Finally, he came to a doorway—like all the others—and stopped. He fired off a string of words in a language she didn’t understand, and the guard stepped aside.

Her heart pounded as she followed him through the opening...into a bona fide treasure room. She gasped. This was something she might find in a king’s castle. There were piles of gold and jewels. There was furniture—ancient but well built, with intricately carved designs. Some pieces were even gilded. Some were chiseled from ebony, some from ivory.

“You are to choose whatever you want,” Xerxes instructed, and she gasped again.

Payment for services rendered? “No way.” They’d talked about it, and Thane had agreed. No money would exchange hands.

“It’s for your bedroom.”

“My bedroom?” she asked, confused.

“Yes. The one next to Thane’s. You are to decorate it as you see fit.”

“I see.” She wasn’t sure whether she should rejoice or cry. Thane still wanted her, but he didn’t want her to share his bedroom. They were to have sex, but no cuddles. “So this is like a royal IKEA, huh?”

“If I knew what that meant, I’m sure I would agree.”

Do it. Ask what you really want to ask. “Has he ever done this for another woman?”

“No. You are the first. And, I’m sure, the last.”

Well, there was that. So, scratch crying. Grinning, she wandered through the massive chamber. She traced her fingertips over pieces that belonged in a museum, wishing she knew their history. “Have you? Brought a woman here, I mean?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Haven’t ever cared enough.”

Stated so casually, it was kind of sad. “What’s your story, Zerk? Love gone wrong? Betrayal? Heartbreak? Or have you simply not found the right girl?”

“Do you enjoy horror movies?” he asked, throwing her for a loop.

“No. They give me the creeps.”

“Then you would not enjoy my story.”

* * *

THANE SLICKED HIS SWORD across the demon’s neck so deeply he severed its spine. Another fiend dived for him—this one from behind, the whoosh of air a dead giveaway—but he spun and slashed, and it died just like its friend.

Finally, after a long search and many battles with minions, he’d found the prince. The male perched on a swing in the center of a children’s playground, merely watching him now, and Thane knew why. The creature was studying him, scrutinizing his habits as he took out more minions. He was smiling a big, white-toothed smile of glee.

The bright, warm day had tempted over fifteen little boys and girls to come play. They were everywhere. Demons were everywhere, in the spirit realm and thus unseen by the children and their parents. The danger unknown to them, but still very real.

Thane needed help. He couldn’t fight the minions and protect the children and capture the prince—not that he would attempt to do the last without checking in with his leader. Lesson learned. But he also couldn’t bring himself to summon his boys. Xerxes was guarding Elin, and Bjorn...wasn’t yet right.

Zacharel, he projected. I’ve found the prince, but I can’t leave him. He’s with a horde of minions and they are surrounding a park filled with human children. He rattled off the location.

You were right to stay. The response was immediate. I’m on my way.

Thane spun left, right, felling a demon with each motion, his swords in constant swing, gliding gracefully through the air. There went a horn. And...bye-bye, arm. So long, wing.

A whoosh at his side. He turned, swords at the ready. Zacharel’s dark hair and green gaze registered.

Thane glanced at the prince to gauge his reaction to one of the Elite Seven—but he was gone. And now, the demons were running away.

Cowards.

Zacharel looked him over, searching for injury, finding none. “That wasn’t exactly the ending I was hoping for, but I suppose I should have expected it. How did you find him?”

“Took your advice. I’ve been working with Lucien on another task. He was in the area and wasn’t busy, so I had him follow the spirit trail of evil.”

“Lucien? Where is he now?”

“I’m not sure. My guess is, he was summoned to escort a human spirit to the hereafter.” A summons he was physically unable to resist.

“And how long have you been fighting?”

“Here? No more than fifteen minutes.” But there had been other battles, each leading to the park, where the prince had been waiting, oh, so casually.

“Fifteen minutes, and yet there are countless demon bodies littering the ground, floating on a sea of blood teeming with parts.”

He shrugged. “I enjoy my job.”

“Yes, I know. You did well.” Zacharel patted him on the shoulder. “Just know, a demon prince will watch, study, wait, and attack in little ways to weaken and distract. Then, when he thinks you are at your lowest, he will swoop in and lay waste.”

An insidious tactic.

Thane would have to stay on alert.

“Go home, rest,” his boss continued. “You’re of no use to me tired. I’ll gather the rest of the Elite to hunt the prince’s newest spirit trail. If we find him, you’ll be needed.”

He frowned. “I thought I wasn’t to approach him.”

“Not on your own, no. But we’ll need all the help we can get when the time comes.”

“I’ll be ready.” Thane spread his wings and shot into the sky, anticipation buzzing through him. For the first time, he had something—someone—to go home to. He couldn’t wait to see Elin’s things in his suite.

She was upset with him, and he couldn’t blame her. Yesterday, she’d asked him a question—do you regret what happened—and he’d refused to answer. A mistake on his part. He should have talked to her. She would have understood. She would have helped him see the truth.

As it was, he’d had to discover it on his own in the light of the new day. He did not regret what had happened. How could he? In every way, she made him a better man. Rather, fear had colored his perception. He needed her, now and forever, and couldn’t deal with the thought of losing her—ever.

I’ll romance her. Send her another note. She’ll forgive me.

She has to forgive me.

He reached the club and went straight to the suite. He looked for a notepad and pencil and frowned. Nothing had changed. There were no feminine pillows or books strewn across the coffee table. Bjorn and Xerxes were in the sitting room, talking over each other.