Page 37 of Sun's Roar

“I still can’t believe I didn’t hurt you,” she murmured, glancing at his perfectly intact form beside her.

Sol guided her through the massive wooden doors, his hand possessively pressed against her lower back. “My Luna could never truly harm me. Our powers are designed to complement each other, not destroy.”

They paused in the grand foyer, its vaulted ceilings and ancient tapestries a constant reminder of how far removed she was from her small house and old life.

“I have some matters to attend to,” Sol said, his eyes softening as they swept over her face. “Deina will bring a phone to your suite as promised. I trust you’ll be comfortable while I’m occupied with...” He paused, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Prince business.”

“Prince business,” Helena repeated. “Right.”

His fingertips brushed her cheek, then he turned and strode away, the confident set of his shoulders and the fluid grace of his movement making her breath catch.

Several minutes and a few wrong turns later, Helena was back in her guest suite. When Deina arrived moments later with a sleek smartphone, Helena gratefully accepted it and walked into the living area away from Deina. Helena sank into the plush armchair and dialed the restaurant’s number. She idly ran her fingers over the armrest as the phone rang.

“Ember & Spice, how can I help you?” Tyanna’s familiar voice sent an unexpected wave of homesickness through Helena.

“Ty? It’s me—Helena.”

“Helena!” The sheer relief in Tyanna’s voice made her stomach clench with guilt. “Oh my god, where are you? Are you okay? Everyone’s been freaking out!”

“I’m fine, I promise.” Helena tucked her legs underneath her, staring out the tall windows at the manicured gardens. “What about the restaurant? I heard it might’ve been completely destroyed.”

“The restaurant’s actually... surprisingly intact. The fire was huge but didn’t do a lot of damage somehow. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen.” Tyanna lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Kitchen needs some repairs, part of the dining room, too, but Victor’s got construction crews coming in tomorrow. He’s determined to stay partially open during the renovations.”

Helena blinked in surprise. “You’re kidding. I thought it would be a total loss.”

“The man moves fast. Guess when you’re that rich, things just happen.”

“He’s still there?” The way that Sol talked about Victor, she thought he was a villain of everything good. But if that were the case, wouldn’t Victor be hiding or at least not showing his face? Maybe Sol exaggerated a little. Or a lot. She could believe thatSol would be more than a little jealous of the attention Victor was giving her.

“Yeah,” Tyanna replied. “He’s the owner. Where else would he be? He’s been asking about you nonstop, though. Where are you anyway?”

Helena bit her lip, turning to glance around the lavish suite with its four-poster bed and ornate furnishings. “I’m... safe. With a friend. I don’t actually know exactly where.” She laughed softly. “It sounds crazy when I say it out loud.”

“A friend? Helena Divata, do you mean to tell me you’re shacked up with some mystery man while we’re all worried sick about you?”

Helena’s heart skipped at Tyanna’s strangely spot-on accusation. Before Helena could respond, she heard movement and muffled words in the background on Tyanna’s end.

“Hold on,” Tyanna said, her voice suddenly distant. “It’s Victor. He wants to talk to you.”

Before Helena could protest, a deep, smooth male voice came through the line. “Helena? Thank goodness you’re all right. We’ve been concerned.”

She straightened in the plush armchair, a flutter of unease washing through her. “Victor? How did everyone know I was missing?”

“When you didn’t return after the fire, and weren’t at the hospital...” He paused. “It doesn’t matter. I know where you are now. You’re at Sol Cadoret’s castle, aren’t you?”

Helena’s breath caught in her throat. “How could you possibly know that?”

“Sol and I have a mutual acquaintance,” Victor explained, his tone casual yet precise. “Small world, isn’t it? When I heard you’d been possibly whisked away by a mysterious man, I made inquiries. I was worried about my executive chef.”

Helena’s fingers tightened on the phone. “That’s... quite thorough for a new boss.”

“Of course, I’d keep tabs on my employees, especially after such a catastrophe,” Victor replied with a warm chuckle. “Besides, you’re the previous owner. I need your expertise for a smooth transition of ownership. Not to mention, you’re the one who knows that kitchen best.”

The explanation made sense, loosening the knot in her stomach. She relaxed back against the cushions.

“The renovations will begin tomorrow,” Victor continued. “But I need your guidance on the kitchen remodel. It’s your domain, after all. I don’t want to make changes you’d hate to work with. It’s important to me that this restaurant does well, Helena. I want you and the entire staff to thrive.”

Helena felt a small swell of pride. Despite everything that had happened, her professional opinion still mattered. This man sounded like he really cared. “I appreciate that. The layout was actually quite efficient, but there were a few things I would have changed if I’d had the budget.”

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