Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Xavier reached her first.

Evelyn hadn’t even moved from the east wing when she saw a tall, lanky man walk toward her, clad in a suit, his hair tied into a bun. A wide grin on his face as he crossed the floor, hand stretched out.

"If it isn’t the Evelyn Valemont." He said in a deep, raspy voice.

Evelyn raised a brow. She was certain she had no idea who this was or where they might’ve met before. Still, she shook his hand.

"Xavier Gothel. The handsome one of the Bloodmoon brothers." He introduced himself.

Evelyn arched a brow, searching deep in her memory for a Xavier Gothel but coming up with nothing.

"The Bloodmoon brothers, really now?" she said.

"Really." He let out a low whistle, his eyes sweeping over her with open appreciation. "And they said you were beautiful. They undersold it. That’s a crime, honestly."

"Xavier," Damon said from the stairs, his voice flat. "Don’t disturb Lady Evelyn."

"Why?" Xavier spread his free hand. "I see a beautiful woman and I compliment her. That’s just good manners." He turned back to Evelyn, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I know you’re recently divorced, but if you ever want to re-enter the dating scene, I’d be more than willing to offer—"

Damon’s palm landed between his shoulder blades so loudly, Evelyn knew it had to hurt.

Xavier coughed. "Ow."

"You’ve said more than enough." Damon’s smile was pleasant and murderous. "Evelyn. What a surprise to have you here."

Evelyn smiled, pulling back. "Well, I’ll be sure to keep your offer in mind, Xavier Gothel."

Xavier rubbed his back, unrepentant. "I’ll hold you to that."

"You will not." Damon caught Evelyn’s elbow with two fingers, steering her toward the stairs before his cousin could get another word in. "My office, please, Evelyn."

He led Evelyn toward his office while Xavier called after them. "Think about my offer, Lady Evelyn!"

Damon didn’t even turn around. "I’m going to kill him." He muttered under his breath.

Damon shut the study door and leaned against it, exhaling as though he’d just survived a small war. "I apologize for my cousin. He was raised by a pack of boars. Actual boars. Some days I suspect."

"It’s fine." Evelyn dropped into the chair by his desk, still fighting a smile. "Although, I must say, he’s not what I expected from the Bloodmoon brothers."

Damon winced at the name, and she laughed. "Don’t."

"Oh, don’t cringe. The Bloodmoon brothers. I can see the vision."

"It sounds like something a bard invented after too much ale." He crossed to the sideboard and poured himself a drink. "Three centuries of family reputation, and it’s ’the brothers’ that stuck."

"I like it. It sounds dangerous."

"That was the point. Somewhere along the way, it started sounding like a tavern band." He took a sip. "Drink?"

"No, thank you." She tilted her head. "I didn’t see you at the summit."

"I didn’t go." He shrugged, dropping into the chair behind his desk.

Evelyn hummed. "You don’t like social gatherings?"

"I don’t like watching grown men pretend they’re friends while calculating how much they can gain from each other. It’s a room full of superficial nonsense in expensive coats."

He raised his brow as a wicked grin spread across his face. "But I heard what you did. Sophia and Kael, humiliated in a single night. In front of the entire realm. That was a power move, Evelyn."

She smirked, folding her hands in her lap. "You heard right. Now that I’ve dealt with the Lucien situation, I can focus on Kael. Now I can focus on destroying him properly."

"Properly." Damon repeated, seemingly delighted. "I love how you say that."

"But that’s not why I came." She leaned forward. "I came for the reason behind our partnership. The healing house."

The playful atmosphere immediately changed. He sat up straight, setting down his drink. "You found a site?"

"I secured one this morning." She pulled a folded plan from her sleeve and laid it across the desk. "The building is sound, the grounds are large, and it sits close enough to the main roads that packs and travelers can both reach it. I want to begin as soon as the paperwork clears."

Damon leaned forward, studying the plan. "How much space are you working with?"

"Enough to expand later." Evelyn pointed to the different sections. "The main building will be for treatment. I want a smaller wing for patients who need to stay overnight, and another section for storage. Herbs, medicines, anything we prepare ourselves."

Damon traced the lines with his finger, nodding slowly. "Storage should be closer to the road. You’ll be receiving deliveries at odd hours, and you don’t want carts crossing the patient grounds."

"Agreed." Evelyn marked it with a small stroke of her nail. "And I want the overnight wing facing the gardens. Recovery is quicker when people can see something green."

"Sentimental."

"Practical. I’ve watched it happen."

He glanced up at her, and something softened in his expression before he schooled it. "Fine. How many healers?"

"Six to begin. Three permanent and three rotating. I’ll train the first group myself."

Damon nodded. She had it all planned, and as per their contract, he was just being let known of the situation.

"Alright, I’ve taken note of everything. I’ll have Ren get a copy for Bloodmoon, and we’re done."

Evelyn rolled it up at last and stood. "I’ll send the deed and the first budget by tomorrow."

"Wait." Damon rose too, catching her wrist lightly before letting go. "I have something for you."

Evelyn’s brows furrowed as she watched Damon take a paper from his pocket and pass it to her. She unfolded it, carefully reading the contents.

Suddenly her eyes widened, and she looked at Damon. "You—how did you do this? Kael hates you. He would never sign anything with your name on it. Why would he—"

She stopped as the pieces slid into place all at once. Kael didn’t know. Kael had no idea whose money he was taking now. He had been led, patiently and carefully, into a partnership with the one man he would never willingly touch, and he had probably been grateful for the rescue.

"I’ve taken a step forward in ruining Kael. Seeing as you despise him just as much as I do—if not more—I thought I’d let my business partner in." He paused for a second.

"I’m investing in Kael’s trading guild. He believes there are four Alphas investing in Silver Creek, whereas there’s just one. Me."

Evelyn wanted to laugh. She wanted to double over and laugh till her stomach hurt.

How foolish could Kael be? She’d taken millions from him under the name Lord Ravenscott, all because he wouldn’t and didn’t double-check his investors—and now he was doing the same thing.

They said once bitten, twice shy, but with Kael, it was a totally different story. What a fool he was.