Page 40 of Their Promise

As I finished applying mascara for my date with Prince Liam, Trey knocked on my bedroom door.

“What’s up?” I asked him as I put my makeup away and grabbed my purse. “I’ve got a date to go to.”

“I came to give you your belated birthday present,” he said. “I apologize for the delay.” He held out a small black box that looked suspiciously like a jewelry box.

“You guys already gave me a necklace,” I reminded him. Though I didn’t need to remind him since I was still wearing it. I’d debated taking it off last night, but when I touched it, it had felt warm and familiar and I didn’t want to take it off.

“I remember,” he said with a smile as his eyes darted down to the necklace. “But that was a courting gift. This is a birthday gift.”

Opening the box, I blinked at the ornate brass key inside. “What is it a key to?”

He winked and said, “You’ll find out on our date tomorrow. Have a great night, Lily.”

He knew I hated surprises. He had no doubt given it to me right before my date with Liam on purpose, to try to distract me. Even as an adult, he was such a brat.

Shoving the bratty prince out of my mind, I focused on the elven prince I was headed to see.

Originally, I was supposed to go out with Kayden tonight, but Liam only had tonight available, so Kayden agreed to reschedule our date.

“I’m off to my date,” I announced as I walked out the front door.

“Have fun!” Mom called back.

“Bring back a slice of cheesecake!” Dad called out as I shut the door.

While Mom had called to set up the days and times for the dates, the men were the ones who chose where and what we were doing. Of the ones scheduled so far, ninety percent of them were lunch or dinner dates.

Prince Liam was not an exception. He’d made a reservation at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, the one with the best cheesecake ever. I had already planned to get Mom a slice, since it was her favorite cheesecake.

I climbed into the back of the SUV and my eyes widened when I found Kayden in the driver’s seat. “Where’s Ezio?”

“It’s been determined that you are, like your mother and grandmother, a magnet for trouble, and that my father is, and I quote my mother, ‘too old to deal with all the shenanigans.’ So, I’m your assigned guard for the day,” Kayden replied, a smug smile on his face.

“No,” I said and started to climb out of the car.

“The demons were far too interested in you for us to not notice,” Kayden said quickly. “King Caleb has requested I go with you in case more demons show up. I’ve been studying the demons since I was a child and know the most about them, so I’m your best option.”

Growling, I said, “Fine, but you will stay on the far side of the restaurant and will not interrupt us unless my life is in danger. Do you understand?”

He nodded and started the vehicle. “I understand.”

It didn’t escape my notice that he wore a nice pair of slacks and a button-up, silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his forearms. Did he know that was one of my favorite things? Or had he guessed? Or was he just … naturally sexy? Well, I knew the last question was definitely true.

“Look on the seat beside you,” he said after he’d been silent as we drove out of the hybrid clan territory.

Frowning, I looked to my left and my eyes widened at the sight of an envelope with a red bow atop it. How had I not noticed that when I’d climbed in?

Opening it, I pulled out two tickets to a concert in two nights. Front row seats to one of my favorite bands.

“Is this the plan for our date?” I asked, giddy excitement coursing through me that I failed to hide in my higher pitched voice.

He nodded, smiling slightly.

“How did you get tickets like this last minute? They’ve been sold out for a year.” I knew as I’d tried to buy them.

“I have my ways,” he answered vaguely. “The rumor is that while you were at college, you didn’t do anything fun. I thought we should rectify that.”

Ihadn’tdone anything fun during college.

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