Page 45 of Empress of Ruin
“You do want children. You may not like the idea of havingmine,but I think you’ll come around. They will have stellar genes, a predisposition to an extremely high IQ, beauty from both of us, and a life filled with love and culture.”
“You don’t know that,” I hiss.
Herolls his eyes. “You’re a natural caretaker. Of course you want to have children. I’d wager that your biggest fear with actuallyhavingchildren is threefold. One, taking on more responsibility than you can manage, which is why you wanted to wait. Two, not having a chance to live your own life after having babies, which also makes you want to wait. Three, not being able to properly care and provide for them.” He finishes dressing. I gape at him, caught between fury and fear, because he reads me like an open fucking book. “None of those are issues with me.” He closes the distance between us, cupping my cheek. “I will be the most committed father you can envision, which takes care of your fear of not being able to manage the responsibility. I have the resources to hire a team of nannies, which will enable us to balance our lives. And I have more money than I can find a way to spend, so providing will never be a problem.” He leans down, pressing his lips to mine. I’m too stunned to jerk away. “Enjoy your meetings today. Pay attention; this is an important stage of a career I expect you’ll sustain for the rest of your life. You can tell me everything over dinner.” He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “It’s good to have you back, Little Bird. I’m glad we sorted this out.”
With that, he leaves me in the bedroom.
Chapter Seventeen
Killian
Ihave eyes on Lyra throughout her day. I no longer trust Locke with her—she’s slipped away from me once before—so I call on two of my other best to shield her. I’m not yet entirely comfortable with her being in public and away from me, and her meetings are both taken in cafes. I select upscale places that have private areas, and I have my men listen in and report back to me.
My pick is the second agent instead of the first—as is Aisha’s, who’s been in my ear while I’ve been sorting out getting Lyra back onto the publisher’s map. The second agent is more ruthlessly ambitious, but also well regarded for building close relationships with her client. The first has had a few big hits but is slightly more volatile.
“Carter here to see you,” my secretary announces while I’m reading through my sixth update on Lyra in the two hours we’ve been apart.
“Send him in,” I mutter offhandedly, ungluing my gaze from my phone.
“I don’t appreciate being summoned.” Carter strolls in, eyes narrowed and posture tense.
“Consider it an invitation. You’ve come here several timeswithout one, so I thought I’d remind you what politeness is.”
Carter examines me as if I’m a mild inconvenience. “What do you want?”
“Many things.” Particularly, to kill Silas, knock Lyra up, get back in good standing with The Eyes, and move the fuck on with my life.
“What do you wantwith me?” Carter hisses.
“I want you to be my fuckingally,” I emphasize. “I’ve helped you out more than once, from the goodness of my heart.”
“Please. You don’t have a heart.”
I do, but it only beats for one person.
“I’ve done you favors. I’m asking for one in return.”
“The favors you’ve done me are not proportional to what you’re asking. If I join The Eyes, I’m in for a lifetime commitment of being told what to do and what not to do. I don’t play nicely with others at the best of times.” He leans forward. “What do you think happens the first time that they tell me not to kill someone? Or try to influence how I conduct my business? I say no. They try to make me. I kill them, and then all hell breaks loose.” He shakes his head. “I’m not fucking doing it.”
I work my jaw. He brings up fair points, but there has to be some kind of compromise that gets him in The Eyes, or at least close enough to their orbit that he’s useful to me.
“The Eyes rarely intervene in the lives of members,” I try. “They’re literally created to propel each other forward, not hold each other back. We worktogether—”
“Yeah?” Carter arches a challenging eyebrow. “How’s that been going with Silas?”
“He’s an exception.”
“I don’t like exceptions.” Carter leans back, folding his arms. “I’m not opposed to doing you this favor. I’m not even opposed to having the power of The Eyes behind me. But having them block my way?That, I’m fucking opposed to. Find me an in that doesn’t involve them trying to control me, and we can talk seriously about this. In the meantime, don’teverfucking summon me again.”
Right. Find him an in that doesn’t require giving up what literally every other member of the Eyes gives up—the freedom to never have to answer to anyone.
That should beimmenselyeasy to do.
But, if The Eyes are really as desperate to have him as they’ve been acting… there might actually be a way to compromise. That’ll just beanotherthing I have to figure out.
“Fine. Thank you for your time.”
“Fuck off.” Carter leaves. I spend a few more minutes ruminating before another text comes through from the men I have on Lyra. This one informs me that she hired the second agent on the spot.
