CHAPTER THREE
I crossed my arms once more, and pure curiosity overrode my polite breeding. “Why are you staring at her like that if you’re not attracted to her?”
He placed his hands back on the railing and returned to watch Ms. Carvene as she began to ascend the marble, curved staircase up to the balcony. Instead of answering my question, he whispered his own, “Do you want to know a secret, Mina?”
His quiet voice made mine just as soft. “Tell me.”
Cassander was a peculiar man.
“Everyone believes I followed her in Port because God was destined to be with her, resulting in protection for her well-being. But that wasn’t why I did it. I tracked her down because I have this feeling about her, a vital and personal interest in that woman. I can’t see what it is yet, but…it’s just this feeling. It’s dark right now, the air around her.” His brows furrowed on his strong forehead, deep in thought. “Ms. Carvene has the power to change my life. And I’m not sure I’ll like it.”
My blink was so slow, I wasn’t certain I hadn’t fallen asleep for a moment. “I don’t understand.”
Deniability was best in these situations. If he were planning to assassinate her, I didn’t want to be on Mr. King’s ‘monster’ side for speaking with this man.
I held up a quick hand when he opened his mouth, my interest in him now diminished from his own missing rationality. “It’s fine. You don’t need to explain further.”
He wasn’t just peculiar. He was possibly insane.
It was time for me to find a different person to talk with, my eyes roaming the other individuals on the balcony.
“Oh, my damn! Cassander!” Ms. Carvene stopped directly next to us. The top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulders. She had to peer far up to hold his gaze, her cascading red hair hanging over her back. “I can’t believe Godric told me to wear this shit tonight. I’m a soldier in the CA, not someone who wears frilly crap.”
My jaw was gaping. I didn’t care.
Ms. Carvene knew the crazy man. Her stalker.
She even seemed ‘friendly’ with him.
I shut my mouth and glanced back and forth between them. Cassander’s steel eyes no longer held the narrow focus they had before. Now they stared down at her with patience and amusement. He had flipped a switch, no longer the confused predator wondering who was prey—he or she—if his previous blather of a ‘secret’ was any indication of his real thoughts.
“You’re not working tonight, Ms. Carvene,” Cassander stated with kindness. “There’s no need for a soldier’s uniform.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Poppy before you’re actually going to do it?”
“That answer is uncertain.” His lips trembled with hilarity as she fussed over the strap on her shoulder, her dress jiggling enough to show her feet. He instantly crouched and lifted the hem of her dress, a few inches from the floor, and peered at her shoes. The man began to laugh with unhindered delight. “If God wanted you to wear this dress, I doubt he wanted you to wear your combat boots.”
Her tiny right hand jerked the material from his fist in irritation, but she glanced all around, peering at each individual, before whispering quickly, “Don’t tell him.”
Cassander rose to his full intimidating height and rested back against the railing, a devious gleam entering his gaze. “You’ll owe me.”
Her nose crinkled. “Cassander, I can’t kick anyone’s ass if I’m wearing heels. My boots are practical.”
He lifted a lone brow, staying silent. Waiting.
She threw her hands into the air. “Fine. Fine.”
“That was fast.” He grinned in victory.
“I’m late. I was running behind at work.” Ms. Carvene huffed. She stood on the balls of her feet, making her a whole half-inch taller, as she attempted to look into the party room. “Is the big man in there?”
“He is.” Cassander cleared his throat—loudly. “But first, I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Mina Kramer. And, Mina, this is Ms. Carvene.”
Her brown eyes flew to his, hurt flashing over her delicate features. “You call her by her first name?”
My gaze darted between them. Their exact relationship was still unclear to me, but it was evident they had affection for one another, their bodies unconsciously too close to one another for decency’s sake. They weren’t at all aware their teasing and bickering could be construed as…flirting.
Cassander didn’t respond to her aggravation.
He remained quiet, his eyes patient.
I hurried to incline my head to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Carvene.” I paused for full effect and glanced at her from under my lashes. I deadpanned, “Or do you prefer I call you Poppy?”
The tension between them promptly broke.
Cassander snickered and pointed a finger at me. “You’re going to fit right in with our group.”
Ms. Carvene blinked, and suddenly, her eyes sharpened on my person. She tipped her head to me in greeting, her tone pleasant and curious. “It’s lovely to meet you too. And, yes, please call me Poppy, as long as I may call you Mina?”
“Of course,” I mumbled absently. The alcohol I had consumed tonight churned in my stomach as an unsettling notion began to furrow into my thoughts. My blue eyes flicked back to Cassander. “What did you mean ‘our group?’”
“I’m a silver fox.” Cassander winked, his wicked lips curling up at the edges—just a little. “And not only because of my amazing silver hair, sexy-fine looks, and wise old age.”
Poppy’s surprised eyes snapped in his direction.
My brows furrowed together. I barely breathed. “I don’t understand.”
“That’s twice you’ve said that to me.” A gentle shake of his head as he leaned forward into my personal space. “And both times have been lies, Mina. That’s very naughty for such a good girl.”
He was a monster too.
When would this freefall to madness end?
My chest pumped with harsh breaths, and my ears began to ring as the world tipped to the side. I repeated, “I don’t understand.”
He lifted a finger and twirled it in the air. “Before you run away, I need you to remember something.”
I swallowed, the bile in my throat burning.
“When you see the green light, don’t stare at it.”
My unblinking eyes began to water, watching him for any sign of attack—not that I knew how to defend myself. My parents hadn’t trained me to fight. I was a peaceful scholar…
For however long I managed to stay alive.
The monster leaned back and tipped his head to the side. He grabbed Poppy’s forearm, pulling her directly next to him, and his left hand made a sweeping motion to the staircase.
With a smile on his handsome face, he whispered in delight, “When the first blood falls, I’ll find you, Mina.”