Page 29 of The Lost Kings
He turned the car off and faced one another. I tried to relax into the plush leather but the way he was watching me had my stomach flipping.
“I got you something.” Adrian lifted the middle console hatch.
I smirked, moving the smallest bit so he had more room. “Swing by a gas station on the way over?”
His eyes lit up with humor as he smiled. “No, I got this for you when I last visited Spain. I saw it and instantly knew it was yours.” Pulling out a velvet box, he opened it, revealing a necklace connected with just a singular diamond circle.
“You’re complete, Presley. You act like you’re not, but it’ll be mygoal to prove to you that you are.” He pulled it free from the plush setting and leaned closer.
I watched as he placed it around my neck and then gently traced my shoulder, encouraging me to turn so he could clasp it. “Thank you, Adrian. I love it.”
His lips were near my ear as he whispered, “Happy Birthday,la mia Bellezza.”
I closed my eyes, willing the tears to stay in place. Adrian had been hinting at feelings for me, but I’d been too young. Now, I wasn’t sure he’d continue to play games; he was the sort of man who just claimed what he wanted, and it was clear he wanted me.
I just wasn’t in the place to be claimed.
I needed a friend, and I hoped that’s all he’d be for me right now. To ensure he didn’t kiss me or do anything else, I spun around and threw my arms around his neck, then just as quickly, jumped out of the car.
Once he was outside with me, I headed toward the front door of the manor.
“Come on. I have a movie marathon on the horizon for us.”
He smiled at me, then tucked his hands into his pockets before walking toward me. “Okay, but no vampires.”
My hair lifted as I spun around, and I caught his broad smile as I did. “Definitely vampires and a few zombies too but only the kind that can fall in love.”
“Of course.” Adrian laughed, and when I went to open the front door, I felt like my smile had finally returned too. Even if it was short-lived.
Adrian leftaround eleven at night after spending the entire day in my room, watching movie after movie with me while we ate pizza, salad—for him—and drank our weight in strawberry milk.
Reaper’s gentle trot warned me that my uncle would arrive soon. I sucked in a deep breath and counted to three.
One.
Two.
Three.
“What the fuck did you do?!” His voice was a thunder crack in the room.
Turning toward him, I made sure my mask was in place as I feigned confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You brought our enemy into ourhome. He now knows where we live. How could you be so reckless?”
“Me?” I gestured at my chest, feeling it heat with anger. I walked around the coffee table and pointed at him. “You’re the one who pushed me and pushed me over there and told me to create an ally. Well, I did! How can you be upset with me?”
Scotty’s eyes were burning as he glared at me. “You revealed where we live, Presley.”
“What exactly did you think an ally would do, Scotty? We’re supposed to trust him.”
His jaw clenched tight as Reaper watched us argue, before lying down and placing his face on his paws.
“I wanted you to gain his confidence, be casual and reel him in. I didn’t want you to fall for him.”
“I didn’t fall for him!” The shock that he assumed that felt like a crack in my ribs, but perhaps it was the shame of how close his statement landed to the truth. Was I falling for Adrian?
Scotty stepped closer, his nose flared in obvious frustration. “Then why the fuck did you invite him here on your birthday and spend all day with him in your bedroom? The entire manor was on high alert all fucking day, Presley.”
