20. Dining with Royalty

QUINN

The entire way to our next destination, it was clear that forgetting a fresh pair of underwear had definitely been done on purpose.

"Do you know how uncomfortable it is to be going commando?" I hissed at him. There was a part of me that was embarrassed at how much I was hinting at with the driver within earshot of our conversation, but the way Asher's lips twitched was certainly enough to make me forget it in record time. I attempted to cross my legs when the material rubbing against my irritated ass forced me not to. A soft growl escaped my lips.

The prince smirked. "Keep complaining and see what that earns you, pet. If I had no problem punishing you at my cousin's shop, what makes you think I'll resist that urge at our next destination?"

A stifled chuckle leaked into the air up front. It was taking every ounce of self-control that Aydin had to prevent the noise from evolving into anything further than that. I had to give him credit, though. Aside from a small smirk, he managed to keep his attention fixed on the road. He didn't even attempt a quick glance at the rearview mirror.

While I didn't restrain myself from huffing a breath at him and crossing my arms over my chest with a surge of defiance, I couldn't find it within myself to argue. Especially when I knew that Asher had no problem torturing me in public. The only question that remained was how far he was willing to take things once the tasks were out of the way.

Those golden eyes slid my way as a familiar heat haunted my body, both my cheeks and chest flushed with embarrassment from the naughty thoughts coursing through my mind. The edges of his lips twitched until that pleased smirk grew. He knew what I was thinking without even having to vocalize a question to confirm it.

Although I didn't have the slightest clue as to where he was taking me now that my closet was going to be fully supplied ─ if not stuffed to the point where the doors probably wouldn't close ─ the trip into the heart of Vegas didn't take long. It didn't matter if the sun was still high in the sky, all the bright lights around me still left one hell of an impression. I was so caught up in all the stunning sights that I didn't realize the SUV was slowing down again.

It took the quiet squeak of the breaks for me to realize that we'd finally arrived, prompting my eyes toward the building waiting outside. As soon as my gaze settled on it, my lips parted and a sense of awe washed over me. Most of Vegas was flooded with buildings that were almost completely covered with bright lights or surrounded by an exotic statue with the feeble attempt of gaining attention, but this place took it simple in a way that worked.

Elysiumhad been almost entirely built out of a stunning white stone that couldn't be any closer to the actual coloring of snow with occasional black columns to help support the second story. As soon as I realized that almost every inch of the upper floor had walls of glass, I could feel that sense of awe growing even stronger.

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

Aydin shifted in his seat, swinging those green eyes toward the prince. "Do you want me to circle the block every fifteen minutes, to ensure the perimeter remains clear?"

An amused snort escaped Asher, causing the other demon to blink. "There's absolutely no need, Aydin. Dario has his own that do the patrols. He wouldn't have accepted the reservation if he was under the impression that anything was amiss ─ especially with how things are right now." He gestured for me to wait for a moment, getting out of the car to come around the back.

My jaw was ready to hit the clean carpet beneath my feet when he bounded up to my door and tugged it open with a hand extended toward me. It was times like this that I was absolutely baffled that I was even getting treatment like this, especially with how things had originally started for me. Gone were the days where I was nothing more than a prized pet to fuck when he desired. As I slid my hand into his, I could feel his pride coursing through me.

Asher was proud to have me on his arm.

Once I was out of the vehicle and the door was shut behind me, Aydin pulled away from the curb to pull into the parking lot nearby. He passed straight through the front portion that was filled to the brim and didn't stop until he was allowed through the gates at the back to join the few cars already there.

We weren't even inside of the building and there were already eyes on us. Not only were the two men at the valet stand staring at us, but the two brutes stationed at the entrance also seemed to straighten immediately. The curly-haired brunette tapped at his earpiece, murmuring softly while his bald companion remained focused on us. He was doing his best to keep his facial expression empty, but he couldn't conceal the shock swirling within those brown eyes.

"Prince Asher," he greeted us once we came into range. "This is a pleasant surprise. Should we ask the boss to clear the restaurant for you?"

