Kayden knew he needed to explain to Georgia why he was going to Sariah’s hotel tonight. It wasn’t for the allure of another woman, but to uncover what had really happened to Wood.
As he turned to leave, Lacey panicked. She quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Drawing herself up to her full height and thrusting out her ample chest, she pleaded, “Mr. Scott, I just need one small favor!”
“What favor?” Kayden asked coldly.
Lacey explained, “I’ve had my eye on an antique, but I can’t tell if it’s genuine. You’re the only person I know in Hiphia who might be able to help. Since you knew about the Double Phoenix Plays with Dragon Pearl, I thought you must be an expert. Would you mind coming with me to take a look?”
Kayden shook his head. “I’m sorry, but you’ve got the wrong person. I don’t know anything about antiques.”
In truth, Kayden really was clueless about such things. He’d been fighting on the Battlefield since he was sixteen. Apart from the art of killing, he had few other skills. His knowledge of the Double Phoenix Plays with Dragon Pearl had come entirely from Jerome.
“No, no!” Lacey insisted. “You’re just being modest, Mr. Scott. I know you can help!”
“I said I can’t,” Kayden growled, shoving past her.
The force of his push sent Lacey stumbling backwards.
As she caught her balance, a black pendant slipped out from beneath her shirt.
It was jet black, carved in the shape of the Grievance – the second son of the dragon, born of a dragon and a leopard. It had a leopard’s body with its head a dragon. Ancient texts described the Grievance as bloodthirsty and combative, with a fierce temperament.
Kayden’s eyes locked onto the pendant. He recognized it instantly as the cherished possession of his subordinate, Liam. For ten years, Liam had worn that pendant, swearing it was a family heirloom passed down from his father. Liam had vowed never to remove it, claiming it made him invincible in battle.
Kayden’s gaze never left the pendant as he slowly approached Lacey. She misinterpreted his intense focus, glancing down at her low-cut top in alarm. After Kayden had pushed her, he was now staring at her with… that kind of look.
She had thought him a gentleman, but it seemed he was just another lecher after all!
“You… you pervert!” she sputtered, crossing her arms over her chest.
But Kayden had already stepped close to Lacey. Without so much as a glance at her face, he reached out and grabbed her protective arms. Lacey struggled, shaking her head in disbelief. “Y-y-you… what are you doing?” she stammered.
This was beyond shameless! She had tried to shield herself, yet here he was, prying her arms away to continue his leering. Lacey was no stranger to admiring glances – her beauty often drew attention – but this was by far the most brazen and vulgar she had ever encountered.
When Kayden raised his hand towards her chest, Lacey’s face drained of all color. This was going too far! It was outrageously inappropriate!
Was looking not enough to satisfy him? Did he really intend to grope her right here and now? They were standing at the entrance of his own residential complex, for God’s sake! Wasn’t he supposed to be married? Did he have no fear of his wife catching him in the act? No concern for his family or friends witnessing such deplorable behavior?
Kayden’s fingers closed around the pendant. There was no doubt – it was Liam’s.
“Where did you get this?” he demanded, his voice hoarse.
“Ah!” Lacey blinked in confusion, realizing he was fixated on the necklace.
Lacey touched the pendant on her neck, puzzled by his interest. “My father gave it to me. Someone sold it to him, said it would bring good luck, so he passed it on to me.”
Kayden swallowed hard, his eyes boring into Lacey’s. “Who sold it?”
Lacey’s brow furrowed as she shook her head. “I don’t know!”
She noticed Kayden’s eyes hadn’t left the pendant for a second, and his expression had changed dramatically.
Feeling uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny, Lacey unclasped the necklace.
Seeing the desire in Kayden’s eyes, she cleared her throat. “Oh, if you want it, you can have it. I thought you were… never mind. It’s just about this pendant, isn’t it?”
“What?” Kayden asked, confused. “What did you think I was doing?”
Noticing Lacey’s defensive posture, he stated flatly, “I’m not interested in you.”
His words left Lacey speechless. This was a first – no man had ever declared himself uninterested in her before. She was a beauty, after all, with extraordinary looks and figure. And yet he…
Well, she didn’t need Kayden to be interested in her anyway!
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll give you the pendant, but you have to accompany me to the antique street.”
“Deal,” Kayden agreed, pocketing the necklace. Without another word, they left the complex together.
Though Lacey knew the pendant was valuable, using it to get a connection with Kayden seemed worth it. She could tell he wasn’t an ordinary man – there was untapped potential lurking beneath the surface.
“Georgia!” Leah’s eyes were wide as she pointed at Kayden’s retreating figure. “He just left the complex with that woman!”
Georgia’s heart sank. She’d been planning how to confront Kayden, and now he was gone? With another woman!
Georgia bit her lip as she rushed to the window, just in time to see Kayden and Lacey walking out of the complex.
“Shameless!” Georgia stomped her foot in frustration.
Leah gasped, shocked to hear such a word from her sister’s mouth.
“Georgia, I swear I saw Kayden touching that woman’s breasts!” Leah blurted out.
“What?” Georgia didn’t want to hear any more, but Leah continued, “Or maybe she was coming onto him? It’s weird though, what woman would be interested in that idiot Kayden?”
“What do you know?” Georgia snapped.
Leah blinked at her angry sister. “Did you and Kayden have a fight?”
Georgia scoffed. “A fight? As if he’s worthy of fighting with me.”
“Then why are you so upset?” Leah asked point-blank. “Are you… jealous?”