Page 53 of King of Malice

We carefully vet contestants for The Hunt and Zane was the man I’d hoped would win Cadence.

He’s got loads of dominant strength, but a balanced temperament that would be patient and kind enough to understand that Cadence would need a steady hand and love instead of force.

“Dimitri?” Zane answers, sounding leery. Though, Trent does call both of them regularly to make certain everyone is safe, a call from me is…unexpected. The couple is supposed to be left alone.

“Everything going all right?” I ask, leaning back in my chair. “How is the cabin?”

“It’s hardly a cabin. And yes. Everything is fine. Which is what I told Trent when he called yesterday.”

My mouth twitches, knowing I’ve been caught. “Good. I’m calling you instead of Cadence out of respect.”

“Respect for…?”

“The Hunt. The process…” I take a breath. “But I’ve got Cadence’s friend Ava in my house and she’s trying to do some healing of her own.”

“Cadence doesn’t want to speak to Ava,” Zane rumbles, sounding like a man ready to fight for hiswoman. Good.

“That’s why I’m calling you instead of her.”

“Go ahead.”

“Ava says that she’s ready to accept Cadence leaving her life if that is the way for Cadence to heal. She just wants confirmation that Cadence is safe. That’s it.”

“You can’t give that to her?”

“I’ve tried, but it’s a matter of trust, and considering I’m the man who organized The Hunt, she’s been struggling to take me at my word.”

Zane grunts. He must mute the phone because it goes silent. I hear nothing but silence for a minute, longer, then he comes back. “She’s going to call Ava. Just for a minute.”

I let out a long breath. It breaks the rules, and I know Trent has trackers on their phones, so he’ll know that I’ve called Zane, and that Cadence called Ava, but I’ll explain it to him later.

“Thanks, Zane.” I hang up, striding out of my office and to Anna’s room, where I find Anna and Ava snuggled up together, playing with the doll house.

It makes my chest tight to see them and I almost hate to interrupt. But Ava needs this. “Ava, do you have your phone?”

“Yes. Why?”

But her phone rings a moment later. She pulls it out of her pocket, her eyes going wide.

I give her a soft smile. I know how badly she needed this moment and I’m so glad to give it to her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ava

The sightof Cadence’s name on my phone sends a jolt of shock coursing through me. Kissing Anna’s head, I stand up and hit the answer button, my heart pounding in my chest. “Hello.”

“Hey,” Cadence answers.

My free hand comes to my face, covering my eyes as relief wars with anger, love, and resentment. “You’re all right.”

“I’m fine,” she sighs.

My mouth opens as words crowd my mouth.How could you do this to me?first on the list of things I’d like to say. But I swallow the words, remembering what I told Dimitri about letting Cadence go. “I’m glad.”

“I’m sorry I left without a word. I didn’t think you’d understand.” Listening to her words, I swallow down another lump as I fight for control. Dimitri wraps his arms around me, and lifts me off the floor, carrying me from Anna’s room.

“You’re right. I didn’t.” I still don’t. I guess I never understood half of what Cadence did growing up. But today isn’t the dayfor that. I made a promise to Dimitri that I would accept her leaving my life if only I could get confirmation that she was safe. “I’m glad you’re all right.”