Healing Kisses (Sophia and Santiago) novel Chapter 205

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"They're not here with me," I inform Svetlana. Ragnar's satisfied smirk falters.

"A moment, Sophia?" he sighs.

"No, I don't show up at places you need to be unannounced. I expect the same courtesy, my King." Ivar presses his lips together to keep himself from laughing. General Kingston is also having a hard time keeping a straight face.

-You're embarrassing us-he says in my head without taking his eyes off me.

-You're embarrassing yourself. I dont want you here. don't see how any of this is any of your business when you made it very clear that you can give two fucks about what I want. So turn around and go home.-

He stares at me, and for the first time since we ve been mated, I hold that gaze without looking away. The longer I hold the challenge, the angrier we can all feel him get because hes heating the air around us, making it humid.

"Can you please just leave? You are heating my reserve, and it can cause severe damage to some of the patients here," Svetlana makes a scary hissing sound in the back of her throat. I growl at her, and she steps away from me and lowers her head. When I look back at Ragnar, he nods and turns around to leave.

"Wow, Ivar mouths and then smiles at Kaylee. "I'll see you later, Alpha Axel. Your majesty. Always a pleasure," he bows.

"Call if you need anything."

General Kingston gives Oliver a pointed look so he stays with us. I let out a heavy sigh and pull Ragnar's heat into myself before turning to Svetlana.

"I'm sorry about that," | apologize. "If it's okay with you, l'd like to continue."

"Of course," she lets out a heavy sigh.

For the first time since I've met this woman, I see her perfectly composed mask falter. She looks exhausted.

Not like someone who is devoting their life to preserving mortality, but just a woman who's seen enough to hate anything outside of her work.

I can relate to that. I might still have been in my teens, but I hated the packlands' politics. None of it ever made sense to me. It's like common sense no longer applies to people once they reach the peak of their existence. And for those around us watching, knowing that things can be different if we just set our egos aside kills something inside us.

"You're not the alpha in charge," I say when we cross into a waiting room. She stops, her shoulders tense up the way Ragnar's do when he's caught in a lie. "Is he your mate?"

It takes her a long time to gather her thoughts, or maybe try to piece together another lie. It's an embarrassing amount of time if I'm being honest. She's the mastermind behind all of this. That much is obvious. However, it takes an insane amount of money and connections to get to where she is. I would know.

"How do you figure?" she scoffs, finally turning around to face me.

"Because I was once in your shoes." I take a deep breath and look around to find that the four of us are the only ones here. Her assistant is gone now. "You're not the one I want to speak to. At least, not yet. How long will it take you to get who is in charge?"

"That's not how this works" she shakes her head. "Lord Caspian doesn't like to be disturbed. I take care of everything here so that he can take care of our kind below."

"The serpent outside bit you,' I say, pointing at her leg.

She crosses her leg to try to conceal it behind the other.

"Is that how you get to him? Why did it bite you if you're acquainted with it?"

"You don't know what you're talking about," she loses the arrogant facade.

"I have a really weird obsession with knowing things. It's how I survive. No one gives two fucks about the smallest person in the room unless you're there for a reason. I'm here for a reason, Svetlana. And if you're not the person in charge, we have nothing to say to each other, | look over at Kaylee and motion her to go ahead of me. "Thank you for wasting our time."

"You want to invest in our company," she says, trying to stop me. "I was told to convince you to."

Kaylee glances at me, but I continue walking.

"Are we really just walking away?" she whispers.

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