by Linsey Hall
“The curse does not give you long, does it?” Silviu asked.
Grey shook his head.
“Shame. All the same, I am envious. I didn’t think it would happen for you. For either of us.”
“You want this?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“I don’t want immortality anymore,” he replied. “After long enough, it becomes a curse. If I could end this life by finding my mate, I can’t imagine better. Even if I only had her for a little while.”
“I’m here to find a way out,” Grey said. “A way around the curse.”
Silviu nodded. “That is what I assumed. You want a meeting with the seer.”
“I do. Can you arrange it?”
Silviu looked between the two of us, and I wondered if he would ask for a price we could not pay.
“I can try, of course,” he said, his voice trailing off.
“What do you want in exchange?” Grey asked.
Silviu’s eyes went to me, and a shiver went down my spine. “What are you?”
I blinked. “What am I?”
“Species. What is your magic?”
“Um—” We still didn’t know exactly what I was. “I can read people and objects. A bit like a seer.”
He nodded. “Can you determine whether I have a mate?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” His lip twisted with distaste.
“Not everything will show itself to me. But I can try.” Internally, I cringed at the idea of touching him. “You couldn’t ask this seer?”
“I have. Like all seers, she cannot see everything.”
“Then you certainly can’t expect me to.”
He nodded. “You are right. But if you will try, then I will arrange a meeting with the seer.”
I could suck it up and touch him for that prize. But what would he do if he didn’t get the answer he wanted? Should I lie to him to get him to help us?
I hated lying about something so important.
My gaze flicked to Grey. For him, though…
This could be our only chance.
I was definitely willing to lie to the scary vampire if I had to. I could always find a way to tell him the truth later, once we’d got what we wanted.
“Do not even think of lying,” Silviu said, his gaze hard.
I blinked at him again, trying to shape my features into innocent lines. “Of course not.”
Damn. He’d probably be able to tell if I lied. He’d lived so long that he’d surely learned how to read people.
“Do you want me to start now?” I asked.
He inclined his head. “Yes.”
I looked at Grey, who nodded.
I shifted to push my chair back, but his hand landed on my leg, gently pressing me down. He looked at Silviu. “Lay your arm on the table.”
Grey didn’t want me any closer to Silviu than I needed to be, and I appreciated it. I gave him a slight nod as Silviu stretched out his arm, palm down.
His dark dinner jacket was stark against his pale skin, and I raised my hand to rest my fingertips against the back of his hand. As my flesh neared his, a spark of energy passed between us.
It shocked me to my bones, a visceral lightning strike that made my eyes water. Grey gripped my thigh under that table, and I focused on his touch, grounding myself.
Slowly, I drew in a bracing breath, then rested my fingertips on the back of Silviu’s hand. Another electric shock pulsed into me, and I flinched. Grey growled low in his throat, but I ignored it. Instead, I focused on Silviu, not breaking contact despite the icy cold electricity that emitted from his skin.
Do you have a mate?
I directed my magic toward that one question, hoping to find the answer he wanted. I dreaded telling him no.
At first, there was nothing. His magic seemed to create a barrier between my power and his truth.
“You need to drop your shields,” I said. “I can’t see past them.”
He nodded, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
“It’s the only way this can work,” I insisted.
“Of course. Old habits die hard.” Bit by bit, I felt his magical shields drop. The electricity that had pulsed through me faded, leaving behind an empty darkness.
His eyes had not lied—his soul was like a black hole in outer space, sucking in everything in its vicinity. If I wasn’t careful, he’d suck me in, too. Even now, I felt hope flowing from me into him. Strength and energy.
I fought it, focusing on Grey’s touch. On his presence.
Do you have a Cursed Mate?
I asked the question again, reaching out with my power, using every trick I’d learned over the last weeks.
Slowly, an image began to form in my head.
A woman, beautiful and dark. Midnight eyes that flared with life, so different than Silviu’s. Full red lips and gleaming black hair. Tall and vibrant and powerful.
Her species was unknown, but she had magic. Lots of it.
My gaze flicked up to Silviu. “She’s beautiful.”
His eyes flared. “Who is she?”
I closed my eyes again, focusing on the image, trying to pick up anything I could find. A name, a place, a thought. Anything.
The woman stood in the middle of an enormous city, taller than nearly everyone around her. Their faces were shielded from my view, as were the details of the buildings themselves. It was impossible to see where exactly she was, but it felt far away.
