Vincent was already shuffling the cards. “Gin rummy or crazy eights? Or we could do blackjack?”
“No way,” I said, holding up a finger. “No blackjack. Not after you took me for a thousand bucks a few months ago. No. We play war. I like that game.”
Vincent snorted a laugh but began dealing cards. “I guess we’re pretending to be twelve-year-olds.”
“Shut up. It’s fun, and I at least have a chance against you.”
For the next several hours, we passed the time playing cards and talking about banal things that didn’t matter-movies, books, video games Vince had played. Before we realized it, the sun had drifted low in the horizon, casting darkness across the estate grounds.
“Damn,” I said. “Getting late. I guess I should check on Elle and her friend.”
“Maybe,” Vince said with a shrug. “They might not want anyone bothering them. They almost died today.”
“Thank you for that. I’d almost forgotten,” I said, rolling my eyes.
I stood and crossed the floor to the room phone, then called Titus on his extension.
“Yes, Your Highness?” he said, answering on the second ring.
“Good evening, Titus. I assume you’ve heard we have guests again?”
“Yes, Highness. Word has spread. Lady Brielle has returned, along with her lady-in-waiting.
I frowned. “I’m not sure it’s as formal as that. I think the other lady is more a friend than a servant. Anyway, I wanted to see if they’ve called for dinner.”
“Not as of yet, Highness,” Titus responded.
“Very well. Go ahead and have something sent up, okay? Something nice, and send along a bottle of our best red wine.”
“Consider it done.”
“Thanks. I’m going to head over and let them know it will be up soon.”
“Understood.”
Hanging up, I turned to go, but looked at Vince first.
“Are you going back to your quarters?”
Vince shook his head, and made a face like he’d sucked on a lemon.
“Nah. Dad might still be pissed.” He glanced around at the massive suite. “Can I spend the night here?”
My quarters were large, second only to my father’s, and it did contain a small guest room on the far end.
“Sure,” I said. “Just for tonight, though.”
He grinned at me. “You’re the best friend I ever had, Aurelius.”
His statement struck me as heartwarming and sweet. I hoped that one day my friend might find someone who could take him as he was, quirks and all. He was too good of a person to live his life alone, constantly under the shadow of his disappointed father.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said.
When I arrived at Elle’s room, I could hear laughter inside. That was a good sign. I knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened. Delphine peered out, a cautious look on her face.
“Oh. Lord, uh, Aurelius? Were we being too loud?”
“Aurelius?” Elle said, appearing at the door. “Hey.”
“Good evening, ladies,” I said, trying, and failing, to keep my eyes off Elle. “You were most certainly not being too loud. I simply stopped by to let you know that dinner is on the way. I assume you’re getting hungry again.”
“Thank you,” Elle said. Her green eyes shone and sparkled in the light of the chandelier overhead. “We were just saying we were getting hungry.”
“Of course. Anything for guests of House Decimus. Well…” I trailed off awkwardly. Part of me wanted to spend more time with her, but the other part told me it wasn’t proper, especially not with her friend there. “Uh, I’m going to bed soon. It’s been a long day. If you need anything more, you remember where my room is?”
“I do,” Elle said, giving a slight nod.
Delphine glanced from me, to Elle, and back to me again, a knowing grin on her face.
“Good night, ladies,” I said, bowing my head slightly before I departed.
When I got back to my rooms, Vince had already climbed into his bed and fallen asleep. His faint snores were the only sound in the room. Though it was still fairly early, I undressed and got into bed.
Turning on my side, I gazed out the window. The rain had subsided, leaving a sky full of broken clouds and a milky half-moon. Sleep took a while to find me, though. For nearly an hour, I kept thinking about the attack on Elle. The savagery of the half-shifted men who’d come to kill her. There would’ve been no warning either. Not even a chance for Elle to apologize for whatever imagined slight she’d made against her family. It was so fucking strange. Elle acted as though she’d expected this, but surely her family weren’t this bloodthirsty. Eventually my eyes did slip closed, and I slid into sleep.
“Good morning,” Elle whispered into my ear.
Rolling over, I found her lying in my bed, an adorable grin on her face.
“Elle? When did you come into my room?”
“I came to thank you for saving me,” she said, peeling the covers off.
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