The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,31

moving our way. A bouncer.

And then it hit me. Everest had said…. My hand tightened on the damp glass as I leaned toward the owner. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

Everest continued to smile.

“The Prince,” I said, and I said this loud enough to cause the woman at the table near us to turn and look.

The smile slipped from Everest’s face and that was enough confirmation for me.

Son of a bitch.

I couldn’t believe it. He’d been at Flux and now he was here? And not only was he here, but he was in a position to order the owner of this establishment to kick me out? An establishment, by the way, that was yet again frequented by the Winter fae?

At least I had a good reason to be here— a slightly psychotic reason but a reason, and the Prince was not going to get in my way.

Oh, hell to the no.

Anger flared to life like a solar storm. He was not going to interfere with me finding justice. No way in hell. “You can tell his royal Dickness that this is a public establishment and he does not get to dictate where I go and what I do.”

The man’s eyes widened slightly. “However, as the owner, I do get to dictate who stays here and who goes.”

“True,” I said, taking another long, healthy sip of my drink. I was raised to be a fine, upstanding Southern lady, but I was pissed. “Did he tell you what I am?”

Everest lifted a hand, stopping the bouncer from coming any closer.

“I don’t know if he did, but I assure you that I can cause a lot of trouble for your fine establishment, and I mean a lot.” I smiled now, all sugary sweet. “So unless you want that to happen, you can tell the Prince to go fuck himself.”

Everest tilted his head slightly and a long heartbeat passed. Then he said, “You can tell him that yourself.”

Chapter 12

The tiny hairs along the nape of my neck rose. I drew in a shallow breath as Everest stepped back, clasping his hands. Slowly, I lowered my drink and looked over my shoulder.

Standing not even a foot behind me was the Prince.

I couldn’t help but notice immediately that he appeared different tonight. Hair pulled back from his face was a good look on him. A black silk shirt had replaced the thermal I’d seen him in, and that also was a good look.

But he was just about as angry as the last two times I’d seen him, so that hadn’t changed.

Actually, he seemed angrier. “I can assure you, I have no attention of fucking myself tonight, Sally.”

Steam practically shot from my ears at way he said my name—my fake name. “Good to know, but not my problem.”

“Oh, but it is now your problem.”

I drew back, eyes widening. “I have no idea how that is my problem.”

Lifting blue eyes to Everest, he nodded. I didn’t need to look to know the man had left.

Before I could say a word, he plucked the drink out of my hand and placed it on the bar. Then his hand wrapped around my empty one. I didn’t dig my heels in like I wanted to, knowing that we already had several eyes on us.

My gaze dropped to where he held my hand as he guided me off the stool.

“You are becoming a pain in my ass,” he said.

“I’m about to become a much bigger one. One you’re going to need to see a doctor to treat. You try to make me leave,” I said, lifting my gaze from his hand to his eyes, “I will make a scene in here so bad you’ll spend the next year glamouring memories.”

A muscle flexed along his jaw as his gaze searched my face. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes. Now, if you’d unhand me, I think I might want another drink.” In reality, my stakeout of The Court was ruined, but I would stay here half the night on principle alone. “And maybe some chicken wings.” I had no idea if they served chicken wings here. “Then dessert. I’m definitely in the mood for dessert and none of those things include you.”

The Prince threaded his fingers through mine, stopping me from yanking my arm free. “We need to have a chat.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Oh, sunshine, we do.”

Sunshine? My face puckered up. “There is nothing we need to talk about—” I gasped as he moved in so quick, so close, right there at the bar, in front of fae and