Page 12 of Fake Fae-Ancée

Why didn’t I warn her?

Why make things worse and kiss her instead?

Apparently I was not as over her as I had thought.

If you were really over her, you would have signed the stupid divorce papers ages ago, you moron.

I brushed the thought aside as Bates reappeared with a bottle of water and an ice-pack. I rinsed my eyes, then applied the cold material to my acing face.

"I gather the lady you brought with you last night took off, sir," my butler remarked, helping me to my feet.

"Yeah, looks like it." I pressed the ice on the sore spot that had collided with her head. She had actually managed to hit the exact same spot she had broken years ago, back at base camp, somewhere outside the safety zone. I had underestimated Kai then just as I had done today. I apparently did not learn.

"I have to go after her," I said.

"I'm afraid that’s impossible right now, sir," my butler said, taking the empty water bottle from me and producing a tablet out of nowhere.

I took it and stared down at the grey blurred video of the CCTV outside the entrance. The recording was from just a few minutes ago. Kai trudged out the door, hair disheveled, a murderous expression on her face. The door to my penthouse slammed shut behind her. She stopped, as if hesitating for a moment. Then she pulled a black bolt from her belt — the service taser that every P.A.S.H. officer carried at all times — and jammed it against the security panel.

The video flickered and died off.

"Your acquaintance short-circuited our security system on her way out and sealed all the exits," Bates said. "I would imagine that she was quite agitated due to your…" he paused and shot me a pointed look, "…conversation."

"You could be right." I stared at the closed front door, toying with the idea of shifting. Letting Bear run wild, kicking in the door with one blow of my paws and run after her. However, that would cause other complications and probably just make Kai get even more pissed at me than she already was.

And I needed her calm and cooperative.

Well, good luck with that, buddy.

"Bates, please see what you can do to get the door open. I'll go change."

"Very good, sir. I have your suit ready in the dressing room."

I watched him go, wondering when our old family butler would finally stop calling me Your Royal Highness. The answer was probably never. Bates was an old dog and refused to learn any new tricks.

Mind spinning, I crossed the apartment and went into the dressing room next to my bedroom. Gabriel, my old friend and comrade, had once asked me why I still preferred to live this way — huge penthouse, servants and everything. The short answer was, I would be helpless otherwise. The long answer was much more complicated, as many things of my life in exile were.

I found the suit Bates had prepared for the wedding in the dressing room. On a normal day, he would have assisted me as a valet, fussing over me with a brush and making sure I wore the right cufflinks. Like back in the day, when I had still been a real prince. Today I had to manage on my own. But instead of getting ready, I sat down on the bed, flipped out my phone and dialed Kai’s number.

Of course she blocked the call almost immediately. I ground my teeth, unable to stifle the growl back in my throat. Headstrong woman! Why in the names of all the saints and elders couldn’t the stars have chosen a more manageable female for me? Had I done something in a prior life to deserve this?

But the thought of her wandering out in the open without her powers overtook my upcoming anger with a stifling chill. Shouldhefind her, she wouldn’t stand a chance in her condition, skills or not.

With stiff fingers I tapped the contact of Gabriel Renard. Here, too, the line was merely beeping with the dial tone. Dammit! Of course, the old Vampire would be busy today, being best man and everything. Of course, everything had to happen today of all fucking days. Nothing was ever easy with this woman!

Next, I called Taggart, head of the Metropolitan P.A.S.H. Police Force, semi-professional choleric, Kai's direct superior, and my main client. The dial tone sounded not even halfway before he took my call.

"Goddammit, Kalinin!" Taggart boomed, his broad, green troll head appearing with a flicker on my display, scowling at me. "About fucking time!"

"Last time I checked, I was a freelancer and not required to be at your beck and call."

"Cut the crap! Where is she?" Taggart's thick black eyebrow began to twitch. He generally looked even less in the mood to joke than he already did.

I sighed. "She took off."

"She what???"

"Things got a little complicated."

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