"Would you care to repeat that?" Drach couldn't quite believe his ears.

Krev winced. Despite the wide study table between them, he stepped back as if that would protect him.

Drach gripped the arms of his chair; the wood smoldered. He didn't require his valet to reiterate the calamitous news; it lay typed on a sheet in front of him. The stark, printed words left no room for interpretation. Yet he struggled to accept that Krev had failed him.

'So did you, you weak, skin-coated worm!' Attor roared.

"My Prince, pardon me," Krev pleaded, almost in tears.

"Was this an impossible ask, Krev?" Drach hissed, though he knew it was his fault. "You had access to infinite resources and no budget..."

"A third party proffered a hefty bribe to the counselor and a participant to persuade Lady Berber into reconsidering and even contacted the owner. They couldn't sway her, meus seigneur. She stands firm—" Krev whimpered.

The doors of his office opened. Calek sauntered in and sniffed the air. "What's burning? Where is the extinguisher? Krev, didn't I tell you to place one in each room? Update the fire retardant measures immediately. Now, scram. I fancy a chat with my inflamed frater."

Krev gulped. He threw a petrified glance in Drach's direction to confirm the instructions before staring at his shoes.

"Get out. Oh, you're dismissed." Drach's wings tore out of his back and through his shirt. "I have no use for incompetent cowards." He ripped off the shreds and hurled them aside.

Calek patted the EA's shoulder. "Nostrum seigneur means it. You're fired... but I predict HR will call to rehire you when this fireball runs out of clothes. And for threatening you, he'll grant you a pay hike, say fifteen percent. Now go, spend the day with the comely iguana who's got you wrapped around her little finger."

Krev scampered out.

"He's lucky I didn't have him thrown in the dungeon," Drach grumbled.

Unperturbed, Calek settled into the chair opposite him. "You're seeing red and your pupils are scarlet. May I remind you that Krev is a highly qualified executive assistant with a master's in business administration, not a lowly secretary? Yes, he handles your correspondence and fields your calls, but he also manages your affairs. Not to mention, he represents your interests in most meetings and speaks for you. He oversees most of your ventures and every other aspect of your life, along with the management of your precious Drachenhöhle. Kindly cease treating him like a butler."

His icy hard gaze held Drach's furious glare, reminiscent of bright amber eyes that could do so too. No one except Calek could do that, not even the so-called Emperor.

"So, what has you so perturbed that the castellan begged me to return from Monaco? The staff is quaking in their boots. Even the birds on the grounds are dead silent."

Drach had fired Wrm, the castellan, this morning too but couldn't recall why. He waved at the missive. Embers flew off him as he took off his pants and underpants.

Calek snagged the cape of coarse wool hanging off the back of a chair and draped it over Drach. When he squeezed Drach's shoulder, a chill spread through his heated flesh.

"Yes, yes, you're fuming. Tuck your wings in, Attor. Let me talk to Drach. We'll sort out whatever's lit your fires. The sheep killer rampaging the countryside won't solve whatever is annoying you," Calek said. He walked to read the letter aloud.

"'Exalted Prince Nassau,

With a heavy heart and trembling hand, I have the unfortunate task of informing you Ms. Asena Berber has decided not to pursue your suit for the time being.

The resident counselor had deduced your elevated status, coupled with the stress of her relocation, may have overwhelmed Ms. Berber.

Torn between our duty to clients and patrons, we concluded, as stated in her contract, to respect her erroneous choice.

I assure you the fallacious decision is hers and hers only. Please forgive her, for she is a stranger to our ways.

If you so wish, we'll reach out to your office when Ms. Berber is in a better frame of mind. But if your excellence decides against pursuing said entrant, we apologize for this debacle.

Your humble servant,

Zane Toki

PostScript: Miss Berber desires to remit the favors including the item we haven't been able to remove yet. We've advised her to refrain from that course of action, for fear of causing offense. Ms. Berber insists and begs your pardon for wasting your valuable time.

I am bound to add this epistle. As the assigned agent handling Ms. Berber's case, I do not have the luxury of judging those who choose Eros' services and try to serve them to the best of my abilities. In my uninformed estimation, Ms. Berber is searching for something. While she seems sure of what it is, she deems it unnecessary to share it. But then, she is a naïve foreigner. That is a probable explanation I can offer regarding her choice. Dare I add, the accidental injuries have left her discomposed. '

With disbelief etched on his sharp features, Calek tossed the communiqué aside. "So, you're smitten by the waif giraffe cat but she refuses to entertain you and returns the tokens you bestowed on her. What is it they cannot remove?" A scowl creased his fair forehead until realization dawned. "You did not!" His brother's jaw fell to the floor.

"I certainly did." Drach felt no guilt whatsoever about spying on Asena.