"Why?" Asher raised his chin slightly, causing both brutes to tense. "Is there something I should be concerned about?"

The bodyguard tensed. "No, sire. I merely assumed…"

An amused snort sprang up behind us, Aydin quickly catching up to us after leaving the SUV in the locked parking lot. "Get to the point, Brutus. The boss has a stunning woman on his arm and he would much prefer to show her off to the rest of the paranormal kind. So unless you've got some angels in there that I should be concerned about…"

Both men immediately straightened their backs. Although they were almost a head taller than Asher, leaving even more distance than the height for Aydin, the idle threat lurking underneath it all had them looking like they didn't feel any more than a few feet tall. Brutus cleared his throat, his frantic nerves haunting his aura. "Not at all. Angels have been banned from the grounds due to recent…events."

"Fantastic." Aydin clasped his hands together behind him. "Then I don't see what the hold up is. The man is starving, his woman is no doubt famished…" An eyebrow rose. "It won't look good if you continue to keep the future king and his queen waiting on the front step, now would it?"

It took everything I had not to let my lips curl into a pleased smile. Yet it was clear from a quick peek at Asher that he wasn't even bothering to try to hide his.

Buzzing came from behind them. Even if the bodyguards hadn't exactly recovered fast enough to let us in, someone peering through the camera installed above them had already taken notice of our arrival ─ and they were eager to let us in. They reluctantly eased out of the way before the metal doors could slap across their asses. Neither of them attempted to speak further, nor did they seem to want to.

Why would they? They'd just held up the future king.

I tightened my arm around Asher's as he led the way inside with Aydin bringing up the rear. Small chills trickled down my spine when we passed through the brief entryway before we stepped into the restaurant itself. While the outer part of the building had taken after the lighter colors heavily, this one seemed to be done with the opposite color scheme in mind.

Black stone walls surrounded us with the same dark tiles beneath our feet with only thin golden cracks to help bring some color to it. All of the columns were even converted to the stunning white stone with the same cracks woven within it. Heat from the wide doorway toward the right hinted that the kitchens were located beyond while the main dining room was off to our left.

Although a young hostess was stationed at a small desk nearby, she didn't get a chance to greet us before a man came down the steps in record time. "Asher!" he boomed, spreading his hands. While his initial reaction indicated he wanted a hug, he was quick to shift his demeanor to where he held out a hand. "I wasn't sure if Emersyn was yanking my chain that you actually were in town until you called to reserve a table."

Asher shifted slightly, taking the demon's offered hand with his own. "Looks like the business is treating you well, uncle. I trust recent events haven"t damaged the income too badly."

The man responded with an amused snort. "Hell, no. I didn't like angels coming through my door. I put an end to that years ago. They're nothing more than shady fuckers in tunics and a harp stashed up their ass."

It took everything I had not to choke, especially when all I was doing was drawing in my next breath.

The prince seemed to sense the brief surge of panic tearing through me, although he didn't seem to comprehend why. He gestured at me. "Dario, I would like you to meet my mate, Quinn. Quinn… This is my uncle Dario, from my mother's side."

That was enough to help sap away the frazzled nerves dancing within me. This was the second family member Asher had taken me to meet from that side of his family. There was a part of me that was beginning to catch onto a theme, although the rest of me was willing to chalk it up to a coincidence. I blinked when Dario reached out to take my hand, bringing it up to his lips to deliver a quick kiss.

"Pleasure to meet you, lass." He released my hand before the heat could completely take dominance across my chest. His slate-gray eyes remained locked on me. "Her aura is a unique one."

I flushed.

Dario's gaze strayed back toward the prince. "You still have time until your reservation. Would you like to be seated early or…?"

Asher shook his head. "Still got that setup in the basement?"

His uncle released an amused snort. "Boy, do you not remember what helped me get this place on the map? Of course I've still got it downstairs. If that's how you'd like to kill some time, then follow me." He turned on his heel and started for the single door tucked in between the stairway and the kitchen.

