“Now I’ll leave you to rest, Sonorina Lei. Take your nanny with you tomorrow, or if she’s busy, I’ll find you a new one.” He got to his feet and picked up his jacket.
“I’ll talk to her,” I promised, and, clearing my throat, quietly added: “Sonor Horos, I have one last request before you leave.”
He raised his eyebrows.
I bit my lip and, awkwardly rocking from toe to heel, said: “Can you help me move the playpen to the bedroom? I can’t do it alone.”
Chapter 9
Elenia
I woke up with a headache. Not from a hangover (I didn’t drink that much yesterday), but because I remembered what I had told Garanor yesterday. I had to come up with a way to get more rights for myself and prove to him that he was wrong and that I was right. I was amazed that he didn’t send me to hell and threw me out of the apartment together with Lita. Though probably, if it wasn’t for her, he would’ve been less patient with me. I saw how Garanor looked at her when he held her in his arms. I saw he cared for Lita, and that he was sincerely worried during her attack, and as soon as I remembered that, some strange, incomprehensible warmth spread through my heart.
Before I had time to think about it, I mentally slapped myself. Don’t be fooled, Elenia. Garanor isn’t a prince in a white aerocar and he isn’t your savior. He acted like that because he needed me, that was all. How many times had I heard rumors (in magazines, news, everywhere!) that Garanor was tough, and sometimes cruel and vile. They spoke about him with warnings between the lines, but even that was enough for me to begin to fear him.
What else had I heard about him? He was merciless with both business rivals and his electoral opponents. During his political career, he did a lot for Grassor. But that didn’t erase the fact that he was a tyrant. And yesterday I signed a contract with this tyrant.
I felt like I signed over my soul to the devil himself. Under bonded interest. Without the possibility of redemption.
How sweet.
Lita woke up around nine and delighted me with her smile and a healthy blush. She was in a playful mood; while we ate, she reached for random toys and repeated a new word — “mine”.
In Alicantar, Lita would see the sea for the first time, and judging by the forecasts, the weekend promised to be very warm and sunny. Summer was in no hurry to leave, despite the wind yesterday, which meant that she and Dina would be able to walk along the beach and, possibly, even dip their feet in the water.
I hoped that I’d be able to spend at least some time with Lita, and that we could make sandcastles. But it all depended on Xanor. And Felicia. I’d like to invite her to fly to the ancient castle of La Molita, located near Alicantar. I had never been there, but from what I heard, I could bet that it was a luxurious place, worthy of the wedding of an almost-ruler and his wife-to-be.
“Mine, mine!” Lita continued to repeat the new fun word, and I caught myself frowning, but I didn’t know why.
It was probably just excitement. What would the meeting with Xanor be like? He had texted me during the night (probably got my number from his brother) and said that he’d be here at three. He didn’t ask for the address, so I concluded that he already knew it. The main thing was that he didn’t find out about the deal with Garanor. It was unlikely that he’d protect me from Xanor in that case. And I’d end up alone with a newly made enemy, one of the most influential Dark Ones in Grassor.
This prospect didn’t seem alluring at all, so I decided to ask my... hmm, employer, who else knew about our contract. Felicia? She might. She did just accept Garanor’s decision to hire me and didn’t even ask why I no longer represented Felicidad.
I didn’t want to dwell on this thought at all, so I focused on Lita and a delicious breakfast with a strong aromatic coffee. What could be better!
Dina was here around lunchtime, happy and relaxed because she had passed the test. During this time, I managed to play with Lita, started packing up my things, and even made an approximate list of venues, aside from La Molita, at which a magnificent celebration for several hundred guests could be held.
Fortunately, Dina wasn’t busy with anything this weekend so she could travel with us. I was sure it wouldn’t be difficult for Garanor to find us a new nanny who could stay with Lita twenty-four hours a day but I didn’t want to part with Dina. And Lita loved her too.
I’ll think of something.
