Page 69 of Insidious Monsters
“But you know Devyn and the Guild and I’m part of that dynamic. She trusted me with you, and you know Devyn, she doesn’t trust easily.”
He had a valid point; besides, my gut said to trust him. I needed all the help I could get. “Fine. Let’s do this.”
“I’ll get my things.” He stood and hurried across the room to a cabinet on the wall.
My phone buzzed and Lothos’s name popped up on caller ID. “Hey.”
“August, we have an issue.”
“Wait, how do I know this is you?”
He sighed. “Of course, Barathos tricked you once. You need to be sure it’s me. I saved your friend Nandi. I’ve allowed Telarion into my inner sanctum and you and I have never had sex.”
I exhaled, because there was no way Barathos could know about that. “Okay. It’s you. So, what’s this issue? Was there a problem with the contract?”
“No. The contract is fine, but Barathos has invited us to a Failte. It’s a gathering to welcome a new nova prima into the fold. Almost like a ball.”
That nova prima was me, except our relationship was fake. “So what do we do?”
“We must go. If we do not, it’s considered an insult.”
“Okay, fine. Then we go. When is it?”
“Tomorrow night.”
“What, that’s super short notice. Can he do that?”
“He can do whatever he wants. He’s a prince.”
Annoyance flared in my chest. “And what if I had other plans?”
“You’re my nova prima, your only plan should be me.” His voice dropped to something husky and compelling and a shiver ran over my skin.
I cleared my throat. “Lothos?”
He made a soft sound of exasperation. “You will have to be compliant. Receptive to my attentions. You will have to seem smitten. Can you do that?”
My stomach fluttered. “How smitten are we talking about?”
“Don’t worry, August, I will not take advantage of you. I gave you my word and I stand by it. A kiss or two, nothing more than we’ve already shared. It would be best if Telarion didn’t attend.”
“Why?”
“He isn’t invited.”
Crap, Telarion wasn’t going to like that. “Lothos, I can’tmakehim stay away.”
“Look, August, Barathos leaves for Faerie after the Failte. He’ll be gone. You’ll be free. All we need to do is get through this one event. All Telarion needs to do is trust me and make himself scarce for this one evening.”
He was asking for one evening to complete our charade. Not an unreasonable request. “Okay.”
“Good. I’ll have a dress sent over and I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow evening.” He hung up.
I stared at the phone, stomach trembling with foreboding because Barathos was a first-rate wanker and the last thing I wanted to do was spend any time around him, but if it was the only way to keep him off my back, then so be it.
Milo returned carrying a black leather box. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
