As we moved, I hissed at Risk. “Can you lay off of the mate talk? I’m not sure it’s a good idea to tell them.”
Risk chuckled and replied, not bothering to lower his voice, “Are you embarrassed of me, Wicked Love? I’m wounded.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. He really didn’t understand, and I wished that I had more time to explain what sort of mess we were walking into. We should’ve spent less time rolling in the orgasms and more time plotting. “I’m not embarrassed. I just think we should keep this quiet,” I whispered in response while eyeing a particularly gruff guard on my left.
“I think that ship sailed when you moaned on my cock and branded me with your mark, darling,” he replied evenly. A few of the men stumbled on their feet. Someone coughed awkwardly. I groaned. This new mate was proving to be difficult.
“The portal is just this way,” one of the guards mumbled. His voice was conflicted. It was like the Spector guards couldn’t decide if they wanted to be polite to appease the deadly demon, or if they wanted to run the other way. In our short time together, I’d learned that Risk was the sort to demand respect and fear, so I understood their dilemma.
Risk was cocky, but he was determined. I could see it in the setting of his jaw and the precision of his gaze. I just hoped that his power and determination would survive Spector’s evil agenda.
I hoped he survived Spector.
Chapter 18
I wasn’t planning on attending this meeting with Risk, but he refused to let me out of his sight. The second we stepped through the portal and arrived back at the Spector compound, he gripped me tightly and refused to let go, and everyone was too scared to defy him.
We were guided to Belvini’s office, and each step closer made my chest constrict with anxiety. Belvini made my skin crawl. There was something so intrinsically sinister about him that even my spider wanted to creep out of my skin and escape his presence.
“Brother,” Risk greeted in a disarmingly cheery tone as we walked inside Belvini’s office.
Brother? Brother? Risk saw me bristle at that label and smirked over at me. Unease slipped down my spine.
“Hmm. Brother is a loose term, don’t you think?” Belvini replied dryly. He was sitting at his desk, fingers threaded together and resting on the glass top in front of him. He looked unimpressed and irritated. It was obvious in the way he seethed that he didn’t like that Risk took control of his own capture. “Our mother had entire legions of spawn. You were just another egg in the nest.”
Hysterical visions of a naked Risk emerging from a giant egg made me want to snort, but I reined in the impulse. The corner of my new mate’s mouth ticked just a fraction of an inch, as if he could predict what I was imagining.
“Oh, so your reason for this meeting wasn’t to organize a family reunion?” Risk bantered with a sly grin. My hand was clasped in his, a detail that hadn’t escaped Belvini’s hard stare. I was uncomfortable at the blatant display, but Risk wouldn’t let me shake him off. “Shame. I already invited Lust and Greed. The RSVPs were sent and everything.”
I squeezed Risk’s hand, silently pleading with him to stop goading Belvini. My own brush with demons taught me that they were always looking to flex their dominance and assert themselves as the biggest, baddest one in the room. But now was not the time to challenge Belvini.
“You know I don’t associate with them,” the annoyed Spector president said with a sneer. It looked like he was sucking on a lemon, as if the idea of spending time with other demons made him sick. If that was the case, then why was he building an entire army of us?
“You don’t associate with a lot of us or our ways anymore, do you? You even changed your name, Collector.”
Collector? Risk’s name seemed appropriate for his own particular tastes, and I was now looking at Belvini with newfound understanding. He was a collector—a hoarder of objects, people, and power.
“Don’t call me that,” Belvini snapped.
My eyes travelled between the two of them. It was like watching a very intense ping pong match and trying to count the score. So far, I had a feeling that Risk was winning.
Risk’s eyes flicked to the amber amulet on Belvini’s neck. “Using little rocks to subdue your powers?” He tsked with a shake of his head. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you can’t control your hunger to hoard.”
Belvini glowered. The furious tension between them was palpable. I wanted to crawl out of there and get away from their crossfire, but my spider stood her ground. She wanted to support our new mate, even if he was impulsive and probably a touch insane. It would take some getting used to his impulsive nature and his addiction to adrenaline and chance.
“I’ve heard about this latest venture of yours. Collecting hybrids is your newest way to get off, yes? And now you need me. To be honest, I’m offended that you thought I’d be taken so easily. Do you not remember Prague?” Risk asked, while taking a step closer toward Belvini’s desk. Though his tone was playful, his eyes bled with threatening char. “Although, I suppose I should thank you. I’m very pleased with my new pet, and I have you to thank for sending her.” At that, Risk pulled me closer and rubbed his lips against the edge of my ear, growling with suggestive possessiveness.
I frowned over at him. His new pet?
Belvini cast a cool look in my direction. “When I implied that you should lure him, I didn’t mean for you to go so far as to fuck him, Miss Coven.” He shook his head, like I’d gravely disappointed him. “At least your spider didn’t manage to kill him.”
I stiffened