If it wasn't for the fact that Asher had absolutely no problem with following him, I probably would have rooted myself to the floor and refused to move. With the way I had spent my entire childhood and most of my adult life, I wasn't used to the concept of surprises nor did I have any clue how to handle them. The fact that the prince didn't have an ounce of weariness in his body seemed to be the only thing that ensured I didn't make either of us look like a fool.

Dario had already disappeared down the new stairway engulfed with darkness with only thin neon lights under the steps to guide our way. He seemed to realize that Asher didn't need him to guide the way, not when it was quickly becoming clear that the prince had spent a decent chunk of his own life here.

My eyes strayed as I drifted down the stairway. It took me a moment to realize Aydin had planted himself on the top step and wasn't coming any further down. While it did leave me confused, my attention shifted toward the vast room ahead. Most of it was shrouded by the same darkness that had concealed the steps with only an area nearby exposed with a light hanging from the ceiling. I honed in on the wooden platform built around a large open cylinder bowl.

"We just got our fruit truck this morning, so you'll find everything along the flavor spectrum completely stocked." Dario reached out to trail his fingers along the wooden crates lined up just beyond the platform. Only a few of them had their tops ajar. He paused near one of them, reaching inside to retrieve a grape and plop it into his mouth. A content hum escaped him.

I finally pulled my arm from Asher's, allowing the demon to stroll on ahead to walk amongst the crates with his uncle while I drifted to a halt just shy of the platform. With all of my senses now heightened to a level that I wasn't used to, I could detect a wide range of smells that threatened to muffle another out. One second, I could draw in a breath that was dominated by apples while the next would be consumed by blueberries. I pressed my lips together and struggled to focus on one scent so the rest wouldn't overwhelm me.

Both of the men had fallen into a quiet conversation with them hovering near a wire rack with wooden pieces lined up on each row. While some of the top ones were filled with wine bottles that had already been sealed, those on the bottom were empty.

Dario just happened to be gesturing at the empty bottles. "We've got plenty to spare if you think she'll enjoy making more than one. The whole process can be exhausting, but the reward is certainly worth it. As I'm sure you can vouch for since we also supply your clubs."

"I appreciate it, uncle." Asher reached out to collect two bottles off the bottom shelf, turning each of them over to look for cracks.

The other demon responded with an amused snort. "Boy, I don't accept a shipment if any of them are damaged. Put the bottles down and take your mate through the steps. See what she might want to pair together." He reached out to clap a hand down onto the prince's shoulder "I also want to congratulate you. Your mother would be proud that you're settling down."

I remained perfectly still with my hands clasped in front of me while Asher murmured softly in their native tongue. From the shift in his aura, it was clear that ─ while he appreciated the comment — it seemed to draw up an emotion that was usually deeply buried within him. I didn't dare break the sudden silence as Dario left Asher by the racks.

Dario's steps slowed as he approached me. Those slate eyes surveyed me carefully. "Do you love him, Quinn?"

My chin rose immediately. "Yes."

He cocked his head to the side slightly. "Will you protect him with your life?"

"Yes." Again, my response came quickly and without any hesitation on my part. It was the same set of questions that Salvatore had run by me with the intention of seeing just where I stood. While it did leave chills trickling down my spine at the sense of deja vu, my voice seemed just as strong as it had been for that dinner.

Dario studied me for a moment in silence before he finally offered a small nod. "Truly a unique soul… Brielle would have adored you, child. You carry yourself in the same manner that she did. The two of you would have gotten along well." He turned slightly to peer back at Asher, who was watching us closely. "Do us both a favor, boy… Don't snuff out her light."

I drew back slightly as those words seemed to ring off the walls around us. It didn't matter that the walls felt like they were miles away. They still echoed and caused that emotion swirling within Asher's golden eyes to intensify. Why would Dario request that?

What the hell had happened in his family that I didn't know about?

"And you, Quinn…" Dario's gaze returned to me.

I tensed.

The edges of his lips twitched, a sign that I had absolutely no reason to be concerned. "Take care of him. He is very fond of you and I don't want to see his light extinguished, either. Treasure the light within the other and you two will flourish."