"Drach! That's wicked!" Calek had the galls to sound scandalized. He who had orgies with humans; Félix Ashkenazic Saxe-Coburg would have him beheaded for such a transgression. Now he dared to look down on Drach.

Drach pressed a button on his tablet.

'He literally ignited... How can it work if I can't touch him?' Asena's shrill complaint filled his home office.

He fast-forwarded.

A calmer, mature male said, 'The Prince had a lot of questions, none of which I could answer, such as where you were educated, to what levels, and which institution you attended. He's rather intrigued by how you speak fluent English. So am I.'

"This is Zane Toki, an immigrant. It appears he is the only decent shifter in that cesspool. His guidance cannot be faulted, but he stacked the odds against me," he said.

Drach contemplated destroying this individual, except even Attor acknowledged he was protecting Asena.

He moved the cursor to another part he'd earmarked.

'I've survived this long by appeasing royals, and now... I'll be informing a prince he's been found wanting.'

He hit pause. "This is why I put a transponder in the neckpiece."

"Go ahead. What else have you ferreted?" a weary Calek asked.

"Zane and Asena's conversation was rather enlightening. Here is another gem."

'Your equanimity gives you away. Our participants struggle with the paperwork or sign it blindly. Not you. You studied it, sought a companion, retained your rights to refuse any suitor, and accepted the risk of failure. And you're eager to work. Now this. What it is that you're seeking...'

'Sturmfrei.'

Her soft reply calmed Attor down. They also sensed her disappointment. He proceeded to the next important segment he'd already committed to memory.

'Sturmfrei is the freedom to be alone. Do what I wish; to have a storm-free life, not stifled by conventions and diktats. Hence, he's not right for me.'

Drach managed a tired, humorless smile. That statement stabbed him each time he heard it. He played another clip for Calek.

'The Prince's personal guards dropped off a plant. You forgot to bring it along. And it was a message. He's aware of your location. There's an unknown vehicle with diplomatic plates parked by the gates. Yes, I too am confused by what he sees in you. Oh, he briefed me that you are to grow your hair. It's too short for his liking.' Zane said, amused.

Drach held his breath for his favorite section.

It started with a snort, then grew into a litany of snickers and giggles. Uninhibited guffaws floated out of the Bose speakers. Goosebumps splattered his skin as the joyous melody of Asena's amusement echoed through the vaulted room. He longed to make her laugh like this.

Calek huffed. "So the cat's unimpressed by your looks, wealth, title, or keenness to lay down the world at her feet. If she's after freedom, why the farce? That's insane."

Drach lifted a finger. "This is funnier."

Despite Zane's careful enunciation, he had retained a hint of a foreign accent. 'Oh, Asena, the raised eyebrows, maintaining prolonged eye contact, and pinning us with a patronizing stare are interpreted as unsaid challenges. Flutter your eyelashes; copy this dum-dum or peep under them like Bebi. Or not. Just stop glaring at everyone in your line of sight.'

Asena responded with a scoff.

Drach chuckled as he shared her delivering a scathing verbal lashing to the counselor.

'I was almost barbecued alive. This is about self-preservation. Your counsel will lead me to my death. Or the burns unit. So, with all politeness, fuck off.'

Having said her piece, a door banging accompanied her dramatic exit.

"The kitten's attitude rivals a lion or tiger," Calek commented.

The criticism couldn't tarnish Drach's swell of pride. His mate was not a walkover. She had the spirit of a warrior. "She isn't done. Listen."

'Bebi, enough!'

Asena's curt command caused a shiver to run up his spine.

'You made your choice. I made mine. Duma made his. So what is the issue?'

Her temper presented itself in her twanging the vowels.

'Shut your pie hole!' Asena's guttural utterance thundered with fury and promised impending violence. The subtle infection, now pronounced, was grating.

Even Calek flinched at the loud slap.

'Individuals such as you are why Duma is here. How dare you judge and bully him based on his sexual preferences? He chooses not to advertise how he's been persecuted. You keep harping on how your motives are pure, and you are so self-sacrificing. Why? You want us to admire you, which is why you go on and on about it. Sorry, love, I don't care for you one bit. Why do you target Duma? Because of whom he's attracted to. Or coz' he's the competition? He's snagged a lord. What about you?' she taunted with calculative cruelty.

Having witnessed Asena weaponize her words to inflict damage, even Attor grasped it was best not to trifle with her.

A concerned Calek looked at him.

"Are you sure about her?"

"Absolutely. It's her or nobody," Drach replied, sans any doubts.

Did you miss the Fire and Ice brothers? 

Or did you forget about them after meeting the Duke and the Genius?

Also, what do you think Drach will do now that he's been summarily rejected?

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend. Cheerio! Ps. Next Update this Sunday!