Leaving Lita to Dina, I finished packing. I checked whether I had packed the meds several times, scolding myself again. Around two o’clock, a package with my order arrived. I had bought wide light pants and a couple of new blouses, as well as a dress made of thin, flowy fabric, which I didn’t need at all, but really liked. I put my things in the bag, not wasting time trying any of them on, and went to eat.
We had just enough time to eat and clear the table when the doorbell rang. I checked my phone and saw Xanor on the roof near the elevators. I called the elevator for him and rushed to open the front door, wishing myself luck.
After a couple of minutes, the frosted glass slowly opened, and the first thing I saw was a huge plush toy almost as tall as me. Behind it, was Xanor in jeans and a shirt with a sweater casually thrown over his shoulders.
Blinding me with a smile that, as they say, broke so many hearts, he started talking.
“Well, where’s the cute baby?”
He, clearly, didn’t mean me.
“Elenia, you look delightful today,” he said as he proceeded to come in to meet Lita.
I followed him, wondering what all of this was about. Did Xanor love children, or did he think it was much easier to win a mother’s heart (and body) if her child loved him? I was willing to bet on the latter, but I didn’t show it. I observed both Lita’s reaction and behavior.
Xanor squatted down, holding the toy in front of him.
“Well, hello, little thing. Let’s get acquainted.”
The little thing hid behind Dina’s skirt and was clearly in no hurry to get acquainted. She was shy, and maybe even a little afraid, but she didn’t take her eyes off the toy. She looked mesmerized, slightly opening her mouth, and even, it seemed, forgetting to breathe.
“Lita, don’t be afraid.” I encouraged her. “This is Sonor Xanor Horos. Look at what a beautiful toy he brought you. It’s Itchy from your favorite cartoon.”
The yellow-green monster wasn’t even remotely scary. It had big kind eyes and long soft paws.
Xanor turned to me and squinted, (just like his older brother) adding: “No, that won’t work, Elenia. You’ll call the happy future groom Sonor Horos, and I’m just Xanor to you. Actually, I thought we were already on a first-name basis?”
“Technically, you were addressing me by my first name...” I smiled at this womanizer and went to Lita. I took her hand and led her to Xanor. “Introduce yourself, please.” I got down on my knees, noticing that Dina was watching everything with wide eyes.
I forgot to warn her with whom we were flying to Alicantar, and now the poor girl was shocked.
“Lita,” she whispered barely audibly. She lowered her eyes and timidly touched the paw of the cartoon character.
“Nice to meet you, Lita. I’m Xanor.”
“Xanol,” she echoed and took a couple of small steps toward the toy.
“What do we say, Lita? Thank you,” I prompted her gently.
“Thank you.” She lowered her head again while blushing so adorably that I couldn’t help but smile.
“A charming little thing,” Xanor concluded. Getting up, he looked at Dina, expecting that I’d introduce them.
Even while talking with her, he managed to look at me in such a way that I started thinking about wearing a turtleneck again.
It wouldn’t help me though, as it wouldn’t save me from his attention.
“I forgot to thank you yesterday... For the invitation.”
“On the contrary, I should thank you, Lenny. May I call you that?”
Only my closest friends called me that, but I couldn’t say no to
him. I had to nod in agreement, and Xanor, clearly pleased with everything, continued.
“We’ll be spending the next two days with the most poisonous and dangerous creatures of Grassor.”
The most poisonous and dangerous creatures of Grassor... Those words came straight from his heart.
“Are Sonorina Solt’s relatives that bad?”
“Not only her relatives will be there, but also some of mine. And all the Horoses are bastards.” Noticing that I cast an anxious look toward Lita, Xanor hurried to explain in a less worrisome way. “They’re not the best people, in general. Felicia’s relatives are almost the same.”
“But Sonorina Solt left a very pleasant impression on me.”
“Feli is a rare exception to the rule.” He grinned. “A diamond that was unlucky enough to fall into my brother’s hands.” He leaned toward me and whispered, almost touching my cheek with his lips, which made me nervous. “Almost all the elite of Grassor are real bastards. Soon, Lenny, you’ll see for yourself. And, as you can see, I’m not much better than them, since I’ve invited such a gentle creature like you with me there.”
