I get halfway to my set of rooms when raised voices force my feet to a halt outside my mother’s office. The door is ajar and a hard light cuts through the opened gap. I can’t make out what is being said so I step a little closer.

I know I promised Wolfe I would go straight to my room and I move to do just that when I hear my name mentioned.

I pause.

“Harmonia will be ready. Stop questioning my loyalty.”

Ready? Loyalty?

I use the deep shadows of this section of hallway. I’m pretty certain if anyone were to climb the stairs to the second floor no one would see me through the mass of white petals.

“There are many in the society who believe you’ll falter.”

A Russian? I rest my hand on the door frame and focus. The man’s deep, accented baritone carries through the open inch of space. I don’t recognize the voice, but that isn’t anything new. My mother’s list of acquaintances is a revolving door of no names and fewer faces. It has been for decades.

Maybe it’s the smell of Wolfe’s cologne on my skin and his mark that gives me the confidence to move closer and steal a glance at who is inside my mother’s office.

“Members can say what they want. I told Johnathon and I’ll tell you. I’ll never return to the poverty-stricken, dirty faced girl he married. I’ll do what it takes to keep my status. Mark my words.” Even when the words are not directed at me, I can still feel the blades of disgust seep into my bones. Her cutting tone is razor sharp and is what drives my fear of ever stepping out of line. I’ve spent twenty years balancing on the tightrope she’s placed me on. That tone and those words prove Wolfe is right about her being a closed door to emotions. I don’t know how I ever thought I would march into her office and confess my love for her bodyguard.

Taut silence stretches on for several moments. Glass clinks. Liquid pours. Shadows move along the back wall, but I still can’t get a good look inside.

“No one ever accused you of being a liar, Mrs. Primrose.” A pause. “Lorelai,” he continues and his accent grows husky with a sensual dip. Is he her lover? “It’s what I love most about you, darling. And your thirst for power. It rivals my own.”

That answers that question.

“I’ve been actively planning for this day for three years. You know that. Many more if you count the years Jonathan was alive. He thought power came with politics, the fool.”

“It does,” the stranger agrees. “In my country it is synonymous with power, in fact.”

“Not here. Jonathan’s status in the Senate depended on the people, therefore unstable. True power comes from those backing people like my late husband. He always limited himself to a box. No. True power comes from the Society. My time with the crown has come and I’m willing to pay the price to get it.”

Greed hangs on her words.

“Should you tell her? Prepare her for what is about to happen?”

“You’re being sentimental. I conceived her for this reason alone. Like I stated, I’ve been planning this for years.” The truth in every syllable she utters slams into the fragile affection I have for the woman who birthed me. I thought the years of keeping me at arm’s length and under tight restrictions would end tonight. I hoped. Tears sting my eyes. Damn it.

There’s a deep, rich laugh that sends chills up my spine.

“Cold hearted. There’s no way your late husband knew your intentions with his daughter.”

“My daughter. Johnathon did what he was told. Are you questioning my loyalty to the Society?”

Another humorless laugh.

“Not at all. I am making sure this is something you want to do. My brother will arrive soon with the Volkov twins. Two men who will thoroughly make sure the product meets Society standards. The time to back out is now. Before Veles gives her over to them.”

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