Page 121

“What are you talking about?”

“We already had this conversation outside after dinner. You said those exact words to me.”

“A conversation is not what appeared to be happening after dinner,” Axel muttered from the front seat.

Theon ignored him, his entire focus on her, and the restless thing inside her raised its head. She didn’t care. She didn’t care that she was poking the monster, that she was likely making Theon incredibly angry. She didn’t care that there was definitely going to be a consequence for her actions. She was exhausted and feeling so many emotions, she couldn’t separate them out to deal with them if she tried.

“Then let’s have a different conversation, Tessa,” he said, his voice turning dark, and Tessa tensed at his tone. “What happened when you left the table tonight? And do not tell me nothing. You were fine when you left, and pale as moonlight when you came back.”

Tessa leaned in close to him, her lips feathering against his as she spoke, and she felt him suck in a breath. “I bribed the hostess at the front of the restaurant to get me a bottle of agaveheart and have it sent to our hotel,” she simpered.

“Are you really going to make me entrance the truth from you?”

“Are you really going to continue to argue with me tonight after the day you put me through? For nothing, I might add. Since my results were apparently inconclusive,” Tessa retorted, leaning back.

Axel coughed, trying to cover it up with a huff of laughter. “Tessa takes that round.”

“Shut up, Axel,” Theon snapped, his eyes never leaving her.

“We’re here,” Luka announced, throwing open his door and climbing out. Axel got out, leaving Tessa alone with a monster in the dark.

“We need to have a conversation about what you overheard tonight.”

“Sure, Theon,” Tessa replied, patting his chest patronizingly. “Right after we have a discussion about the three of you being assholes lately.”

A growl emanated from deep in Theon’s throat, and Tessa had the good sense to jerk back from him, but his grip on her waist tightened, keeping her in his lap. “Just so you are aware, the behavior you are displaying right now falls under the arguing with me category.”

“Just so you are aware, I don’t give a flying fu—”

The door of the vehicle opened abruptly, cutting Tessa off.

“The valet is waiting,” Luka said tightly. “I am sure whatever is going on in here can be continued inside.”

“It most certainly will be,” Theon said, sliding Tessa from his lap and handing her out to Luka.

“We should make arrangements for the vehicle to be here and waiting in the morning,” Luka said while Theon climbed out and shut the car door. “Axel went inside to take care of the departing details so we don’t have to mess with it. He’s also arranging for breakfast to be ready to take with us.”

Tessa shivered against the chill of the night, and Theon glanced at her. “Go inside and stay by Axel. We will be right in.”

She didn’t hesitate, turning and rushing up the steps while rubbing her arms to create some warming friction. A Fae at the door let her in, and she immediately spotted Axel leaning against the front desk. There was a small seating area to the left, so she plopped down on a leather sofa to wait for them. She rested her chin on her hand, taking in the opulent lobby. It wasn’t as if she could head up to the private floor their penthouse suite was located on anyway. The floor was keyed to their magical signatures.

“Do you normally get all dressed up to sit in hotel lobbies after midnight?”

Tessa looked up to see a handsome mortal in jeans and a button-down shirt looking at her, a light amusement in his russet colored eyes.

“Always,” she answered. “It’s one of my favorite pastimes. There is just something about a hotel lobby that soothes the soul.”

“Maybe it’s the music?” the man supplied, the amusement forming into a small grin now.

“It’s no elevator music, but it’s the next best thing, I suppose,” Tessa said, exaggerating a wistful sigh.

The man chuckled, holding out a hand to her. “I’m Tristyn.”

“Tessa,” she replied, slipping her hand into his. He squeezed it warmly. “And what about you? What are you doing down here in the hotel lobby after midnight? Aside from striking up random conversations with Fae females.”

“Female,” Tristyn corrected. “Only one incredibly stunning female.”

Tessa felt her cheeks flush slightly. “That’s…”