Page 34

T HIRTY -T HREE X ANDER

“I seriously miss the days you didn’t have my number,” Harper muses when the call connects.

I sit on the lounge chair in front of the unlit fireplace in my bedroom, lifting my legs to rest them on the marble coffee table. “And yet, you answered my call.”

“I also miss the days I had the foresight to block your number.”

I chuckle, leaning back in the chair as I switch the call to speakerphone so I don’t have to hold it to my ear. “You’re in a delightful mood this morning.”

“What do you want?” she grumbles.

Any amusement vanishes from my tone when I say, “You need to come here.”

“Yeah, that’s been the plan, I’m just—”

“Camille needs you here,” I amend.

Harper sighs. “I know yesterday was hard for her with the whole ascension summit, but I need to put a few more things in place before I can take off without causing too much attention.”

“I need you to listen to me right now. There was new information that Camille discovered last night, and she’s not in a good place. I can’t offer her the same comfort and support you can.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”she demands, her tone taking on a jagged edge.

“While I was in hell for the final trial, I met Camille’s sister.” I also watched you die at the hands of my enemy . I grit my teeth at the shudder that unspoken memory elicits. The weakness it taunts me with.

There’s a brief silence and then, “If this is some—”

“It’s not a game, Harper. I’m telling you the truth. Danielle is in hell, trapped there by the demon who stole her life five years ago.”

She sucks in a sharp breath. “Fuck. Fuck . Camille must be losing her mind. Has she told her parents?”

“No. I think she’s still too shocked for that conversation.” I stand and walk into my closet to pull out dark jeans and a navy sweater. I’d much rather stay in my sweatpants and crawl back into bed—no one got much sleep around here last night—but that’s not something I’m able to do. Not as king.

“I, um…Okay, let me see what I can do.”

“I can have Blake book you a flight,” I offer.

Harper sighs reluctantly. “Yeah, fine.”

“He’ll pick you up at the airport when you land.”

“I’ll take a cab,” she insists firmly, and it sounds as if she’s wrangling clothes off hangers and throwing things into a suitcase.

“Very well.” I’m not going to fight with her on this. Whatever reason she has for avoiding being alone with Blake, I’m not going to push her. “We’ll see you soon.”

The call ends without another word.

I get dressed and find Blake in the kitchen scooping coffee grounds into a French press.

“Harper’s coming. Will you book a flight and send her the details?”

He glances up, interest glimmering in his eyes. “You got it. Coffee?”

“No thanks. I told her you’d pick her up from the airport, which she immediately shot down. Is there something I should know?”

Blake smirks. “Your baby sis is obsessed with me, mate.”

I arch a brow and offer a doubtful, “Really?”

“Nah, but a bloke can dream.”

I exhale a short laugh. “Right. Have you seen Camille this morning?”

He shakes his head. “I went for a run with Fran and Roman, but Gio said she didn’t come down for breakfast. He sent something up for her, though.” Turning on the kettle, he adds, “You better keep an eye on him. Gio’s gonna steal your girl.”

The demon in question walks into the room, laughing deeply. “Not to worry, Xander. As lovely as Camille is, she is far from my type.”

“Human?” Blake offers wryly.

“Female,” Gio says, shooting him a wink.

I press a fist to my mouth, coughing to cover my laugh, then turn to walk out of the kitchen.

Returning upstairs, I stand outside the bedroom Camille’s staying in and listen for movement on the other side of the door. It’s shortly after ten, so there’s a good chance she’s still asleep. The sound of her heartbeat is steady, her breathing even. When I knock softly and open the door a crack, my gaze immediately lands on where she’s curled on her side facing the door. Last night’s makeup streaks down her cheeks, dried in the form of tears, and her deep brown curls are splayed over the dark green silk pillows.

I hesitate before slipping into the room and softly closing the door behind me. Approaching the bed, my eyes stay locked on her face. She inhales deeply, her eyelids fluttering as she blinks them open, sucking in a soft breath when our gazes connect.

“Morning,” I murmur, stopping at the side of the bed and perching on the edge as I angle myself toward her.

Camille shifts away and sits up, hugging the blankets around her. She looks exhausted and fragile, something I’m not used to, and no doubt something she resents.

I glance at the untouched bagel and fruit on the nightstand. “You should eat something.”

“I’m not hungry,” she says in a low, meek voice, dropping her tired gaze to her lap.

I won’t push her right now. Instead, I say, “Harper is coming today. Blake is arranging her travel right now.”

Her eyes lift to mine again, and I’m not sure what to do with the tears that fill them. “She is?”

I nod, fighting the urge to reach for her, worried it’ll set her off. “Maybe you can talk to Gio and let him know if there’s anything you and Harper would like him to cook?”

She presses her lips together, nodding absently. “Yeah.”

“Do you think you’re up for maybe taking a shower and getting dressed? Harper doesn’t want Blake picking her up at the airport, so I thought the two of us could go.”

Her brows lift at that, and she mumbles, “They’re so weird.”

A smile touches my lips. “On that, you and I agree.”

Camille exhales a deep breath and says, “I’ll go get her. You don’t need to come.”

I shake my head automatically. “Not going to happen.”

“What if I take Gio with me?” she counters. “It doesn’t have to be you, and I’m sure you’re busy with royal duties or whatever.”

My lips twitch. “Either we both go or I’m going alone.”

She grapples with it silently, then finally mutters, “Fine. I’ll get ready.”

I risk placing my hand on her knee. “Take your time. There’s no rush.”

Her breath hitches, and she stares at my hand for a moment. “So you’re emotionally available Xander today?” Her eyes lift to mine. “Or only behind closed doors? Just so I know.”

I pull my hand back and stand. “I’m doing my best. We’re safe here with my council. I trust them, but other demons…They can’t know what you mean to me.”

She pushes the blankets away and slides off the bed, coming to stand in front of me. The air gets caught in my throat when I realize she’s wearing one of my T-shirts. The plain black material falls just above her knees and calls to the desire I feel for her like a siren. My hands curl into fists at my sides as I fight the urge to grab Camille and show her just what her being in my clothes does to me.

“I told you last night there was a chance for us,” she murmurs.

I wait for her expression to sharpen, for her to tell me she was lying. But she doesn’t.

Camille lifts onto her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to my cheek. “I understand no part of this will be easy. We’ll face adversity and danger at every turn, but nothing worth having comes easy.”

I stare at her silently, completely taken by her strength and courage.

I love this woman so fucking much.

I know in my core I don’t deserve Camille’s love, but I need it .

“I don’t care if you have to be the cold, emotionless demon king in public,” she continues, “so long as you are the man I love when we’re alone.” Her lips part in a silent gasp as she realizes what she’s just admitted aloud.

I close the distance between us, clasping her cheeks in my palms. “You love me?”

Her pulse races, her eyes flicking between mine as they shine with unshed tears. She licks her lips, exhaling a short breath before she says, “I do.”