CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
No one was going to work today. All the corporate kings were converging on Finn’s home with Mr. King’s home in disrepair. Their trains arrived one after another, the emblems of their businesses flashing in the afternoon sun through the tall glass windows of Finn’s living room.
Finn sat on a black, leather chair, reclined and perfectly at ease. A challenging white brow lifted on his forehead. He stated, “I’m not changing my mind.”
I crossed my arms in defiance and glared. “This is ridiculous. You can’t just keep me here.”
“I can. And I will.”
“This is kidnapping!”
“This is for your own good.”
“I’m being kept against my will,” I argued. “How is that for my own good?”
After the battle with the golems had finally ended on Mr. King’s property, Finn turned a new leaf. He stated with—too much—patience, “I didn’t have a problem with you going back to your parents this morning. But that’s changed. The shifter behind the attacks isn’t as weak as we’d thought. He’s still awake and working his magic. If anything, he’s growing more powerful.”
That much had been obvious today.
“I want to go home!” I threw my hands up into the air and paced in front of him. “I haven’t showered in days. I’m still wearing this fucking dress. I’ll be safe there. We have a wonderful security system.”
Finn grunted and peeked at me under his lush eyelashes. “Do you really think you’ll be protected there? Tell me the truth. Not what your anger is making you say.”
My jaw clenched. I kept pacing.
I didn’t speak.
“And what about your parents?” Finn questioned softly. “Do you want to put them in danger?”
“No,” I grumbled, irritated by his sound reasoning. “But the golems attacked Mr. King’s house. They wanted Poppy, not me.”
“If the man behind all of this found you once, he can find you again.” He repeated, “You are safer here.”
“But why does he want me?”
None of this made sense.
Finn’s eyes roamed up and down my body in a sensual caress. “After your account of the kidnapping, I believe he’s looking for shifter mates. He wants their souls—for whatever reason.”
My head jerked back in surprise. “But I’m not a shifter’s mate.”
Finn’s pink tongue licked across his bottom lip. His voice was a purr, pulled from deep within his chest. “That’s yet to be seen.”
I blinked. “What?”
“We haven’t had sex yet.” He winked.
My eyes shot wide. “Oh.”
“You are so sweet.”
“The sun to your moon?” I drawled, lifting a sardonic brow. “I mean, what are the chances I’m your mate? How many times have you had sex? Those women weren’t your ‘one perfect person.’”
“Mating will happen when it happens.” His attention didn’t leave my disbelieving eyes. “And I would be extremely pleased if you were my mate. You have all of the qualities I adore and ones I didn’t even know I would enjoy.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, his sweet words flipping my stomach and making my heart pound too fast. No man had ever said that about me. I’d never even heard Father say that to Mother.
Perhaps this is how a love match starts.
It wasn’t a hardship to imagine myself with him.
I swallowed on a dry throat and stated softly, “I’m not sure what to say, Finn. I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”
“Just say you’ll stay here. That’ll do for now.”
“Do you really believe the shifter would come after me again?”
“He’s gone after Poppy twice now. It’s not a leap to think his man will try to kidnap you again. That much I do believe.”
“Do you think he’ll go after Megan again? Is she in danger?”
“Possibly. But Wolfe already tried to find her to ask more questions. He couldn’t track her down. And if he can’t do it, then it will be nearly impossible for anyone to do it.”
“You don’t think she’s been kidnapped again, do you?”
He snorted. “She ran so fast from my train, I knew she was going into the wind. She’s fine.”
I nodded, relieved for her.
Finn’s head of white hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through his windows, an angel with blue eyes. “Are you done stalling?”
My lips pinched. “If I stay here, my parents will…”
What would they do?
Father was probably already rubbing his hands together in glee. But Mother would be frightened and would possibly do something rash.
“May we contact my parents together?” I tipped my head in the direction of the front of his house. “Before your friends come in and demand your time?”
“Of course,” he stated gently and rose to his feet.
The banging of his front door alerted us that the kings were coming inside. They had probably waited until we were done talking, eavesdropping outside the front door.
He pressed his hand to the small of my back and led me into his bedroom. “Do you want to put something else on before we call them?”
I peered down at my dress, and with dirty fingers, I pulled my skirt away from my legs to evaluate the material. The black silk was stained with varying colors and crusted bits that I wasn’t positive I wanted to know what had put them there. I peered up into his eyes, humor lighting my gaze, and murmured, “That would probably be wise. Father would be horrified, and Mother would blame you.”
He chuckled and walked into his closet, asking over his shoulder, “Anything in particular you’d like?”
“Honestly? Something comfortable.”
A plain black shirt and a pair of gray, cotton pajama pants were tossed through the air. “Those should fit you well enough. There’s a tie at the waist on the pants, and you’re not much shorter than I am.”
I lifted a blonde brow. “Where is your bathroom?”
I wasn’t going to change in front of him.
He pointed out of his room. “First door on your right. That’s the one I use. The other three are for guests.”
I stared. “And what am I?”
He answered simply, “Not quite a guest.”