“Remember, Vi”—he turned us slightly so his back was to Ermina, and he mouthed the next word with raised eyebrows—“devout.”
Then his look changed. A whole lot more intense, private. I was still panicking, knowing that while Ermina couldn’t see Lincoln’s face, she had full view of mine.
Lincoln smiled, obviously pleased with my reaction, before he turned and went into his room without looking back.
Ermina watched me with a strange, distinctly disapproving expression, which morphed into a stern look when she opened the next door on the other side of the hall.
“Violet, this will be your residence throughout your stay.”
I nodded and started to take a step forward, but from the glare she gave me, I knew to stop.
“We are in a time of prayer. Unless you are married to someone here, we expect you will not enter another person’s private chambers.”
That’s why Nyla had been smiling. It seemed totally obvious now, but I’d had my mind in another place. A little warning might have been nice. They clearly knew the rules.
“Of course,” I said, nodding profusely. “I’m…um…I’m Catholic.” As if that were supposed to mean something. As soon as I said it, I wanted to die.
Ermina cleared her throat. I had definitely started off on the wrong foot with her. I decided on a fast exit and gave her my best attempt at a respectful bow before scooting into my room.
I waited, like a statue, back to the door, listening for footsteps. Once I was sure she was gone, I took a few deep breaths to try and stave off the hyperventilation that was brewing, and banged my head against the wall.
The suite was a continuation of the beauty we had already seen. I thought of Dad, how he would love a building like this. As an architect, he would see its many merits. Then I thought of Steph. She was going to kill me when she found out the kind of place we were staying. I actually wished for a moment she was there—before I remembered why we were there.
I’d barely unpacked my bag and splashed some water on my face when I heard a knock. I went to the door and opened it, still patting my face dry, but no one was there.
I heard the knock again and this time looked around to see where it was coming from. There was an internal door. When I opened it, Nyla was on the other side.
“You could’ve warned me,” I said, taking in her smug smile as she leaned against the doorway. In spite of the satisfaction, she really did have the air of an ancient goddess.
“You’ll know for next time,” she said, still grinning.
Great, another person who gets their kicks at my expense.
“Did you come to gloat?”
“No. I’m headed off to do a security lap. Thought you might come in handy. Interested?”
“Sure.”
She tilted her head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Just us?”
She nodded. “It’s easier. Men always get in the way.”
I followed her back down the hall, the same way we’d come in. The hotel was huge, and it was unsettling to be in a place designed to house so many when it was empty. The hallways all looked identical. I was glad Nyla seemed to know where she was going.
“I can see you love him,” she suddenly said from nowhere.
I didn’t know what to say, so I changed direction. “Did my mom love my dad?”
She nodded once, definitively. “She was a procrastinator, never thought herself worthy of anything good. When she met James, she tried to talk herself out of it—you know…” she said, honing in on me with a knowing look that made me want to run away. “She was worried about bringing him into this world. But your dad, he just kept coming back and, well, she loved him. In the end, love will rule the mind.”
I felt relieved to hear this. I had wondered since discovering my mother was Grigori if she were still the person I’d imagined. Dad misses her so much—he’ll never get over her. I didn’t want that to have been for nothing. It didn’t make all the rest okay, the lies and betrayal, but it was something.
“Is that what happened with you and Rudyard?”
Nyla smiled and steered us toward the hallway that veered to the right.
“Our choice was simple. There was no other option.” I envied her.
“Do me a favor, Violet?”
I gave a noncommittal shrug. The truth was, although I liked Nyla, I still didn’t know her. My instinct was to trust her. Zoe and Spence clearly did. But I’d been wrong before.
“Ask all the questions you need to ask. Understand the consequences before making your choice. Every choice has a price.”
“I don’t understand. What price?” From what I could see, Nyla and Rudyard had it all.
We walked through a door that took us outside, and we both had to squint into the afternoon sun. Azeem was waiting.
Nyla put a hand on my shoulder, which made me feel a bit squeamish. She acted like she knew me well and it made me uncomfortable.
“Rudy and I will explain everything later.” She smiled. “We have plenty of time.”
I nodded, moving casually away from her touch.
Azeem showed us the impressive security system that comprised a network of modern surveillance cameras and two more traditional watchtowers, which were manned around the clock.
When Nyla asked me, I pushed out my senses and tried to feel the close surroundings and a little beyond. She didn’t want me to go too far, preferring that I learn to control my scope and just see if there was anything we needed to know about.
I traveled the immediate area, seeking out anything that could activate my senses.
I felt them instantly.
His unique signature.
Waiting for me.
“Are you picking up on anything?” Nyla asked, while Azeem pointed out their lookout stations.
Apple first, as always, with just a hint of something else that made it so…moreish. Musk, maybe. Then the flowers. He smelled like musk and jasmine.
I knew he wanted to see me, knew he could disappear faster than we could reach him. If I told Nyla, he’d leave.
When I hesitated, she raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” I said, finally responding, and Nyla, after a suspicious pause, trustingly accepted my lie. I felt even worse.