My heart squeezed. It was such a simple request and it was one that I would have absolutely no problem with heeding. Lifting my jaw, I offered a small smile in return. "I will, I promise."

All he gave me was a small nod before he started moving along, calling over his shoulder, "Your reservation is set up within the hour. I'll send Gwen to Aydin so he can come collect you two when it's time to be seated. Don't make a mess, you two."

I turned slightly to watch him go, a cluster of emotions still tearing through me. It didn't dawn on me that I had succumbed to my thoughts so much that I didn't hear the prince come up behind me. As soon as his hands took me by the shoulders to spin me around, I stiffened up with a gasp. The shock quickly shifted into pure panic with a part of me anticipating the sound of glass shattering.

Asher's lips twitched. "The bottles are over on the table, pet. There's no need to fret."

Releasing the air trapped in my lungs, I managed to relax my tense muscles. "I'm sorry, I…I got lost in my thoughts. Today has been amazing so far and you have no idea how much it means to me just to meet some of your family. Emersyn was so sweet and Dario… He genuinely cares about you."

Don't snuff out her light.

His hands shifted to my lower back, keeping me pinned against him. "In time, it will make sense why I've chosen these places to show you. Even if it wasn't the intention when we first crossed paths, you are my mate. I want you by my side when I take the throne and I want you to understand there is the side that I show the world…and one that I keep hidden."

My eyes misted as I gazed up into those stunning eyes, spotting his eagerness to show me that he wasn't that playboy prince any longer. Add in the fact that he was more than willing to introduce me to those hailing from his mother's side and I was beginning to see him in an entirely different light. There was one side that was willing to burn down the world to protect what he held dear to his heart, while the other side was a sensitive soul that no one ever got to see.

Asher didn't say anything further. He simply pressed his lips against my forehead and lingered there while the raw emotions continued to tear through us. Several minutes had passed before he pulled back and gestured at the platform. "I do hope you don"t mind getting a little messy before dinner. This is…something my mother used to do with me when I was younger. Wine tends to taste far better when it's done fresh like this."

I couldn't stop the giggle that was clawing up my throat. "You've seen how my mother treated me when I still lived in that house. I have absolutely no problem with getting a little messy."

"Even if it means your feet might be stained for a week?" he teased.

Blowing out a breath, I pulled away from him and eased down to tug my shoes off. "As long as our witness for the sexual task doesn't mind watching me go to town on you with purple feet. It's not going to bother me either way."

The edges of Asher's lips twitched. "Very well, then. You might just enjoy this like I was hoping you would." He shrugged off his jacket to drape it over the back of a nearby chair. There was a part of me that anticipated he would reach inside to retrieve his cell phone and transfer it to his back pocket, but he left the device behind. He simply nudged off his own shoes and socks before he strolled over toward a bucket on the floor filled to the brim with water.

Once I had my own shoes kicked off to the side and my pant legs rolled up, I joined him by it. My cheeks flushed with a familiar heat when he gestured for me to sit on the stool. I didn't offer a hint of resistance on my part, simply obeying his request without question. That heat intensified when he knelt down onto one knee and started scrubbing my feet clean.

"Speak your mind, pet." Asher dipped the sponge back into the water before continuing to work on my other foot.

I nibbled on my lower lip while I clung to the stool, holding on tightly to avoid succumbing to a fit of giggles. There were quite a few places that I couldn't stand being touched simply because it tickled, yet I was also fully aware just how much those hands could work the tension away. It was orgasmic in its own way.

"Pet."

Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and fought to work my way through my scrambled thoughts. "I just… You're a prince, Asher. This isn't a sight I ever thought I would see."

The edges of his lips curled with the amusement echoing in his aura. "This is not something I would do for just anyone, pet. You are my mate, my future queen. I was being entirely serious when I told you we are equals now."

The blush only gained strength the more he reminded me of how much things had changed compared to when we first met. Not only did I appreciate that he was eager to ensure those words stuck, it meant a lot that he believed them. I eased off the stool to pat my feet dry on the mat nearby. "Your turn."

