Catastrophic Attraction - Eve Langlais Page 0,25
he’d bent to scoop her up, meaning the arrow meant for his chest missed.
Not long after, the killing started.
They were a block from the castle when she asked suddenly, “Did you pay for all the rebuilding?”
“Some. I can’t foot the cost of everything but provide help where I can.”
“Did you ever think Eden would become this big?”
“No. And there are days I wonder if the growth will ever stop.” All he’d wanted was a safe place to call his own. When violence came knocking, he’d tripled down on that desire.
“Do you vet everyone who comes in?”
He shook his head. “I can’t anymore. Dozens of people come in and out of the city every day. The days where I knew everyone by name are long gone.”
“They all know you.”
“Well, someone did say I was a tyrant.”
Again, she almost smiled.
Since she said nothing, he said, “Do you prefer Haven where everyone knows your name?”
“Actually, I like this more than I expected.” She gestured. “There’s so much to explore. To try.”
“Speaking of trying…” He grabbed her hand and yanked her.
He should have known better to lay hands on her. She snapped free and punched his arm, hard enough that his fingers went numb.
The knife was out a moment later. “Touch me again and I’ll gut you!”
“Calm down. I was trying to show you something I think you’ll like.” They entered a store with shelves holding rows of jaws.
Her eyes widened. “What is this place?”
“Candy shop.”
“Meaning?”
Roark pulled down his hood, and a slim woman behind the counter clapped her hands and beamed. “Your Highness. You do me much honor.”
“It’s you who spoil me. That last box of treats you sent was so good I almost didn’t share with Charlie.”
“Then next time I’ll send two.” The woman had a boisterous laugh despite her slight frame.
“Casey, I’d like you to meet Jennoya. The finest candy maker you will ever meet.”
“Such a flirt.” Jennoya waved a hand. “And just in time, too. I made your favorite just this morning.”
“I’m going to need at least four pieces.”
Jennoya eyed Casey. “I’m thinking six.”
The woman left for a room out back, and Casey frowned at him. “You’re using your position to get candy.”
“The best candy,” he corrected. “And don’t you worry. Jennoya is happy to do it.”
“More than happy,” the woman herself said, emerging with a tray upon which sat a plate and a box. “His Majesty is the one who renovated this building for me and provides guards when my wares are being shipped to Port City.”
“And in exchange, I get treats.” He held out a chocolate-covered piece of bacon.
Knowing what to expect, he made sure to keep his mouth closed lest he drool chocolate and half-chewed meat. He still went slightly slack jawed when Casey’s eyes fluttered shut, her head tilted back, and she uttered the moan of all moans.
When she finally regarded him, she said, “Stop staring.”
“Nope. Want another piece?” He dangled it as Jennoya left them alone.
Casey eyed it. “You’re doing this on purpose to give me a foodgasm again, aren’t you?”
Damned right he did. And he watched as she ate four of those six pieces.
Each moan making him harder.
He was in so much trouble.
Chapter 7
Exiting the shop, sated beyond belief, Casey was feeling rather kind toward the king. “Where to next? Any other prisoners we can speak with?”
“Unfortunately, no. The rest were sentenced to the arena and died.”
“Executed them yourself?”
He shook his head. “Didn’t have to. I had more than a few volunteers to enter the ring with them and pass on the sentencing.”
“Because they love their king.”
“And again I’ll ask, why is that such a bad thing?”
It wasn’t, which might be why she didn’t reply or say much else on their way back to the castle. When they separated, she spent an hour exploring and familiarizing herself with it before tracking down Titan.
She found him in a two-story building off the courtyard, the space strung with wires that dangled molds of all things. A forge sat on the far wall, the heat of it flushing the skin. In front of it a long, scarred table made of stone and on it bits and pieces of machines.
Riella was bent over it while a robot wheeled around beside her, its arms equipped with tools.
“Casey!” Titan waved, standing from a table where he was working on something with Charlotte.
She moved closer, curious. They were playing with wires and metal parts of their own.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a small disc.
Charlie grabbed it and grinned, the gap-toothed