“Okay,” she said to Azeem, and they started to walk back toward the hotel.
“I’m…going to have a look around if that’s okay. I…saw a pool on the way in. Do you mind if I go have a look?” I asked, fidgeting, sure it was obvious I was up to something.
“Certainly,” Azeem replied. “If you would like to swim, there are towels by the pool deck. The waters are the natural supply from the springs. I hope you like it hot,” he said, giving me a small nod and walking back to the main building.
Nyla gave me a quizzical look. I held her stare and smiled back as reassuringly as I could. She followed Azeem.
I made for the cascading waterfalls, grateful at least that my lies had me moving in the direction I really needed to go.
The mountains, formed of pure stone like they had been carved into shape, were incredible. I could even see why Azeem and Ermina were so devout in their religion—if I lived in a place like this, maybe I’d have had faith too. Maybe.
The senses intensified as I neared one of the smaller waterfalls. It was strange sensing him like this, knowing he was calling me. Even stranger that I was going to him, aware of the power he had over me. There was no point running from him. It was too late for that.
I found a trail that was carved into the mountain and started the climb. I fought the nauseousness as I climbed higher and clamped my hands into tight fists, letting my nails dig harshly into my skin to distract me from the déjà vu of being surrounded by cliffs.
As I neared where I knew he would be, water spritzed over me, the wayward sprays from
the waterfall, and I spotted the path that led behind it. So many things went through my mind, so many memories. I wondered if he was putting them there. Then, I wondered if he was thinking them too. My hand moved to my waist and my fingers wrapped around the hilt of my dagger. It would be no use to me here. For one thing, Phoenix was a better fighter than I was. And he knew it.
I followed the path into an opening behind the flow of water coming from above. I expected it to be noisy and wet. Oddly, it was quiet and dry.
He stood on the far side, a few yards away. Despite the heat, he was wearing jeans and a fitted dark denim jacket. He rested easy on the rocks.
I expected him to say something cruel or make some snide remark. I expected to say something myself, but neither one of us spoke. It was worse. His chocolate eyes were bitter and cold. I finally realized that no matter what had been, no matter how real either his feelings or mine…
He’s going to do this.
And I’m not going to let him.
Our eyes locked and his seemed to warm a little. But it was only to share in a brief moment of acceptance…and regret. It wasn’t going to change anything.
“I see you and your people found your way here safely,” he said.
“You actually sound like you’re glad.”
“I wouldn’t have made it so easy for them if I hadn’t wanted you here.”
He was playing with me. “Right. We came for the Scriptures.”
“Who do you think led you here?” he asked, his smile a little tilted. Secrets hidden within.
“We found the old stories, Phoenix. We know where to look,” I pushed.
“I know. I all but opened the books and put them under your noses. You never would have found the location if it weren’t for me.”
The penny dropped. “The exiles at the farmhouse.”
He just continued smiling.
“That’s why they were really there, so they could tell us about the Rules. Why? You don’t want to help us.” I knew that much.
“No, but it seems I might need you after all,” he said, his tone becoming bitter.
“Why all the games, Phoenix? Why did you do it?”
“You have yourself to thank for that. You showed me there is only one place for me in this world. I’d been fooling myself, granted. I’ll not make the same mistake twice.” He was suddenly interested in the cave wall, picking at a piece of stone, avoiding looking at me.
“I meant Lincoln. I know you were the one who sent Nahilius.”
He shrugged, not surprised or worried that I’d figured it out. “It was mutual benefit. I see he made it here anyway. I take it Nahilius is downward-bound.”
I didn’t answer.
“Still afraid to admit what you are?” He smiled. “Never did like the Cherubim.”
I shook my head in disbelief, grasping what he was telling me. The exiles he’d given to Nahilius had all been Cherubs, as was Nahilius. I remembered Phoenix had some kind of grudge against them.
“You knew he’d be able to beat those exiles you sent after him. You wanted him to do it.” I couldn’t hold back the anger pulsing out of me, or the look of disgust.
“It was a win-win,” he said, now holding my glare.
“You make me sick.”
He took a step toward me, staring right through me. “I make you many things,” he said, his voice traveling the length of me. I tried to ignore it, not be affected. But when he took the next step, he opened a channel to himself.
“Don’t,” I said, putting up my defenses and mentally pushing him out. I was shaking with a frightening sensation of want. Then fear of want.
“Do you think I need the power to reach you?” He half laughed. “Do you think I don’t know how your thoughts drift to that night, to when you were in my arms?”
“I’m with Lincoln,” I blurted out, surprising myself as much as Phoenix. He took a step back, his jaw clenched. I had said the wrong thing.
“You’re lying,” he growled. “If you were with him, you’d be weakened and you’re not.” His eyes grew wide when I hesitated. “Oh,” he said.
I bit down on my lip.
“My plan brought you together, you just haven’t—”
“It’s none of your business!” Why was it that everyone seemed to know so much about my love life just from looking at me?
