“Liv,” he says, that smile still not reaching his eyes. “Mr. D’Arcangelo sent his car for you.”
“Grazi. Is he here?”
“I’m sorry,” he says and shakes his head.
Disappointed, grouchy, and hungry, I tell Nico to take us to the Hotel where we are staying.
“Mr. D’Arcangelo asked me to bring you straight to The Council building, ma’am,” he says firmly.
Ma’am? What’s all that about?
“Fine,” I snap, and we pile into the backseat thoroughly pissed off now.
“Lizzie. Do we have to?” Devon whines. “I hate that place. It’s so stuffy.”
“We won’t stay long, I promise. I’m in no mood to see Eloise and Gregor.” I shudder.
Pulling up outside The Council, we all pile back out without waiting for Nico to open the door.
Cole looks up at the medieval structure in awe. “Wow. That’s pretty impressive.”
I smile, remembering all the things he hasn’t seen yet that I can show him. I take his hand and we enter the building.
“Hi, Giulia.”
“Buongiorno, Liv. Nice to see you arrive by more conventional methods this time,” she says with a wink.
I smile back. “Giulia, you remember Devon, and this is Cole, my husband.”
She smiles at each in turn handing us our visitor’s badges.
“Husband? In the mortal sense? You kept that quiet, didn’t you,” she says.
“Didn’t she just,” Eloise’s tinkly, annoying voice says from over by the elevator. “You never mentioned it on your unsanctioned visit here last week.”
Oh, fuck off bitch, like I need to tell you anything. I sneer at her. “Well, after tomorrow I shall be free to come and go as I please. I won’t need the welcome wagon.” I wave dismissively at her, no longer concerned by her status as I am now better than her. She looks outraged that I have just dismissed her but makes no move on me. My point has been made. Clearly a chatty sire has been telling tales of my rage-fueled Power.
“Where is he?” I ask Nico.
The other elevator pings open and Constantine sweeps out in all his majestic beauty. The pang I felt after my reminiscing the other day returns.
“Aefre, you came,” he calls me by my first name. “I had half a mind you would tell Nico to shove it and go straight to the hotel.” He smiles, clearly pleased about something. He kisses me tenderly. “I’m glad the lady saw reason,” he murmurs against my lips as my mouth drops open.
“Pardon?” I whisper.
He winks at me. “Come, let me show you your office.” He pulls me into the elevator, and I tow Cole along behind me. Devon steps in under his own steam, as does Nico.
Fortunately, there is now no room for Eloise, who is staring at me with open hatred. I pull CK closer to me with a wicked smile aimed at her as the doors close.
CK’s mood is infectious as we travel up to the top floor. I wonder what on Earth is up with him. I think the other three occupants are as equally baffled by his joviality.
We step off and he pushes open the door of the office next to his, with a flourish.
“This is yours,” he says. It’s much like his own, and my one at home. I’m impressed and say so.
“I knew you would like it,” he says smugly.
“CK, what is going on with you? Is everything okay? Oh, gods, you haven’t…you know…” I dread to ask making a slitting motion at my neck.