The prince drew his head back slightly. "There's no need─"

I cut him off with a low growl. "Are you going to make me use your own middle name as ammo just so you will sit down? I want to return the favor."

His eyes narrowed into thin slits. "The only time I want to hear Alessio coming out of those lips is when I'm fucking your pussy and making you scream it. You'll be playing with fire otherwise, pet." He eased down onto the stool, every part of his body language making it clear he was going to do this part himself.

Grinning, I immediately dipped down and grabbed his foot before he could stop me. With the sponge in one hand, I ran it along his heel. "Do I hear that punishment is in the near future if I do let it slip?" I purred.

Although he didn't stop me from doing his feet just like he'd done mine, he did lean forward and catch me by the jaw. All it took was a tug up for me to lock gazes with him. "I can tell by the way you cringed sitting down that your ass is still raw, Quinn. Tempt me any further and you won't be able to eat dinner properly."

I smirked and reluctantly decided to let it slide for now. Attempting to eat dinner standing up would definitely prove a little too complicated, especially for how fancy this one appeared to be. That didn't mean that I couldn't push my luck later until he did bend me back over his knee. For now, I settled for finishing with his feet. I remained on my knees while he eased off the stool and dried them off.

Asher paused, reaching out to take me by the hand and pull me upright. He cupped my cheek with his spare hand. "I will never snuff out that flame within you, Quinn… You have my word on that."

Those words took me by surprise, causing my breathing to hitch. "W-What?"

His lips twitched. "There's a reason why my uncle made that request from both of us, pet. My mother was a lively woman when my father stumbled upon her. They came from two different worlds, but he had to have her. The life she came from didn't quite line up with what his own father had expected for him when it came to a queen… So he changed her, year by year, until everything she loved had been tucked away. Hidden from the world." He shook his head slowly, running his thumb along my skin. "I will never ask that of you."

I could feel my heart squeezing. It was such a big promise, yet there was no hesitation on his part to proclaim it. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that he meant it, every single word was sincere. I offered up a small smile, letting all of my emotions pour out into it. "Thank you, Asher…I swear to you that I won't snuff out yours. Whatever it is that you seek to do, I will be by your side to support it. All of it."

That was all he seemed to need to hear, dipping his head to press those lips against mine. The amount of warmth soaking into the kiss left every single one of my senses on fire in an entirely different way. I had no intention of pulling away, not even when my lungs were starting to ache from the lack of airflow. By the time the prince ceased the kiss, we were both panting.

It was such a simple sign of affection, yet it held all the love we both carried within it.

"Come." Asher tugged me toward all the crates that Dario had lined up. "I'm sure you can remember from when we first met that wine carries a…rather important place in the life of upper-class demons."

"Which is why you need a taster?"

He responded with a small nod. "There is no need for one when I know the wine is coming from my uncle's supply. He is family and I have no reason to believe he would do anything to put my life in danger. Tasters are only involved when it comes from an outside source, such as the angels." He gestured at the first crate. "I would like to see what peaks your interest when it comes to flavors you might enjoy."

"You do remember the part where I told you about how I used to have to steal from gardens just to eat, right? It was usually not a very wide selection." I watched the prince reach into the crate to pull out a grape. The blush returned with full force when he turned and held it out toward me to simply eat it from his fingers. It didn't matter that my mind was struggling to comprehend that now this man wanted to feed me. My body was more than willing to do it for me. I leaned forward, managing to tug the grape free with my teeth.

Considering that I had grown up in the heart of Montana, grapes weren"t something I could ever find in a garden. The sweet texture consumed me with so much strength that I couldn't help but moan. It didn't dawn on me that the noise had actually escaped until Asher snickered. Flushing, I grumbled, "Fruits don't exactly agree with cold temperatures, you know."

"Not many, no," the prince agreed. His golden eyes strayed from me, surveying the line of crates. The gears were already turning in his mind, although the lightbulb didn't flip on until he spotted what he was looking for. He left me to nibble on another grape while he grabbed a crowbar propped against a nearby rack.

