Page 55 of Royal Vampire's Fake Mistress

“Is that all?” he asked almost lazily. “If you don’t mind, I have other matters to attend to and a testament to write. I prefer to do it before the sun sets and all you crazy folks come out.”

Nate expected Winter to smile, but the way her mood instantly shifted had him going on alert. A surge to protect came but was stopped when she approached the pirate, searching his face.

“You know something else, don’t you?” she prompted.

There was no outward indication that he did except for the impressed glimmer when he examined her back. Speculation rose as brown eyes flicked at Nate.

“Maybe.”

“Do tell,” Nate intoned.

Silence.

“Your father’s life is in danger. I suggest getting the same protection squad that Miss Rue has and avoiding all that trouble.”

Ice skittered down his spine. “Who?”

“I don’t know. Denison talks a lot but never finishes his statements. He’s a very unreliable creature and all over the place with his obsession over becoming a leader.” Isaiah smirked. “Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the skill to do what it takes.”

And just like that, Nate already knew who was tasked to kill his father.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“You just imprisoned Denison and lost me a client. I’m going to need another one, and there’s only one person I’m looking at who can offer me a deal so there won’t be a dent in the business.”

Nate nodded and agreed. He sat through the written testament and the bloodied thumbprints, then the pirate making a show of doing him a huge favor and expecting not to be bothered with messy vampire politics again. He said all the right things to keep the pirate on his side—for now. But his mind was already elsewhere and planning his next move.

“What did you tell House Rue?”

“I showed them the testament. They have rallied their support—Stephanie, in particular—for me in future endeavors.”

“And the queen?”

This one had been harder to navigate, considering a testament from Isaiah would have guaranteed that the pirate would have an open target on his back. But he squeezed Winter’s hand.

“She heeded my warnings. She followed my suggestion to isolate the king, even from his sons and daughters, and told her they would be in danger, too, if they stood too close to him.” Remembering his mother’s worried face had him smiling. “He has his protection squad now. I suspect she put one on the crown prince, too.”

That had her eyes glinting. “Every move monitored. That’s perfect.”

So perfect, in fact, that he couldn’t help taking her away from the castle when he should be inside, making deals…revealing the truth. Winter made a sound when he tugged her in the direction of the market.

“The sun’s out,” she protested. “What are you doing? Where are we going?”

“The sun will be down soon. And I need a day.”

“A day?”

“House Rue is interrogating Denison tonight,” he confirmed. “We need his testament on top of Isaiah’s to incriminate my brother. We need every account of his hunting parties and secrets to be out so that the king will see that he is not fit to give up the crown yet. So, we need to give House Rue time to gather the evidence—that is, if they are truly on my side. House Chatterley is on standby for whatever happens next.”

“I read Stephanie,” Winter reminded. “She’s on your side through and through. Are you also interrogating Denison?”

“Yes. It’s my turn if he doesn’t cave. And he will cave to me.”

“He will. But it still doesn’t explain what we are doing out.”

“Has someone ever taken you out on a market date?”

“No, and…” Her eyes widened. “Nate, you will be recognized.”

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