Page 322 of Night's Fall
“I’ll take you to him,” the bot replied and moved through the house.
Aleksei looked around as they walked through the space.
It was nice, yet it had no personality.Middleof the road when it came to expense, like the bot.Though, better than most.Itwas clean, and in good nick, but again, if he didn’t know who lived there, he’d have no idea of anything about them.
This, he didn’t find surprising.
The bot led them through the kitchen at the back andSettook point when they followed it out into the courtyard.
Now this was something else.
There were fall flowers here too, as well as some late vegetables in raised beds that hadn’t yet been harvested.Otherbeds had been turned over, readied for winter.
All of it was neat and tidy, including two seating areas, one for eating, one for lounging, both having far more personality than the living areas he’d just walked through.Theywere stylish and inviting.
Along the entire back of the courtyard was a greenhouse.
The bot led them there.
Set stepped in first, then stepped out and nodded toAleksei.
Aleksei walked in, seeing a riot of green and color, more vegetables, as well as herbs.Itwas humid in there, warm, and standing in it, he sawTernMakepeacewearing a battered button down, the sleeves rolled up, and jeans, both had dirt marks on them.Hewas tending to some pots.
He stopped what he was doing whenAlekseicame in and did a small bow, greeting, “Yourhighness.”
“I’m uncertain whyI’min your greenhouse,”Alekseireplied, not particularly liking seeing this man in what was clearly his element, relaxed, at ease.
Normal.
Makepeace had a trowel in hand, and he used it to indicate the brownstone. “It’sfar more pleasant out here than it is in there.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Nevertheless.
“This isn’t a social call,”Alekseipointed out.
Makepeace nodded. “Iappreciate you granting me this audience.Andcoming to me.”
“It’s an audience of ten minutes, andIdon’t want my mate to knowI’mhere,” he shared this not to be informative, but as a warning. “Andspeaking to you here will be one of the few places she’d never guessI’llbe.”
Makepeace’s face turned melancholy. “It’snot my place to say, butIlearned the hard way you shouldn’t keep anything from your mate.”
“It is, indeed, not your place to say.Andnow you have nine minutes.”
Makepeace nodded. “Cetrahas filed official papers for the dissolution of our marriage with the magistrate.”
“I’m aware of this.”
“She’s living withChevalforce.”
“I know this too.”
“He’s a maleIhate.That’swhy she chose him to sleep with.”
Aleksei was tiring of this because he had no interest in it.
“Now you have eight minutes,” he warned.
