Page 29 of Crave Me

“We are,” he replied. “And I’ve spent a very long time living that life. But now that we’re… exposed… I would like to pursue alternatives. Ones that aren’t possible in Death and Diamond, considering recent events there.”

“I see.” I shared a glance with Kieran. It seemed he’d more than upheld his promise to find a phantom or two who might be interested in Gold and Garnet.

“They used to work for Max,” Kieran said by way of explanation.

I had no idea who or what Max was, but I nodded anyway and refocused on the one who claimed to love death. “Bane?” I guessed.

“Nox,” he corrected, his lips twisting into a sardonic smile. “It’s short for Noxious. A chosen name, not my birth name.”

I arched a brow. “Is thatchosen namerelated to an ability I should know about?”

“I have a thing for toxins.” He glanced at Bane. “He’s better with traditional weaponry. But I usually enhance them with… chemicals.”

“Yes, our former supervisor had a thing for experiments,” Bane added. “And Nox enjoyed playing in the labs.”

Interesting. I shared a look with Kaspian. “Sounds like you just made two new friends.”

“We’ll see if they can keep up,” my second drawled.

Nyx twirled across the room, catching my gaze again. She appeared to be humming to some tune that only she could hear since the music had stopped playing.

“Anything else?” Kieran asked, sounding bored.

“Not unless you want to protest Vesperus’s decision,” Kaspian replied.

I studied the male, curious to read his reaction.

But he simply shrugged again. “It’ll create an interesting conversation, and my uncle isn’t going to approve. However, I imagine you have a plan to deal with that.”

I neither confirmed nor denied that assumption.

Which caused Kieran to smile as he pushed away from the table. “I believe my count is at two favors now, King Vesperus.” He glanced at Nyx and then the phantoms. “Technically three.”

“Noted,” I replied dryly.

The cocky vampire-fae’s smile grew. “Then I think our alliance is off to a fantastic beginning.” He started toward the door, only to pause and add, “But my offer for a demonstration still stands. Let me know when you’re ready or in need.”

With that, he gave a slight bow to Nyx, one she returned with a full curtsy, and headed out the door.

I stared after him, amused.

“Demonstration?” Kaspian repeated.

“Of his ouchie-maker,” I replied.

Kaspian’s brow crinkled. “What the fuck is an ouchie-maker?”

“My question precisely.” And why I very much wanted to know what torture device he’d named as such.

“It sounds like a kids’ toy,” Kaspian muttered.

“It does,” I agreed. “But I highly doubt he uses it on children.” Kieran struck me as having some morals, just like Elias and Volker.

Hence the reason I’d allied with them.

Empress Asbesta was another I often saw eye to eye with. But not always.

Regardless, none of us would fuck with kids.