Page 56 of Suspicions on the Stage
Her retort gets a throaty laugh from the other woman. “Ah, the fire in you hasn’t diminished with this development. I like that. So many strong, capable women I meet ask for things because they do not have the inner core of confidence and self-love to demand what they deserve on their own. Others do, but once they get it, their fire dims to almost nothing, hoping to keep it. You’ll do, I suppose.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Iggy demands as he puts the phone down. “I fucking hate riddles.”
“No, you don’t, professor. You hate when those dispensing them won’t make it easy for you. I am not being difficult, nor am I required by our impending bargain to provide you with any more information than your specific deal requires. My theories are my own, I’m afraid.”
He rolls his eyes and I get up, walking over to sit on the arm of his chair. My presence has always calmed his irritation, and being closer will keep him from losing his temper on the powerful Hell spawn. “You’re toying with us as revenge for catching your little omission. It’s not a violation of the terms, but it is rather unprofessional.”
Celestara shrugs. “What other people think of me is none of my concern. Living as long as I have, I shed those mortal-esque leanings before any of you were born, even your prince. My employer gives me free rein to run the show how I please because I produce results, my dear. Your outrage will not even register.”
Of course they won’t; her bosses are the evil royals of Hell whose own children don’t like them.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t aggravate them while I work. Otherwise, I might think you’re doing it to distract me.Thatwould certainly be against the rules.”
I chuckle as Liam barks without taking his eyes off of the parchment. He’s very kind and laid back, but sometimes the royal he was raised to be peeks out and now is one of those times. “Very true. You need to be worried about locating her deception, not Morgana being upset.”
Before the demoness can respond, a loud bang hits the door of our room, and the ball of magic emerges from the other side. Loud voices ring out, and I know it means Kaspar and whomever he’s with have arrived. The dragon is growling loudly, and the other person is obviously trying to explain that they didn’t arrange this. When no one else moves, I rise from the arm of the chair, walking over to open the door.
“Who thefuckhad the balls to—” Kaspar looks at me in shock, his eyes darting to each one of us, then Celestara. He coughs, then calmly says, “Your Highness.”
Liam looks up for the first time since he took the contract again, his expression sour. “Welcome to our negotiations, Kas. Nice of you to join us.”
The dragon actually looks chagrined, and his companion steps into the doorframe. It’s a punked out Cubi who can’t be more than a few hundred years old. Her pout tells me she thought this deal would make a name for her, and that she might get to feed off someone important. I roll my eyes, then look at my mate. Her expression is stony, eyes dark with rage and inner monsters vying for control.
Oh, she isnothappy, and this is going to go so fucking badly.
it’s tricky
MORGANA
The dragon doesn’t look in the least bit surprisedorcontrite. In fact, his expression is impassive as he stares at our group lounging with this high-powered demon hybrid. He’s not even responding to Li’s sarcastic comment—no, the stony bodyguard act is in full effect. His broker looksjitterywith Celestara in the room, all bravado fading as he gauges the temperature of our chilly cohort.
“I, uh, didn’t know he was—I’m so sorry, Lady Celestara. I would never attempt to poach?—”
“Silence.” Her one word stops the babbling Cubi in a split second, as does her lazily raised hand. “you may leave. Confirm the transfer when you go.”
“Yes, right away. On it.” Punky guy scrambles away from the doorframe and out of view like his ass is on fire, and for a second, I admire the calm control the woman has over those below her. It’s a palpable feeling that didn’t require her to even voice anger; her claims must not be completely off-base.
“I didn’t agree to a change of broker.”
Liam looks up from the document with an amused expression. “I believe I outrank you as much as Celestara does your demon.”
Kaspar enters the room with a subtle huff, closing the door behind him. “We may not be asking for the same boon. That would make the contract you’re reviewing useless to me, Your Highness.”
Celestara smirks, clearly enjoying the discord. “Ah, but I have something you would be interested in as well. Though I suspect you are being less than honest about that, I have truth besides the current services requested.”
My eyes narrow as I tilt my head to study her. She’s a hard read, but the lilt of excitement in her tone tells me what I need to know. Whatever this demoness knows pleases her—why, I’m not sure—but she’s eager to relay the information. That puts us in an unusually good position to draw the info out of her without yet another amendment to this cursed document. “As far as I know, neither the prince nor his employee know you. What could you possibly know that would interest us?”
“Good question, Morgana,” Iggy says with a sly grin. “I also believe she’s bluffing. Liam’s magic would have sensed hers if they’d met in the past under another guise. This is just a distraction.”
Of course, the sneaky ass mage would pick up the vibe I’m laying down—it’s in his nature.
Celestara rolls her eyes, slinking further into her seat with a bored sigh. “You will not goad me into telling you, hybrid. Better and older supes than you have tried it and every other manipulation in the book. My ego does not need stroking; I know my worth and the value of this tidbit to your family.”
Lucas hums as if he is considering her statement, then shrugs. “I say we let it go. Li’s gotta be close to finishing that thing and I can’t imagine anything she could offer that would be commensurate with giving her more than we’ve already agreed to. It’s definitely bogus.”
Squeezing his hand, I smile at the brave bear. “You’re right, Lucas. All we need is in this room, plus this one task we’re negotiating. We have plenty of resources on our own. Whatever she’s sitting on will come out, eventually.”
“It hasn’t been for centuries; why would your current situation change that?” The smug demoness shrugs casually as she studies her long nails. “My contracts guarantee confidentiality on that level… unless the employer breaks the deal of their own volition.”