“She’s in a city,” I said.
“Which one?”
“I cannot see.”
“Try harder.” His voice cracked like a whip.
I drew in a breath and pushed with my magic, trying to see more about the woman. Nothing came. I withdrew my hand from his, immediately feeling warmer. Less miserable.
Did I want to help him find this woman?
Would she thank me for it?
I felt Grey’s grip on my leg and looked at him.
The Devil of Darkvale.
He was the most feared man in Guild City. Perhaps the most feared man in Europe, save for Silviu, who never left his castle.
Most people wouldn’t envy me my position at his side. They’d assume it was a prison. Yet, I didn’t feel that way. Not now that I knew Grey.
Perhaps Silviu was this woman’s Devil of Darkvale.
I met Silviu’s cold gaze, not liking the desperation I saw in the depths. “I can work with my friend back in Guild City to turn the vision in my head into a picture for you. You can use that to find her.”
A scowl slashed across his face.
“It’s the best I can do,” I said. “That is all my magic showed me.”
He drew in a steadying breath, something cunning flashing through his eyes. The hair on the back of my neck rose, and I looked at Grey. Suspicion flickered in his gaze.
Finally, Silviu said, “Thank you. I understand this is all you can do. I will arrange for a meeting with the seer. A chamber will be made available to you while you wait.”
Even though I didn’t like the extra something in his voice, I couldn’t identify it. It was the best we could do, and I would keep my guard up.
“Thank you.” Grey stood.
Silviu and I joined him. Remington appeared from the shadows, and Silviu gestured to him. “Lead our guests to the Crimson Room. I will let you know when the seer will see you.”
Remington led us from the room, and I couldn’t help but look back at Silviu. He stared into the fire, the flickering light glinting off his pale form. It wreathed him in shades of gold that made him look almost human. Almost alive.
Then we were out the door, and Remington was leading us down a wide, dark corridor to a spiral staircase. We ascended, passing from one pool of light to the next. We reached a floor high up in the castle, then walked down another long hall.
Remington stopped outside a door. “You may wait here.”
Grey entered first, and I followed, gasping at the sight of the interior.
It was magnificent.
The room filled the entire octagonal tower, each of the eight walls set with a large glass window. The sills were ornately carved stone, and the ceiling steep and peaked, covered with blooming black roses. Outside, lightning lit the sky. The red window glass made the bright flashes appear rosy and somehow soothing.
A dark pool filled the center of the space, crystal clear water revealing the gleaming black stones at the bottom. They were as round and perfect as eggs, and the water steamed delightfully.
Along one wall, an enormous bed covered half the window. Couches and tables lined the other walls, along with bookshelves and an enormous hearth.
The door shut quietly behind us, and I turned to Grey. My head felt slightly fuzzy, but I forgot that as soon as I saw him. “Have you ever been to this room?”
“No.” His voice was low, sending a shiver across my skin.
I loved his voice. Somehow, however, I’d taken it for granted. But now that I was about to lose him, it made me appreciate it all the more. Deep and smooth, with a hint of gravel in opposition to his cultured accent.
His beautiful silver eyes flickered over me, filling with heat as he took me in. Warmth rose inside me, and I traced his form, desperately wanting to touch him.
From the corner of my mind, I vaguely sensed that something was amiss. We’d just entered this room, and Grey hadn’t searched it for bugs like he had the other room.
Instead, he stared at me like I was the last drink of water on earth. And I couldn’t stop looking at him the same way.
I wanted him.
Bad.
I wanted to feel his lips on mine. His skin on mine. His hands.
I strode toward him, my heart thundering. My head grew fuzzier with every moment that passed.
“Carrow.” Grey stepped forward, meeting me. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me to him.
5
Grey
Carrow fit perfectly into my arms. Desire surged through me as I bent to take her lips with mine.
My thoughts blurred even more as she parted her lips, her tongue darting out. I groaned and pulled her closer, careful not to clutch her too hard around the waist. She pressed her form fully against mine and wrapped her arms around my neck, tilting her head to take the kiss deeper.
All thoughts disappeared from my mind as we kissed, making it unnaturally empty.
“Come on,” she whispered against my lips, pulling me toward the bed.
I growled and picked her up, wrapping her legs around my waist as I strode around the pool and toward the bed. I stopped next to it, immensely grateful for its presence.
