Page 240 of Night's Fall
He straight-up sneered.
It was hard, butIignored that too.
“I couldn’t say he was leaping for joy at the opportunity to tell me, but he was helpful,”Isaid.
“A miracle shines out of the murk,” he muttered.
Do not ask me why, but a protective instinct surged in me regarding his brother.
“He helped me out,Aleksei.Ihad a question, and he took time to answer it.”
Something you did not do,Ileft unsaid.
He ignored that and inquired, “Didyou get a tour of thePalace?”
“I wandered myself.”
“That isn’t a tour.”
“No,”Iagreed. “Butstaff have things to do.Aleecedisappeared after breakfast, she was checking onErrol.Ididn’t see her after, andIdidn’t comm becauseIdidn’t want to bother her in case she was busy.Yourfather was otherwise engaged.Yourmom was gone.SoIdid the bestIcould do.”
An odd brittleness seemed to infuse his features whenImentionedErrol, but he didn’t explain that or say anything.
He simply inclined his head.
“I also spoke toAntheme’smom and dad, as well as the wife of the male who was lost yesterday,”Itold him.
His brow creased. “DidGermaineapprove that?”
“No.”
He put his hands on his hips, like a father preparing to educate a small, dull child. “Laura,Ibelieve you’ve already learned, in sensitive matters like that, you need to discuss them withGermaine.”
Do not rise to the bait,Laura.
“They were movedItook the time to comm,”Ishared.
“We’re lucky for that,” he murmured and then declared, “Ihave a meeting in ten minutes.I’llbe in my study and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“Is this meeting about what’s happening?”
“No.Istill own controlling share of twenty-seven businesses, regardless of what happened yesterday.Andin so doing,I’mrequired to discuss issues and render decisions on how they operate.”
And nowIwas not a small, dull child, butIwas getting another you’re-a-dim-bulb tone from a prince of the realm.
Patience and understanding.Heconsiders his mate in danger and vulnerable.Don’tadd fuel to the fire.
“Will you share about your meeting this morning after your imminent meeting?”Iasked.
“I saidIwould.”
More odd,Isensed he was lying.
SinceIcouldn’t understand whyIhad that sensation,Ididn’t call him on it.
I nodded and said, “Okay.Canyou tell me why you were called away last night?”
“No.”
