Vision of Seduction by Cassie Ryan Page A

soon his usefulness would be at an end,
    and Aedan would enjoy watching him die.
    "Sorry I'm late." The man slid into the booth across from Aedan. "I had to
    avoid the royal guards. They're everywhere on both sides of the between
    since your failed attempt to capture the Seer." His still rugged features
    scowled as he looked at Aedan.
    "Don't worry, we have a plan to take care of the Seer." Aedan clenched his
    coffee cup, denying the quick urge to smash it over the man's head for the
    condescending tone and the audacity of questioning a Cunt warrior.

    "You'd better." He rested his arms on the tabletop and leaned toward
    Aedan, keeping his voice low. "The only reason I agreed to help you was to
    keep this triangle from happening. The new queen is foolish to relinquish
    part of her power to two mere humans to complete the triangle."
    Aedan forced his fingers to relax, and remembered that charm and cunning
    worked better when dealing with Klatch arrogance. "I totally agree, which
    is why I'm helping you, remember?"
    The waitress approached, and Aedan fell silent, not wanting her to hear his
    words. Her blond ponytail swung as she slapped an empty cup down in
    front of the informant and then sloshed steaming coffee into it from a pot
    she carried in her other hand. She topped off Aedan's without asking,
    leaning over far enough to give him an unimpeded view down her
    impressive cleavage. She winked at him—the effect ruined by a loud smack
    of her gum—and then walked away to flirt with some college boys a few
    booths away.
    When Aedan was sure she wasn't paying attention to him and his booth
    companion, he continued. "There is still time to stop the triangle, we just
    have to change our plan now that she's already on Tador."
    The informant sipped his coffee and winced, although from the heat or the
    overbrewed bitterness, Aedan wasn't sure. "You assured me she would
    never make it to Tador, remember?" He set down his cup and glared across
    the table at Aedan. "And not only did she make it to Tador, but Prince
    Grayson was injured in the process. You also assured me no harm would
    come to the prince!"
    "I regret that," Aedan smoothly lied. "However, Grayson charged us when
    he foolishly tried to save the Seer, and he injured himself. It wasn't
    anything done by my men."
    The informant looked unconvinced, his lips thinned into a hard line.
    "Maybe we should just concentrate on finding the Healer before the royal
    family does."

    "Waiting until half the triangle is in place—with the queen and the Seer—
    still weakens the queen's hold on her power and leaves Tador unstable."
    Aedan picked up his coffee cup and took a drink, ignoring the bitter liquid
    that slid over his tongue and giving his words a chance to make an
    impression on the informant. He could tell the minute they hit their mark—
    the man stiffened in his seat, a deep crease furrowing his brows. Finally,
    the man nodded his reluctant agreement. "The royal family has asked that
    no one mention the triangle to the Seer, they want her to become
    comfortable on Tador before they tell her what they want of her. We may
    be able to use that to our advantage when the time is right."
    Aedan resisted the urge to smile as satisfaction curled inside his belly.
    Klatch were almost as easy as humans to manipulate if you understood
    them. "That's perfect. Let the Seer find out that they want her to give up her
    entire life and tie herself to a man she's just met, and she'll most likely run
    straight back to Phoenix."
    The informant nodded. "True. She'll need help getting through the portal,
    but I'll let you know when I have any further information."
    Maybe this situation would reverse itself more easily than Aedan thought.
    He needed quick results if he hoped to achieve his aims with Sela and
    remain alive.
    ***
    The next day, Grayson guided Katelyn outside onto the front steps of the
    castle and into the midday sunshine. Her fiery hair glinted a thousand hues
    of molten fire,