“I think nothing terrible will happen to me this weekend. And Lita, I’m sure, will be delighted to see the sea. So, I’m grateful to you for the opportunity to visit Alicantar.”
“Grateful... Mm, I’ll keep that in mind,” he noted with a mischievous smile.
***
Leaving the apartment quietly wasn’t an option. Lita didn’t want to part with her new toy under any circumstance. No promises that, if she was a good girl, she’d get the most beautiful doll in the world when we arrived at Alicantar, helped. Clutching the plush monster, she screamed so loudly and desperately, as if the worst possible thing was happening. Of course, something bad did happen — the Horos brothers suddenly appeared in my life. But that didn’t worry my daughter in the slightest, or rather, she didn’t care at all.
She only cared about Itchy right now.
“Alright, sonorina, that’s it.” I picked her up. “Enough with that attitude.”
“I suspect that she takes after her mother,” Xanor added and even seemed to exhale with relief, seeing that I had taken the capricious “little thing” into my own hands.
“A bit,” I answered, and then strictly said to Lita, “if you don’t stop crying, there’ll be no sea and sandcastles.”
“Mine!” She sobbed bitterly.
“Exactly. The sooner we fly, the sooner you’ll see them. You love to fly. So what do you say?”
Lita looked at the toy with such longing that my heart hurt. It was a pity that Xanor had a sports aerocar into which the four of us, let alone a giant toy, could barely fit.
“Does she often cry like that?” Xanor asked, looking tensely at my still sniffling baby as if I were holding a small but very dangerous bomb.
“Children have mood swings. There’s nothing terrible or unusual in this.”
“So... often.” He concluded, unhappily, and continued to look at Lita cautiously.
The elevator took us to the parking lot. Dina continued to blush, Lita sniffled, and I started to get nervous because I thought Lita might still scare Xanor off.
Garanor said his brother liked fairies. But all the prostitutes from Kadris and any other city and even country were at his service. Why would he bother with me, a single mother, when he could just pay for all the necessary... hmm, services?
Damn... There’s that clause in the contract that if I can’t manage my duties, the deal will be canceled. I have to try very hard to fulfill them.
Dina and Lita sat in the back seat, and Lita calmed down when Dina turned on cartoons on my phone. I focused on Xanor and was glad that I put on a skirt.
The windows tinted slightly to prevent the sun’s rays from entering the car. It smelled of leather, but it wasn’t like the smell I felt in Garanor’s car.
I immediately caught myself. Since when could I distinguish smells so precisely? Like I was a Dark One and like there was room in my head for another Horos.
Xanor, Elenia. He’s is your goal and your job.
I crossed my legs gracefully, which attracted the attention of the younger nightmare. I tried to fill the silence.
“Returning to the topic of your relatives and the relatives of Sonorina Solt, what should I prepare for?”
“Oh, the trip to Alicantar will definitely not be long enough for me to tell you about each of the Horoses or Solts. We’ll have to continue in the evening on the beach.”
It was good that he didn’t refuse to talk, but I didn’t react to his invitation to spend the evening on the beach.
“Tell me something about them in general. I’ll probably feel like an intruder at this gathering.”
Xanor glanced at me.
“I could lie and say that you’ll be welcomed with open arms, but I won’t. Feli will definitely be glad to see you, she can’t wait to get to know your blue-eyed little girl. As for the rest... Many of them are deep-rooted snobs and fairy-phobes,” he said so casually, as if we are discussing the weather, and not how the Grassor’s crème de la crème would take my presence. “Although the main fairy-hater is my beloved older brother Garanor. My advice to you, Lenny, is better stay close to Felicia — well, and to me as well, as I won’t treat you like trash and I won’t let anyone else offend you — and stay away from the future ruler of Grassor.”
I felt unpleasant bitterness in my throat.
“Does he hate us?”