“Wait. It doesn’t make…” He stopped.
I held my breath when his eyes churned with fury.
“You think you’re kindred souls, don’t you?” he snapped, taking those few steps back toward me until he was just inches away. “Don’t you?” he repeated, this time darkly bleeding into me as much compulsion to answer him as he could.
“Yes,” I replied, for a moment under his spell.
He was silent as he contemplated my response. Finally, he straightened.
“Well, it makes sense you’d be willing to sacrifice your life again for him. I admit, though, I’m surprised you’d be willing to sacrifice his life for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
He laughed lightly, though his brow was still furrowed. “Still diving in head first without all the information. That naïvety of yours really is going to get you—or someone else—into trouble, Violet.”
“Are you finished?” I asked, turning to walk away.
“Tell your people I’ll give them the morning, but the Scriptures will reveal themselves to me come tomorrow evening. If you want any chance to get hold of them, you’ll be in place then.”
I walked away but felt the push. One step, two steps.
Move, move.
And I did. I kept going. I didn’t stop. But for just a second, I couldn’t resist. I dropped my guard and sucked in what he was sending—an explosion of lust, a feeling of unfettered bliss just as I’d remembered. My eyes rolled back in wicked delight as I forced my feet forward and stopped them turning back to him.
Like a damn junkie!
I snuck back into the north wing of the hotel, grateful to spot Zoe.
“Hey,” I called out, running to catch up with her. “Where are you going?”
“Everyone’s meeting with Azeem and some local Grigori. I guess we’ll fill them in and find out if they can help us.”
“Oh.”
“You okay? You look wasted.”
“Yeah. Umm…I think I might skip this one. Can you tell Griffin and Lincoln that I was too exhausted? I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”
“Sure. I’ll stop by and get you on the way to dinner if you want?” she offered.
“Thanks,” I called after her as she hurried off. She didn’t want to miss any action. Pity she’d already missed today’s main event.
By the end of the night, I was going to have to explain to everyone that I’d wandered off to have a little one-on-one time with Phoenix. But before that came the harder task: I was going to have to explain it to myself.
When I made it back to my room, I really was exhausted. I had no idea what was going on with my body clock or what time it was. I turned on the shower, undressed, and sat in the bath with the water pelting down and random tears falling.
My life is not how I imagined it would be. In some ways, I was starting to like being a Grigori. I mean, the power was great. The strength alone gave me confidence I’d never had before, and knowing I could sense beings before they arrived was a bonus too. The obvious downside was that I knew a whole lot more bad was coming my way. And Phoenix.
I tried to keep things black and white, but as everyone is always telling me, nothing ever is. I loved Lincoln—absolutely, totally, jump-off-a-cliff for him loved him—even when I’d shared that time with Phoenix. But…
There is always a but.
Phoenix and I had been friends. Really good friends. When I had felt like there was no one else, he had been there. I kno
w now that he had been lying to me through a lot of it, and I could never forgive him for forcing me to choose life as a Grigori when he could have healed Lincoln himself. Of course, if he had healed Lincoln, he would have probably had the power over Lincoln that he now held over me and…I was doubtful he’d have procrastinated for too long about reinstating Lincoln’s wounds.
And, I couldn’t help it, there was a part of me that was drawn to Phoenix. I’ve told myself it’s just his abilities, his pull of seduction and floods of lust, that he influences me and controls my emotions, but it’s more than that. I was unhealthily aware of those things, yet still unable to resist. And as bad as this might sound, it wasn’t even him so much as his power to make it all go away.
He’s the ultimate escape.
For someone who has spent a long time denying herself the right to run or quit or anything of the sort, Phoenix was like the biggest wagon I could ever fall off.
I’d turned wrinkly and the water was starting to run cold when I heard a knock on the door. I jumped up and wrapped a towel around myself, expecting to see Zoe on the other side of the door collecting me for dinner. When I opened it, it wasn’t Zoe standing there.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Did I or did I not help you make your plan work with Lincoln?”
“Yes,” I said slowly.
“Have I or have I not backed you up on a number of cases of questionable judgment lately?”
“I guess.”
“Well, it’s time for payback. Where do I sleep?” Spence said, pushing past me and walking right into my room. “Nice towel, by the way. I’m not big on wearing clothes in my room either. This is going to work out well.” He dumped his bag on the bed, unzipped it, and started unpacking.
“Whoa! Hang on. How did you get here? I mean—hang on!” I said, ducking back into the bathroom and wrapping a bathrobe around me before I reappeared. “Okay, explain,” I demanded.
Spence leapt onto the bed and reclined, putting his hands behind his head. “It was genius, really. I stowed away on the army truck they loaded onto the plane at the last minute. I had the truck waiting for me round the back of the airport. While you all were all comfy upstairs, I rummaged through Rudyard’s bag and found the address for the hotel. Took me a while to get here—had to get a local bus and then hitch part of the way, plus get past the security, which took a while—but here I am. Did you miss me?”
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