Page 106 of Wicked Bonds

“Which only firms up my theory that much more because whoever did this wasn’t Vera.”

“Because you don’t remember anything about Brazil, but you’re picking up pieces of memories here,” she said, repeating what he’d already stated. “Why now? Why here? Why not before?” She’d been following him for months and hadn’t picked up on the slightest inkling of familiarity other than her time with him in Brazil.

His gaze went to her arm. “Your rune granted me access to your mind. Maybe it unlocked some sort of door to the past as an unexpected side effect.” He relaxed into his chair with his wine glass in his hand. “Yet another marker that suggests Vera’s innocence.”

“She is innocent,” Leela stressed. “I’ve told you that.”

He nodded as he swirled the contents of his drink, his gaze holding hers. “You mentioned a half sister before. She and Vera share a mother?”

“Mel,” Leela muttered. She couldn’t remember if she’d mentioned the lineage out loud to him or not, but she’d probably at least thought about it. “She can manipulate memories, yes.”

“Would she have any cause to fuck with our minds?” he asked conversationally.

“I guess that would depend on what happened in those memories,” Leela said slowly, not appreciating the notion in the slightest.

Because if Mel had had cause to alter Leela’s memories, it was because Leela and Balthazar had broken a rule of some kind. Or the High Council of Seraph had demanded it.

Except, no. They would have sent Vera for the job, not Mel. Vera was the second in line, her power extraordinary and far more fitting than Mel’s mediocre grasp on the bloodline.

Leela continued thinking while she finished her wine.

Then the owner returned to ask if she required more. She politely declined, which led them to dessert conversations.

Balthazar ordered a tiramisu for them to share and two after-dinner espressos.

They indulged in the dessert in comfortable silence, both of them considering everything they’d discussed while Balthazar managed the fork. She rather enjoyed him feeding her. And the glint in his chocolate gaze said he liked it, too.

“What did we do after dinner?” Leela asked softly, her gaze holding his as he offered her the final bite on the fork. “After I swallowed you for dessert,” she clarified before taking the piece from the fork between her teeth.

“Mmm,” he hummed, reaching forward to drag his thumb along her bottom lip, catching a crumb she’d left behind. He brought it to his mouth to lick clean, then set the fork down. “We went for a walk.”

“And?” she prompted, her pulse kicking up a notch.

“And I think we need to go on that walk to find out what happened next.” Balthazar winked before catching the owner’s eye once more. It wasn’t hard to do. The male was watching both of them expectantly.

The three of them exchanged pleasantries, with Leela and Balthazar complimenting the chef and the whole ambience of dinner. They’d stayed rather late, but the owner didn’t seem to mind.

Balthazar handled the bill, promising to return again, then took Leela by the arm and guided her down the mostly empty footpath between the colorful buildings.

“I love the lack of cars in this city,” Leela admitted, inhaling the air and blowing out a carefree breath. “The boats are much more romantic.”

“Maybe you should buy a place here,” Balthazar suggested.

“I might.” She’d considered it before but had bought her flat in Melbourne instead. Maybe this would be her next investment. “Where do you own property?”

“Hydria.” His lips quirked up at the sides, flashing his sexy dimples at her. “The Elders have homes all over, but none of them are primarily mine. I helped invest in all of them, but that’s because we share our money in Hydria.”

“There isn’t a place you consider yours, similar to how Venice belongs to Jay?” Hadn’t he mentioned Stockholm before?

He lifted a shoulder. “I’ve always favored group activities more than solo ones. So apart from my place in Hydria, I don’t really own another. And yes, I do have a place I enjoy staying in Stockholm.” The devious twinkle in his gaze said he’d heard that thought from her. “But I don’t own it. Wakefield does.”

“Does he mind you staying at his place?”

“Yes.” Balthazar’s amusement was palpable. “That’s exactly why I do it.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I wonder what he’s doing at your place right now,” she mused. “Since you both clearly have rivalry and all.”

“Oh, he’s absolutely fucking Stas right now,” he replied without missing a beat. “Assuming Sethios hasn’t castrated him yet.”