Page 74 of Beast

“I pay one of the maids to keep tabs on him,” Amandareplies.

I have to give it to her. The girl is smart. “Did the maidtell you when he would be there?”

“I know he and the shanimal left about a half an hour ago.They didn’t take the limo, and they left from one of the lower levels. The maidwas surprised the beast was with Dante. They had been fighting earlier in theevening. She said they were arguing over the press coverage from earliertoday.”

A satisfied grin splits my face. “I’m not surprised that hewould try to evade the press. I’m sure the Dellacourts are perfectly horrifiedthat their son is involved with an animal. Although I am a bit curious abouther. Get dressed. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes. I think it’s time for youto have a talk with Kaja. I think I’ve found another use for that tape you madeof Dante. I’m not going to release it publicly. I like the narrative that hecouldn’t find another consort. But I wonder what his new wife will think aboutthe plan you helped him cook up. She might not like the fact that he marriedher to embarrass his parents. I belong to that club. I’ll get us in.”

Amanda’s eyes widen in confusion. “Why would I talk to her?Everything is going along exactly as you planned. The press is tearing theDellacourts apart. I just watched a news editorial on how we will all becopulating with animals if we don’t recognize Torin’s right to rule.”

Oh, the net is tightening, but I have plans for Dante thatdon’t include simply hurting his feelings. And if I can make a profit while I’mat it, that’s all the better. The shanimal will be interesting to my medicaldivision.

“I don’t pay you to tell me what to do,” I announce. “I’llpick you up in twenty minutes.”

I close the link between us and let the head of medicalresearch know that he’ll have a new subject to test very soon.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Dante

I hold Kaja’s hand, barely restraining myself fromwrapping an arm around her and keeping her close to my body. I want contactwith her. I crave it. I’ve fought my instincts for weeks in a vain attempt tolook normal.

Normal isn’t going to work for Kaja. Normal is going tostifle her. It’s going to kill that sweet soul of hers in a way violence andneglect did not.

“Good evening, Mr. Dellacourt,” the desk clerk says.

I nod at the man who probably is well armed and trained. Thedoors to The Club open, and I lead my wife through.

One day I’ll bring her here as a sub, not a guest. The BDSMclub is known for its exclusivity. Royals only, and royals with money. Everyoneelse is well-vetted staff.

I don’t miss the way Kaja’s eyes take in the grandeur of thespace. Julian Lodge doesn’t do anything halfway. His entryway is a monument todecadence.

“Dante.” Julian walks out of his office and into the grandentry. A mass of muscle is at his side, but then Julian rarely goes anywherewithout a bodyguard. It looks like that’s the big guy’s job tonight. “You knowMr. Taggart.”

Ian Taggart is the head of Lodge’s security branch. LodgeCorp is well diversified, but in the last few years has come on strong in thesecurity field, and the turning point was the hiring of Taggart. The massivevampire is one of those royals whose family hit hard times. He went into themilitary and when he retired, every corporation on the plane tried to hire him.Including mine. Lodge sweetened the deal by offering Taggart a membership tothe exclusive club. It’s also been said that Taggart brought with him a networkof spies. Lodge will definitely know how to use that. “Taggart. I promise I’mnot going to mangle your boss.”

Taggart grins, a completely predatory look. “Oh, please,feel free. I would pay to see that show.”

Lodge simply sighs and holds out a hand. “Welcome back. It’sbeen a long time since you came in.”

I shudder, remembering the moment. “Well, seeing my sisterbound to a Saint Andrew’s Cross while her consort whipped her made me swear offsex for a long time.”

Kaja stares up at me.

“Three days is very long for me,” I concede.

Julian laughs. “Truly, it is. This is your consort.” Julianbows in the formal fashion. “Greetings, consort.”

She smiles at Julian. That smile. Gods, it gets to me.Especially since I know she never smiled before she met me.

“Hello,” Kaja says.

Taggart bows her way as well. “Welcome to The Club, Mrs.Dellacourt.”

I give in to my instincts and pull her close. Another royalis staring at my consort. Despite the fact that I know Julian has a consort ofhis own—if rumors had it right, he has two—I feel my fangs lengthen. My hold onKaja tightens. Julian isn’t exactly ugly, and all the subs lust after the bigblond guy. Taggart is actually quite brutal when he wants to be. He’s veryalpha. Taggart hasn’t taken a consort yet.

Kaja snorts. “He is not my type.”

It’ll take a while to get used to this whole telepathicthing. She obviously heard my thoughts. “I better be your type.”