Max

"What do you mean, the contracts haven't arrived? I sent them via courier yesterday." I snarl down the phone at Peter, even though none of this is his fault.

"The solicitors are saying they don't have them, Mr. Horenson," Peter says, clearly gritting his teeth. "You're going to have to come in."

I glare across the apartment, where Vee is shrugging on her coat.

"If you have to go in, you have to go in. I can manage to get all my stuff packed up with Neville's help."

"I'll contact Tavvick and get him to meet you at the house. I'd rather he was there in case Lord Bisleh tries anything."

"I think you put the wind up him enough last time." Vee laughs. "I very much doubt he'll do anything if he thinks it'll piss you off again."

"I'd rather not take any chances," I reply. "So, I'm sending Tavvick."

"Okay." Vee walks over to me, hips swinging. She's wearing a pair of jeans and an oversized jumper, hanging off one shoulder, which looks suspiciously like one of mine. "I'll accept the assistance of a big bad orc."

I growl in the back of my throat as she reaches me, slinging an arm around her waist. "There's only one big bad monster in your life, my dear Vee."

"I know." She puts her forefinger on her lips. "That'd be the gun toting orc, wouldn't it?"

I know she's winding me up. She hit it off straight away with Tavvick, who, after having got over the fact she wasn't my pet, found it funny to lean on her head and call her "tiny." It doesn't seem to matter who Vee meets in my life, she charms them as she charms me.

I'd be a mess if I hadn't already claimed her, thoroughly.

"I can carry a gun, if it turns you on," I rasp.

The air fills with perfume of my favorite kind.

"I think a holster would spoil the line of your suits," Vee says, running her finger down the edge of my jacket.

"I'd have them all remade to fit," I reply, dropping my head for a kiss.

A very long kiss.

"I am still here, you know,"Peter squawks through the phone speaker.

Vee lets rip with a bark of laughter and tears herself away from me, hand over her mouth.

"I'm coming in," I growl down the phone before hanging up.

Vee is, sadly, now out of my reach and at the door. "I'll be taking payment for the use of my clothing later," I call over to her.

"You need payment for everything," she says, eyes dancing with mirth.

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't love troll cock so much," I say, feeling a tightening in my pants which I'm going to have to manage before I leave the building.

"Then I'm going to have to find a way to make you pay," Vee says and then she's gone.

I text Neville and ask him to bring out the Lamborghini SUV before I text Travvik with Vee's address.

"Max?" I look up at the sound of Olly's voice with surprise.

My old basilisk friend is standing at the balustrade to the upper mezzanine. His scales are an odd color.

"Olly, is everything okay?" I ask, heading to the stairs and mounting them in order to reach him.

When I get there, it's clear he is not okay. He's far too pale.

"What ails you, old friend?" I ask, closing the distance between us.

"Is Vikki safe?" he asks, his voice losing any strength it had.

"Of course she's safe. She's mine."

"Good," he replies. Eyes closing, he falls towards me in a dead faint.