Tempting the billionaire

es on Darius Blackthorn, he didn't lo

against the obsidian walls. His gaze swept the lobby with cool disinterest, landing briefly on the dozen staff

mily estate was torn apart by spells wrapped in legal contracts. She remembered th

that, the spel

y. And she was

in the room tensed. "If you make a mistake, I won't correct it-I'll rep

d. Not even

her again. Slower th

ticed

ervousness. It wasn't hard-her h

only when he reached the floor. He moved past the staff without ack

time, his

sto

n front

our name?

n lifted her chin.

te a smile. More like am

r. Blac

ment too long. "Vale.

ns 'far

oesn't apply to

or with shadows licking at his heels, leav

ugh its veins like electricity-silent, unseen, but dangerous if touched wrong. The upper levels

she

enchanted to hold up to inspection. Every step had been calculated. She'd spent y

was in, she had

to Darius

his t

y everythin

umed with leather-bound tomes, old magic, and ruthlessness. His office was a cathedral of glass and me

nocke

nt

his desk when she ste

said

Early shows initiative. That's

sat. The silence stretched, thick and delibera

ale-why do you w

in Blacktho

a brow.

built a company that dominates not ju

his hands. "That sounds

u don't want honesty. You want strategy. Ev

nge. But the air shifted-

lly be interesti

k you

ay it was a

ot

ady, though the weight of his scrutiny was like standing in

y, he

e. Re-alphabetize the contractor registry. And summon th

past her.

nd Ser

es

o me. I alwa

. Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the datapad. She'd expected

ing to make

told and the truth she buried, Seraph

a job. It

n't hunting

the lion's den-armed with no