Page 43 of His Stolen Queen
"Stop it."
"Ask me why I am harder by just kissing you than I ever was when Tatiana used to join me in a foursome."
A foursome? He had three at the same time? My nose flared.
"Ah…there is that fire." His rich voice was heavy with male satisfaction.
I grabbed my bag and jerked it over my shoulder. I felt sick. I’d betrayed my husband, and it made me want to throw up. "We only have a week left," I shakily confirmed. "Stay away from me."
I made it all the way to the lift before he spoke.
"And then there's the party."
I spun around. "What?"
He was leaning casually against the doorjamb, hand in one pocket. "My housewarming party, next Saturday. You and your staff are the special guests. I wish to…thank you properly for your hard work."
Christ, I'd forgotten about that. It was going to serve as good exposure for us. There were a lot of potential clients we could collect by networking. Von had suggested as much.
I rubbed my temple. "I'll be there. With my husband," I emphasized. I turned to walk away again.
"Alice."
I closed my eyes and stopped in my steps but refused to turn around.
"I look forward to meeting him."
His words followed me like an ominous warning.
Chapter 16
Acheron
"Tell me you finally know something."
Frustration bled into my voice as I glowered at the pale faces of my Elders. I had given them Alice's hair a week ago, and the turnaround should only have taken a few hours. The fact that they kept delaying the release of their findings told me something concerning had been uncovered.
Styros stepped forward; uncertainty and nerves trickled through him. "We apologize for the delay, my King, but we had to be sure. Our findings were, quite frankly, extraordinary. We needed time to research further; to be absolutely sure before we brought it before you."
Hammon spoke up next. "As you know, King Artemis and Queen Sarai had two children. It was believed that they were also killed alongside their parents."
My brow furrowed as I recalled the tale that had been repeated to me many times over the centuries. "Yes. Their charred remains were found in the east wing."
"That was what was reported, yes."
I stilled; my gaze sliding among the solemn faces of my Elders. "I am sensing a ‘but’ here…"
Henk stepped forward, producing a large tome from under his arm. "The oldest, their daughter Amara, was killed. However, we have reason to believe that their youngest, Gallon, was spared."
My eyes widened at this reveal. I held out my hand, and Henk obediently handed me the records.
"This is one of the records we thought perished in the fire?" I queried, my eyes quickly scanning through the ancient scribe.
"Yes. Gallon had a bond-servant with whom he was very close. The BloodKin had captured his sister and threatened to behead her if he did not provide them with safe passage into the castle. He complied but also smuggled Gallon out a few hours before the attack."
"Gallon would have only been seven at the time," I murmured, my deft fingers flicking through the pages, rapidly reading and absorbing the information with quick-fire speed.
Henk nodded. "He was hidden within the human world by loyalists to the King and Queen. Even though the Treaty was in its infancy, they allowed a small group of humans to work with them."