“He doesn’t really hate you, but he thinks that fairies, if one gets carried away with them, can become the weakness of the Dark Ones. And my brother, the control freak, hates weakness. In himself, and in others.” He stopped for a moment. “So, I stand corrected, we can actually call him a fairy-hater. And a tyrant who, without any remorse, uses everyone he can get his hands on. Even his loved ones.”
It was difficult to disagree with the last sentence. Look at where I ended up. In the car with his brother, diligently showing him my knees, knowing full well that Xanor would clearly not be satisfied just with this sneak peek.
“Do you think he’s with Feli because he’s madly in love with her?” he asked curiously.
“We, the Light Ones, tend to believe in true love,” I noted with a smile.
But Xanor was in no hurry to smile back, he only grinned sadly.
“The Solts are an old aristocratic family that has been involved in charity work for generations. They are loved and revered in Grassor. Garanor simply chose a thoroughbred for himself, who’ll give birth to Dark Ones and next to whom he’ll look even more trustworthy. A textbook example of a family man with a perfect wife.”
I glanced at Lita once again, feeling a little anxious.
“But I wouldn’t worry about Garanor, he won’t bother you again.” Interpreting my thoughts, Xanor calmed me down. “I’m actually amazed that he yielded to Felicia’s whim and agreed to have you be the one to organize their wedding.”
Yeah, he yielded.
“Well, as for the rest of the Horoses and Solts, they won’t touch you as long as I’m around.”
“My hero.” I laughed, and Xanor shook his head.
“I can be anything, Lenny, except a hero.”
Chapter 10
Elenia
I knew firsthand that people (and nonhumans) led amazing lives, but until now I couldn’t even remotely imagine how wide the range could be. Even on the way to the mansion, which was in no way inferior in size to any royal palace, I understood that it’d be wrong to call the Solts rich. They were immeasurably, unfathomably, and ridiculously rich.
When we began to descend, and the yellow-pink haze of clouds below us melted, Monson — the family home of the Solts, appeared before our eyes in all its glory. Having lived in luxury here, Felicia landed in the golden cage of Garanor Horos.
I didn’t know why I was thinking about it instead of just admiring the lavish mansion. It was a soft cream color, with countless balconies, terraces, turrets, and staircases made of
red marble. I’d like to have time to study every detail, admire the graceful balustrades and fountains sparkling in the sun. The pool, compared to the house itself, was rather modest in size, but they didn’t need a bigger one — their private beach was within spitting distance.
“You like it?” I heard Xanor’s voice, as I just stood there fascinated and overwhelmed by the magnificent view of Monson.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I whispered with admiration.
Dina’s mouth was open. Only Lita paid no attention, as she was fast asleep, lulled by the quiet music in the car.
We landed on the lower deck, even though I would have rather we parked on the rooftop, outside the gate, or even by the pool. Or anywhere, but a couple of feet away from Garanor. It seemed like he and Felicia had just arrived as well. The driver was getting their things out of the trunk, and the future spouses were talking to some young black-haired woman. They stood right on the steps of a wide staircase that led to the entrance to this abode of luxury and beauty. I understood that I couldn’t pass them unnoticed, although, for some reason, I would’ve very much liked that.
When we landed, Felicia turned around. She said something to Garanor and hurried to us, and I began to shake from their looks.
Xanor, continuing to play the role of a charming gentleman, helped me out of the car. Then, under the tenacious gaze of his brother, he pulled out a stroller from the trunk, into which Dina put the still sleeping Lita.
“Elenia, Xanor, it’s so good that you’re here with us, too.” Felicia came up to us first, and I immediately smiled.
Even though I felt lousy right now, I couldn’t help but respond to her smile.
I was nervous. Worried. And I seemed to be a bit angry. Just slightly. Garanor looked at me as if he were looking at one of the fountain decorations. Indifferently, to say the least, if not icy cold. As if it wasn’t he who enjoyed the dinner I had cooked yesterday, helped me with Lita, even showed some kind of concern, and threatened to find the father of my child.
“Is the baby sleeping?” Felicia glanced curiously at the stroller.
A Deal with the Dark Fae: Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone (Cruel Intentions Book 1) Page 8
