Page 84 of The Biting Bargain

ChapterThirty-Nine

Vincent

"The other cufflinks, Aidan."

"Very well, sir."

My assistant marches off to get another set of cufflinks, and I scowl at myself in the mirror.

The suit fits perfectly. My hair sits perfectly. And technically, the cufflinks — an heirloom from some one of my countless great-granduncles from Brittany — are also perfectly matched to my appearance.

But something is off. Somehow, nothing fits. My flawless reflection is falling apart into a thousand mismatched details right in front of my eyes.

Unsettled, I adjust the crimson sash that sits across my chest, the motto of theVergiliiis embroidered in silver letters into blue velvet.

"Sanguis noster in caelis, tuus sub pedibus nostris."Just some fancy way to tell the world that vampires are awesome and humans suck — pun not intended.

I look ridiculous, like I won a dark academia beauty contest. Not like I'm finally regaining a part of my birthright, being officially inducted back into the ranks of theSocieta Vergilii.

The sash scratches at my neck.

Nothing has felt right since she walked out my office door.

"Here you go, sir, the azure cufflinks."

Aidan reappears and removes the old cufflinks from my right sleeve. He doesn't look at me as he does it, which is part of his job, of course; no one wants to exchange a soul-deep glance with their valet while getting dressed up. But Aidan has been miffed for days. Clearly he doesn't agree with my decision to let Pollyanna go, which he tries to hide behind a facade of frozen professionalism. However, the man couldn't play poker without losing his last shirt, and his immortal soul at that.

I sigh. "Aidan, for crying out loud. Spill it and act normal again."

"I don't know what you mean, sir." Aidan clicks the cufflink shut, keeping his expression blank.

"You know perfectly well it wouldn’t have worked out," I say. Like I have to justify my decision or anything. Ridiculous.

"Whatever you say, sir." He twists the cufflink into place, then moves on to my other sleeve.

"How would that have worked?" I ask sharply as he pushes the needle through the thick, white fabric. "Should I have kept her here forever?"

"You're absolutely right, sir. Keeping Ms. Bukowski here against her will would not have been right," he says.

"She would never have stayed," I hiss, anger rising in my throat. "She has a whole life ahead of her."

"Right, sir. There is nolivingby your side." Aidan clicks the second cufflink shut and twists it until it sits perfectly.

"Spare me with your wisdom, Aidan." I tug at my sleeves. "With her human life expectancy, any arrangement would have ended in a broken heart. I wanted to spare her that."

The thought is too tempting — I could have just asked her. Stay. Here. By my side. But for how long? And what would I have to offer but for her to be my appendage? Polly has so much more going for her than she realizes. I would only keep her from her own potential, wouldn’t I?

"Well, I'm sure you would have found a way to make things work, sir." Aidan turns his back to me, rummaging in the cabinet where my seven billion ties are kept. "But like I said, you're right. Do you need anything else?"

Using my vampire speed, I’m standing right in front of him so suddenly he flinches.

"Enough," I growl. "If you have something to say, do it now, Aidan. Or you'll have to find new employment."

My assistant blinks at me briefly, but quickly regains his composure.

"Well, if you care so much about my humble opinion, sir, I'll share it with you," he says, putting back the tie he just folded.

"I’ve worked for you for several decades now, and I can't remember ever seeing you as relaxed and happy as you have been for the last few weeks that Ms. Bukowski has been your companion. On any normal day, you are, excuse me, a dogged, hateful prick, attacking everyone unfortunate enough to cross your path and walking right over people just to get your way. But with Ms. Bukowski by your side, you were not only a better person, you were actually happy."

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