All Souls' Night - Renee Rose Page 0,89

No, it is sold simply by word of mouth.

Realizing I should have checked, I pick up the phone to talk to Myra.

“Yes, Mr. Blake?”

“Myra, can you get Grant for me? I need him to check something for me.”

“Of course, Mr. Blake, one moment.”

I stay on the line, leaning back in my chair as I wait. Finally, after two minutes, Myra returns to the line.

“I’ll patch him through now, Mr. Blake.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes, sir?” Grant asks.

“Grant, sorry, I should have checked when we were in the warehouse, but it didn’t occur to me. We’re supplying Club Toxic for their Halloween party; do we have the twenty-five casks of Smokey Nectar for them?” If we don’t, I am screwed and I’ll have to call the king, Lucius and renegotiate.

“I believe we do, but let me go and check on that, sir. If we do, it will be the end of the stock until December, I think, but it’s not one we fill very often, so we should be all right.”

“Very well. If you’ll check, and get back to me as soon as possible?”

“Of course, sir, give me thirty minutes.”

I hang up the landline phone right as my phone buzzes again. “Damn it.” Siannon is not going to give up. I glance at my closed door and decide to just answer it.

“What do you want?” I growl into the phone.

“My love, now is that any way to greet me?” Siannon asks, her voice fluttering and feminine as she attempts to be sweet.

“I’m not your love anymore. And I won’t ask again, Siannon, tell me why you called, or I’m hanging up.”

“But darling, I merely called to talk to you about the gala at Club Toxic for All Hallow’s Eve. I thought perhaps we could wear compatible costumes, perhaps as dear Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI?”

“Get this through your maniacal brain, Siannon: I am not ever coming back to you! So no, I will not be wearing a compatible costume to you! I’ve had enough. I will not sit by and watch you murder any more innocent humans!” I hiss into the phone, so I won’t be overheard by my secretary.

“But sweetie, what did you need that trash for when you’ve got me? I was merely taking out garbage that didn’t deserve your attention—”

“They were mine! You had no right, Siannon, and might I remind you that King Lucius has given you your last warning! Harm one more human, and he will execute you swiftly!” My jaw ticks as I clench my teeth. “I will not be made a party to your madness.”

“Humans are expendable, my dear, like cows, and they breed just as fast. One is basically like another, so I don’t see why you’re so upset. And Lucius won’t make good on that threat—that’s all it is, a threat to keep me in line. He’ll reprimand me, but he won’t off me.” She laughs.

“I really do not think you ought to press your luck on that point. He did seem to be rather adamant that Chantal would be your last kill.”

“Well, to be fair, I wouldn’t have to kill them if you would recall that you belong to me, now, would I?”

I drag a hand through my hair in frustration. “For the last time, Siannon, I do not belong to you. I am not your property. You do not have a say in who I take as a partner or as a submissive! So back the fuck off and stop fucking calling me!” I hit end on the call.

I drop into my seat, setting the phone on the desk. Siannon killing my submissives is why I haven’t pursued Clarabelle, but there is something about her that draws me in. Her sweetness, her softness, calls to me. It is why I so often call upon her to drive me to places I could easily drive myself. I have a vehicle of my own—a rather nice one, in fact—but being near Clarabelle soothes something in me, even if I can’t have her.

My desk phone rings and, with a sigh, I pick it up. “Blake.”

“We’ll have three casks left after filling Club Toxic’s order, sir.”

“Thank you, Grant. We’ll need to deliver on the thirtieth.”

“We’ll get it taken care of” Grant hangs up.

With another sigh, I send Clarabelle a text, letting her know I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes, and then wait for her reply.

I’m in the parking lot, sir. I’ll pull up to the entrance now and await you. ~ Clarabelle

She always remembers to call me