Page 180 of King Alejandro

“Fine,” I promised. He nodded.

“Then call Leo on a withheld number because we will need his help.”

“Wait, what? Leo? Seriously, Dante, he won’t listen.”

“He also likes to break rules. He will agree. I will talk to him. Seriously, you two need to grow up.” He frowned, picking up my phone and holding it out to me. I took it reluctantly.

What the hell was he planning? Well, I wouldn’t be doing the talking. Leo would hang up before I even managed to say anything. I had his number, but I wasn’t sure he had mine because, if he did, he would have it blocked. I dialled the number, making sure my caller ID was hidden, and held the phone out to Dante. He took it, putting it on speaker. Ahren stirred but stayed asleep.

“Who the fuck is this?” Leo’s cold voice came. “Get out,” he added to someone. I raised my eyebrows when I heard a girl. Fuck boy.

“It’s Dante.”

“What do you want, kid?”

“I want you to do something that would piss Dad off. Will you help me?”

Silence.

“Depends. I’m not a fucking fool to promise some shit without even knowing what it is.”

“Well, it’s about the mission tomorrow. The thing is, the one who kills the Djinn-”

“Will die. Yeah, I know, and?”

How did he know that? Did everyone but me know? It didn’t help my irritation.

“Then do you know who is going to do it?” Dante asked, watching me.

“Maria,” Leo replied. So, everyone did fucking know.

“Yes, but the thing is, she can’t die… so we need to make a plan-”

“We?” Leo asked sharply. Damn. Even Dante paused, clearly not having realised what he had just implied.

“Yeah, us cousins…”

Leo was silent.

“I’m not doing this shit,” Leo said icily after a moment. “If Rayhan’s there, tell him to go suck a dick.” Dante scrunched his nose. I was tempted to speak and tell him to watch his damn mouth around a kid, at least.

“Please,” Dante said quietly. “I will owe you a favour in return, anything you wish.” That seemed to get him thinking, but I wasn’t sure if it was a safe thing to promise. I didn’t trust Leo…

“Swear it. That when I ask for whatever I do, you will not deny me.”

“Fine. When the time comes, and you ask for a favour, I swear by oath that I will honour whatever you ask for. I swear on… Azura.” Dante smiled slightly. I frowned. I didn’t get it. He and Azura argued a lot, but he would never make a false oath on her life.

“Who?”

“Azura, my sweet but annoying aunt, or whatever you wish to call it. My family has been through much for me to swear on them,” Dante said, but I could tell from that sly hint of a smile that he was up to something. I was actually worried for Azura at this point… he never called Azura sweet. What was he up to?

“Fine, whatever, but I will hold you to that. Even if it’s years from now, Dante. An alpha always honourshis words.”

“I know. So, will you help?”

“Fine.”

“Good. It involves Rayhan…”