Page 66 of Zar

Zar shoved a hand through his hair. He didn’t want to look at that hated list. The thought that there were others intent on harming Callie pushed his rage to the very edge. The betrayal he felt in that moment went bone deep. “I want the two of you to escort Callie back to her apartment so she can collect her things and speak to her father.”

Zar looked over at Callie. She stood leaning against the doorjamb and staring at him with concern in her pretty blue eyes. He opened his arms and spread his wings wide. She crossed the room and walked into his embrace. Her face pressed against his chest and a sense of peace fell over him. “You should be asleep, my ofelia.”

“I heard you talking and was worried,” she admitted. “Is everything okay between you and Queen Lyria?”

“All is well,” he reassured her. “Raine will retrieve Naxon’s body tomorrow and bring it back to Mordaine for burial.” He thought about telling her about the sickness Naxon suffered from but decided against it. Later, he’d fill her in. He didn’t wish to overwhelm her when they had other things to discuss.

“So, tomorrow I’m going home,” she mumbled against his chest as her hands rubbed his back in a light massage.

He leaned back and tipped her chin upward with a fist until she was staring at him. “This is your home now, little dove.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “I like the sound of that. I love you, Zar.”

Zar groaned, as a fire began to spread throughout his body. “I love you, my queen.”

Flare cleared his throat. “If there’s nothing else, my king, I will take my leave.”

Zar’s gaze landed on his head regis. “We will go over the security details later for Callie’s trip back.” Flare agreed then quietly left through the balcony doors. Zar’s attention went back to the woman in his arms. “Now, where were we…”

“Here, I believe,” she answered as she pressed her lips to his.

****

The drive back to her apartment had been a tedious one and Callie was ready to scream. Flare had been uber protective per Zar’s orders. Zar had texted her a dozen times and she suspected he’d texted Flare a dozen more. Her ofelia was driving her to drink. “I’m perfectly safe, Flare. Really!”

“My orders are clear, my queen. I am to have you in my sight at all times.” He turned towards Magnus. “Guard the balcony,” he instructed. The other regis fled across the room to stand in front of the double doors like the big, bad alien that he was. Magnus was quiet, but intense. He’d barely spoken on the trip except to say, yes, sir from time to time. It unnerved Callie.

She turned away from both men and looked around her apartment. Back where she started. Her neat, beige couch, her expensive paintings on the wall. The giant flat screen TV that she’d barely used. It was the most boring living room ever. Her bedroom was the same. When she went in there, her gaze landed on the bed. It was perfectly made. Not a crease to be seen. Callie remembered the messy blankets in Zar’s bedchamber and wanted to smile. He’d made love to her the night before, then he’d woken her with kisses and they’d spent the morning teasing and playing. It’d been heavenly. Looking at her old life sealed it. If she’d had a single doubt that she was making the right choice, it was crushed in the starkness of her boring bedroom.

Callie took out her phone and began making calls. First to a storage company, then a moving van rental place. There were things she wanted to bring with her, but most of her things would need to go into storage so she could deal with them later. With that finished, she got her father on the line. He picked up on the second ring.

“Callie?”

“It’s me. I’m back.” Temporarily, she silently added. Best to drop that little bomb in person though.

“It’s about time,” her father snarled. “Things have been crazy around here since you decided to take your silly little vacation.”

Ah, finally, her father got to see firsthand just how difficult her job had been. And she was so not sorry to walk away from it either. “I’m going to need to discuss that with you. Are you at home right now?”

“Yes, of course I’m home.”

“See you in a few then.” He was still talking when she hung up. “Let the yelling begin,” she muttered as she went back out to the living room to find Flare and Magnus discussing something.

“I need to go to my father’s,” she stated. Both men came forward. She glared at them. “How in holy hell am I supposed to explain your presence?”

Flare smiled. “We are associates of Zar’s. You met him while on vacation and fell in love. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be here to help you with this transition so he sent us in his place.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. So, they had it all worked out, did they? “And why does Zar have associates? Is he rich? These are questions my father will ask. He’s nothing if not thorough.”

“He has many business investments and owns a large amount of property where you were vacationing. It’s how you two met. His home is near the cabin you were staying in.”

Hold the phone. “Are you saying Zar really is rich?”

Flare chuckled. “He is what earth-born would consider a billionaire, Callie.”

“Shit.” She knew her eyes were bulging out, but she couldn’t quite help it. “He never even said anything.”

“I don’t think earth-born money is a big concern for the king, beyond securing our mountain and keeping unwanted visitors away.” She must have looked dumbstruck because Flare felt the need to add, “Remember we have been here for over a thousand years. King Arlias made many sound business decisions. It’s a trait he passed onto his son.”

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