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The unknown enemy couldn’t know I was a mess on the inside.

The doors opened with a gentle ting. The sound grated against my soul.

“Good evening, sir, do you have a reservation?” the hostess greeted me.

I looked over her, scanning the room for a familiar face. My enemy said we’d met before. The moment I saw his too pretty features, I wished instantly that I’d put a bullet in it that one time.

His gaze was trained on me, no doubt having anticipated my arrival. Eyes locked to his as I ignored the hostess and pushed into the exclusive, swanky restaurant, I didn’t immediately notice the Skorpios brat wasn’t alone.

When I saw his companion, sitting ramrod straight at his side, I forgot to breathe. My steps faltered, and I nearly crashed into a tuxedo-wearing waiter.

The bastard had my wife.

There was no smile on Serena’s face. She looked every bit a royal queen, pissed and disdainful at the situation.

I looked over her again, noting there wasn’t a hair out of place nor bruise marring her visage. A gold dress draped her body. Diamonds hung from her ears while a strand hung between her breasts. She looked...beautiful.

And unharmed.

There would have been no stopping me if she was hurt. I would level this whole fucking building, civilians and all, if Alexios had laid a hand on her.

Somehow, with a strength greater than I could muster, I drew a breath into my lungs and took a step toward them.

“Talk,” I demanded, stopping at the single chair on the opposite side of the table from the couple.

Serena opened her mouth, but Alexios swept his hand in front of her.

“Touch her, and I’ll kill you.” I didn’t realize I’d picked up a knife from the table setting. It was blunt compared to the blade on my calf, which meant it would hurt twice as badly as it cut through the scorpion’s shell.

“Please, have a seat,” Alexios intoned, nodding to the empty chair.

“Serena, come here.” As the words left my lips, a sudden quake shuddered my heart. I saw them then, saw the picture in front of me. The beautiful woman sitting next to the classically good-looking prince from the rival family. They...fit.

They looked right—exactly how a power couple should look. It wouldn’t have painted the same scene if my ugly mug was the one beside hers.

“Serena,” I insisted, forcing the fear from my voice.

No divine creature would prefer the company of a monster from the deep when there were princes on land. When she didn’t move, when she didn’t come to me, my chest ached.

“She’s not going anywhere until we come to an understanding,” Alexios menaced, dropping the polite charade. “So sit your ass down, Black Tide.”

A plea flashed in those brown eyes. That simple, unspoken request from my goddess had me ripping back the chair and falling into it.

“I don’t appreciate you sending your wife to do your dirty work, Markos,” Alexios spat, taking his wine and lifting it to his lips. The crimson liquid stained his mouth for a brief moment before he licked it off. “First my house, then my place of business.”

Serena let out a strangled groan of annoyance. “How the hell was I supposed to know you owned the freaking zoo?”

The information clicked into place. My anger at her was siphoned a fraction. I had to remember she wasn’t here of her own free will. She didn’t choose the pretty boy.

But she didn’t choose me, either.

It doesn’t matter, I chose her.And someday, if my prayers were answered, she would pick me in turn.

“What’s this going to cost me?” I demanded.

Alexios set down his glass. “See, here’s the thing. I like you, Markos. Unlike the rest of the Twelve—” he spat the name as if it were something dirty “—you’re someone I can negotiate with.”

I leaned forward, elbows on the table, and studied him. “You’ve never liked me, Skorpios. Let's not pretend otherwise.”