My eyebrows wing upward. “He told you about the portal?”
Sabre nods. “He knew we’ve been searching for a way to escape our fates and told us about this realm. Said how the portal would only be open for an hour or two and that it would likely be closed off and never used again.”
“Clearly, he was wrong,” Cage drawls.
“Clearly, he didn’t tell you the actual purpose of the portal,” I correct. Which was to provide a cover for our mission here in this realm. At least Maliki did that right. But he shouldn’t have let these two Strigoi Princesescapeinto this world. “You can’t stay here.”
Sabre releases Cage’s hand and folds his arms. “That’s not what the Queen’s Emissary said.”
“Jones?” I ask, already wary about where this conversation is headed.
“No. Emissary Sheila.” Sabre’s brow furrows. “Who’s Jones?”
“No one that matters,” I mutter, running my fingers through my hair. “Let me guess, though—you’re staying at the Queen’s tower?”
Cage nods. “They gave us a suite. Shewants to meet with us next week. Until then, they’re providing everything we need, including sustenance.”
Great,I think.This is… just fucking great.
But it’s honestly not my problem to deal with. Orcus will have to tell Hades, and Hades will talk to his cousin Morpheus. And they’ll figure out how to handle these two rebel Princes.
Princes who are supposed to hate each other, I think, eyeing their closeness.Yet that’s clearly a lie.
I shake my head and turn toward Alina, saying, “I need to get you back to the tower.”
Only, she doesn’t appear to hear me at all.
Because her gaze is on my abdomen.
Then it slowly lowers to my pierced cock.
Her eyes widen.
Her lips part.
And even in the dark, I can see the blush coloring her cheeks.
Despite the situation, I smile. Because that look on her face is worthy of a responding grin.
She’s intimidated, probably by the bulb she can see near my base. Or perhaps by the piercings, too. Or maybe the size. Or all of the above.
But a strong sense of interest underlines that intimidation, and that interest is something I can work with.
I saunter toward her, forgetting the Strigoi at my back, and press two of my fingers to her chin to draw her gaze up to mine. “You can touch it later,” I tell her softly. “After we get back to the tower.”
She swallows. “I… I didn’t… I don’t… I mean… I…” She snaps her mouth shut, her pupils fully dilated as she gapes up at me.
“You did,” I tell her. “You do. And it’s fine. I want youto touch me. Just not in front of these two assholes. They’ve already seen enough of you.”
Cage and Sabre both snort.
I ignore them and lean down to press a kiss to Alina’s fiery cheek. “I’m going to go grab my clothes,” I tell her. “If one of them comes near you, knee them in the balls.”
While I can’t see them, I sense both Cage and Sabre rolling their eyes. They might have snuck into this realm, but they’re both honorable men. They won’t harm Alina in any way. And not just because she’s mine, but because she hasn’t consented.
Still, they are in for a world of pain when their God finds out about their little adventure.
Or maybe Morpheus won’t care at all.