I watched him with a hint of curiosity until a delicious aroma hit me that I definitely recognized. I perked up immediately. Peaches. My stomach grumbled, yet I could care less if he'd heard. That was one fruit I'd definitely come across fairly often during my scavenging. "You can actually use these for wine?" I breathed.

Asher rested his weight on the crowbar while he watched me suck in a deep breath. "You use quite a wide range of fruits for it, pet. Peaches would actually pair up quite nicely with the Moscato grapes you just tasted."

I eyed the freshly opened crate of peaches before I let my gaze stray toward the other one that I'd left behind. "That sounds amazing." I paused when he rested the crowbar against the crate, allowing him to grab a few small crates with handles and bring one of them over toward me.

"Fill this with the Moscato grapes. I'll grab the peaches."

Excitement surged through my veins when it finally sank in what he'd brought me here to do. Granted, the sight of everything was so unusual that it had taken a little too long for me to process it all. Now that I understood, I moved with a bounce to my step while I filled my crate with the grapes.

Once they were both full, Asher led the way toward the platform. The fucker was tall enough that he could empty his crate into the large wooden bowl built into it while I was forced to head up the steps before I could do the same.

I didn't offer any protest when he grabbed my little crate to set it down on the floor beside his. "So, what now?"

That mischievous grin returned. He gestured at the bowl. "It's time to start crushing, pet. There's small holes in the bottom that will allow the juices to leak down."

The prince was simply explaining what we were doing without anything masked amongst those innocent words, yet those he had chosen had my thoughts shifting back to the punishment he'd delivered at his cousin's shop. I found myself succumbing to a fit of laughter. When his expression shifted into one of confusion, I struggled to contain it. "S-Sorry. Juices made me t-think of the punishment."

There was a moment when he seemed absolutely baffled at how my mind had managed to shift from our current bonding experience to the one back at the clothing store. Fortunately, it didn't take long before he snickered softly. "Such a naughty mind you have, pet." He tsked under his breath while he came around the platform to join me. He didn't hesitate to step into the bowl before he reached out to offer his hand again.

The last thing I had intended to do was squeal, especially when this wasn't sexual in any way. Yet, as my foot settled into the bowl and started squishing some of the fruit from my weight alone, I couldn't stop the noise from escaping. That didn't mean I was any more successful bringing in my other foot.

The laughter that escaped Asher was nothing short of an angelic sound that echoed from the depths of his soul. There wasn't a single ounce of caution or weariness that came with the fact he was the prince of his race. He was carefree and absolutely entertained by my behavior. His arms wrapped around me, pinning me against him until I managed to get my balance down.

My body relaxed as he helped me start squishing the fruit. I followed his guidance right down to every turn he prompted me to make. Although silence quickly leaked out into the room, I found myself content. There was no telling how much time had passed, not with both of us simply enjoying the other's company. It wasn't until most of the fruit beneath us had been flattened that he finally released me and eased out of the bowl.

He scooped me up into his arms with one swift movement, choosing to carry me down to the bucket of water instead of both of us leaving a trail of fruit juice in our wake.

Every single part of my body was at ease as we washed our feet off and got everything back on. By the time he tugged his jacket down to remove all of the wrinkles, I had lost myself in my memories again. My eyes were trained on the bucket we'd just left behind with only the skin left behind at the top. It was surreal how I was experiencing more in my life with a man who had originally bought me as a pet to fuck than a mother that had birthed me. Just this experience alone proved which world I belonged in.

Which world had welcomed me with open arms.

Asher came up behind me, tucking a hand under my chin. His palm grazed against my throat while he prompted me to raise my head until I peered up into those piercing gold eyes. "Your aura no longer gives me the impression that your past is haunting you, pet. That pain seems to have been let go."

I offered a small smile. "It helps when you've made me feel welcome in your world."

"Our world, pet," he corrected.

"Our world," I repeated softly with a smile. My heart squeezed from the gentle reminder. It was the last thing I had expected when the demons had broken down the door to the organization's hideout. That didn't mean that I could find it within me to regret a single damn thing. I would do it all over again if it meant that path would lead me right back to my own demon prince.