“So couldn’t you just decide what you want to do?”
Hope shrugged. “I think the Kurjans are stuck in the last century, especially in their view of females.”
“Then you can bring them into this century,” Libby said. “However, I don’t think you should sacrifice yourself to do that. If the Kurjans need to be brought into the current century, we can figure out a way to do it. If you want to be with Paxton, then you should follow your heart, not some duty you’ve put on yourself.”
Hope didn’t know what to do, but she couldn’t get the previous night out of her mind. She still felt the imprint of Pax’s mouth on her. Everywhere. “I needed to see if you were okay with all of this.” She sat and stretched out her legs. Libby had a heck of a kick even when she was pulling it.
Libby dropped into a split and stretched back until her head rested against her thigh. “Okay with you becoming queen of the Kurjan nation?”
“No,” Hope said.
Libby leaned forward, her chest lowering all the way to her other leg. “You sacrificing yourself and saving the world?”
“No.”
“Because you don’t care if I don’t want you to die?” Libby asked, her tone pointed.
Hope sighed and stretched out her left leg, leaning over it and wincing at the still echoing pain. “Of course I care.”
“Then don’t sacrifice yourself,” Libby returned.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Hope said, not really knowing whether that was the truth or not. “I’m asking if you’re okay with what happened between Paxton and me last night.”
Libby straightened up, her eyes a warm honey. “What exactly did happen?”
Hope cleared her throat. She’d never kept secrets from Libby, and now wasn’t the time to start. So she told her, holding just a few of the details back. By the end, Libby’s eyes were wide.
“Wow. Go, Paxton,” she said. “Maybe his new warrior pain-in-the-ass attitude isn’t quite as bothersome as you said.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t a turn-on,” Hope protested. “But what I’ve learned with all these vampire and demon males around is if you give them an inch…”
Libby snorted. “They take the entire territory.”
“Exactly,” Hope said. “It has always been the three of us. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with what happened.”
Libby reached out and slapped Hope’s foot. “Of course I’m okay with it. It’s always been you and Pax. I never even considered any other possibility.”
“What if I mate Drake?” Hope asked quietly. When she was younger, she’d wanted Libby and Pax to be together if that happened, because then they’d be safe, and their little group would still be together. Now, she didn’t like the thought. Hated it actually. She didn’t want to think of Pax with anybody else in the world, which was just as screwed up as screwed up got, because she was the one considering mating Drake and becoming a freaking queen. “What about you and Pax?”
Libby wrinkled her nose. “I really do see Paxton like a brother. Even if you two don’t end up together, he is definitely not my path.”
Relief filtered through Hope. “Okay. I was just curious. It would be nice to see both of you happy.”
Libby sobered. “Paxton won’t be happy unless he’s with you. Even though you’re all caught up in this grand scheme, there’s nobody else for him. Honestly, I’m not quite sure there’s anybody else for you.”
Hope would miss these talks with Libby if she actually moved away. “I think there might be better reasons to mate and marry than just love,” she said.
“Not if you look around us,” Libby murmured. “Look at your parents. Look at mine. Look at everybody we know. They’re in love, and it makes them stronger. I understand duty, and I’ve always had your back. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. Besides.” Her grin lit up her face. “Has Paxton even asked you to mate?”
“No,” Hope said. Interesting. He never had, had he? “He just kind of talks like that’s what he wants.”
“Hmm,” Libby said. “You might want to think about that.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, we’re going to be late.”
Hope sat back, thinking through the last several days. Paxton hadn’t ever asked her, now had he? Maybe it was something to consider.
Either way, it was time to debrief the team.
Paxton walked slowly down the stairs to the sublevel of demon headquarters and opened the door to the long hallway that held the cells. He had no idea where Henric and Fralep were being held now, but they were probably still at the main headquarters.
The cells here at demon headquarters were a little rougher, cut into the rock and fronted by solid, transparent glass that couldn’t be broken. He kept his thumbs looped casually in his jeans pockets as he looked inside. Paelotin sat on the floor, which was hard onyx marble that also didn’t shatter. Nothing could break that surface, and Paxton had seen groups try as part of their training. Bones broke when smashed against that floor.
It came in quite handy.
He nodded at the guards down the way, and they returned the gesture, not moving. Good. He tapped in a code on the keypad, and a door snicked open just far enough for him to walk inside. It rolled silently closed behind him.
Paelotin stood to his full height, his fangs dropping low. “Surprised to see you,” he said.
It was a gift not many vampires had, the ability to speak clearly and enunciate each word with their fangs extended. But Paelotin had mastered it years ago. Paxton knew that expression well. When he was a child, it hadn’t boded well for him. Now, he couldn’t give two fucks. “Had a nice talk with Zane Kyllwood,” he said, keeping his voice low and controlled, like always.
Paelotin threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, I bet that was a good one. Did he deny it? Did he deny that he’s your father?”
“Not only did he deny it, we conducted a DNA check just to be sure,” Paxton admitted.
Paelotin stopped laughing, and his eyes hardened to that mean, sharp, hate-filled glint he’d always had. “It doesn’t matter. There’s no way you’re getting within two feet of the princess, even if she’s not your sister, and you know it.”
He’d gotten a lot closer to Hope than that the night before. But Paxton saw no reason to share that fact. “It’s time you told me everything you know about my mother.”
Paelotin snorted. “Boy, I’m not going to tell you anything.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Pax said calmly, pulling his hands free and rolling his shoulders.
Paelotin laughed again, the sound grating in the small cell. “I’ve beaten you since you were five years old. You couldn’t take me then, and you can’t take me now.”
“Maybe,” Paxton said, still softly. “But I’ve spent the last three years learning how to take my enemy apart, and you don’t come close to what I’ve already dealt with.”
“Is that a fact?” Predictably, Paelotin charged.
Paxton neatly sidestepped him, and the man smashed into the clear wall. He bounced back and turned, swinging shockingly fast and catching Paxton in the side of the jaw. Pax’s body didn’t move, but his head jerked back. Pain exploded through his head. But he forced a smile. “Is that all you’ve got?”