Chapter 14

Aiden

Won’t that be a nice surprise for Huan the next time he’s in town, said Horatio.

Aiden watched her walk away, feeling both light and weighted down at the same time.

The deal is complete, said Magnus. You’ve claimed the crowned woman.

That startled Aiden out of his melancholy. What? No. Not her.

You saw the crown of stars and flowers, insisted the raven.

Panic suddenly seized Aiden as he remembered that moment, in the throes of postorgasmic bliss, when he had indeed had a brief vision of Nora crowned in glory. A conversation from long ago, with a figure in shadows, replayed in his head. Aiden knew the words by heart: You’ll know her by a crown of stars and flowers, and then when you take her to your bed and claim her, you will swear your loyalty to me.

After a bit of analysis, he relaxed.

No, he told the ravens. I didn’t claim or take the crowned woman to bed.

Really? Horatio was incredulous. You were most definitely in bed with her. And there was a lot of claiming going on.

No. The deal was that I would know her by the crown and then claim her. Keyword: then. The woman I took to bed was a lovely Nordic. I didn’t see the crown until afterward. So, therefore I didn’t claim her when I recognized her.

The ravens were silent for long moments, and Aiden held his breath, more terrified than he was willing to admit of the precipice he stood on. It was a tenuous argument, but he had a feeling their master appreciated such subtleties. In fact, he wondered if they were conferring with him now. Finally, Horatio admitted grudgingly, You’re right. You’re a slippery bastard, which is why he likes you.

But you know her now, Magnus warned him. You’ve seen the crown. You know who she is. No more excuses. The next time you make løve to her, the deal is done, and you must fulfill your part and swear loyalty. Do you understand?

Yes, Aiden told him smugly, amazed he’d gotten away with this. And I also understand I’ll never see her again.

Just then, one of Chris's henchmen rounded the corner and approached. Aiden sighed, unhappy at this intrusion on his afterglow. “Are you here to break my knees for pissing off Señora Santiago?”

“Nah.” The guy fished an envelope out of his pocket. “I’m just supposed to deliver this to you.”

Aiden took the envelope, nearly dropping it when he saw its seal. The RUSA rarely used paper for correspondence, but when it did, there was a type of sticker used to ensure the envelope’s security. It was a metallic square that showed the country’s seal in glowing blue.

“Where the hell did you get this?” Aiden demanded.

“I don’t know. Someone gave it to Chris.” The guy waited expectantly, and Aiden realized he wanted a tip.

“I’m out of money. Hit me up next week.”

“You spend it on the blonde I just passed?”

“Didn’t need to.”

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