Silviu had put us in the perfect room.
The memory of him tugged hard at my fuzzy thoughts.
Silviu.
We were in his castle, a place to which I’d vowed never to return.
And we were about to drop our guard and have sex.
That didn't feel…right.
I pulled my lips away from Carrow’s, struggling to bring my mind back to the present.
Why were we here?
Lightning struck outside, glowing rose through the tinted glass. The glow highlighted Carrow’s features in a way that made her look more beautiful than ever, and it was all I could do not to fall back into her kiss.
I shook my head.
What the hell?
The thought was normal, the place was not.
I set her down, and she reached for me. “Grey. Kiss me.”
“No.” I gripped her shoulders and shook her gently. “Try to clear your mind.”
She blinked, her gaze cloudy. “What do you mean?”
“I think we’ve been enchanted.” I could feel it even now, seeping through my head like a mist, turning my thoughts toward Carrow. I could think of nothing but her.
It wasn’t unusual for her to fill my thoughts, but even I had the control not to entirely drop my guard—and my trousers—in the middle of one of my greatest enemy’s castles.
She gasped, then rubbed at her temples hard, as if trying to drive the fog away. I pinched the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to focus on our goal.
We were here to see the seer.
Silviu was finding her now.
Or was he?
I looked up at Carrow. “I’m not sure if he’s actually arranging a meeting for us.”
“Maybe not.” She dug into the small pack she’d brought, searching for something. “I think Eve gave me a potion to help combat mental spells.”
“A very useful friend to have.”
“And she’s fun for a night out at the pub.” Carrow fumbled in the bag, shaking her head every now and again, clearly trying to keep her wits about her. She pulled out a tiny vial. “This is it.”
“Is there enough?”
“I think so. Every vial is a double, she said.” Carrow uncorked it and swigged back half, her eyes immediately brightening. Then they widened. “Shit.” She shoved the vial at me. “Drink this.”
I tossed it back, cringing slightly at the bitter taste. Within seconds, my mind had cleared. The stress and tension returned, and a moment later, the room shifted.
I blinked, taking in the new space. There were no more windows, or furniture, or deep, sparkling pools.
The room was still octagonal, but it was just stone walls and a stone floor. Not even a door.
“He tricked us,” I said.
“Meant to keep us busy.” She spun in a circle. “It was an impressive enchantment. Where’s the exit?”
I strode to a wall, pressing my hand against the stone and trying to feel for any sort of magical signature.
There was nothing.
The stone was dead and cold beneath my palm. I walked around the room, searching for anything that might show us where the door had been hidden.
“Is there even a seer here?” Carrow asked. “Or is she long gone?”
“There should be. The seer is bound to this place, to the magic here. But I don’t think Silviu is going to return and take us to a meeting.”
“No, I don’t think so. Is he angry at you for leaving? Is that why he’s locked us up?”
“No doubt he is, but I think he’s imprisoned us because he wants you to find his mate.”
“Bastard. As if I’d help him now.” She shook her head. “No way I’m leading that unsuspecting woman to him if he does stuff like this.”
“I think that’s wise.” I finished my circuit of the room and turned to her. “There’s no door that I can find. There must be one, but it’s concealed.”
She frowned. “Eve’s magic should have revealed it.”
“It may be hidden by another mechanism. Or it possibly disappeared entirely and was replaced with a wall.”
Her face paled. “Or Silviu bricked us in while we were busy kissing.”
“We’ll find a way out.”
She spun around, searching. “Cordelia? Can you come here?”
A moment later, the raccoon appeared in the middle of the room, looking slightly annoyed. I was watching my stories.
I raised my eyebrows at Carrow in query.
“She’s become enamored by American soap operas,” Carrow said, then looked at the raccoon. “I think you can see this is an emergency.”
Cordelia spun around and looked at the room. Well, you’ve gotten yourself into a pickle.
“Yes. Can you go into the rest of the castle and sneak around? See if you can find the entrance, then return and tell us what wall it’s located on?”
Cordelia nodded. Just give me a moment.
She disappeared. While we waited, Carrow dug around in her bag, pulling out two more glass orbs. “Looks like we’ve got two bombs. I don’t know how powerful they are, but I don’t think they’d destroy the entire room.”
I walked to her and held out a hand. She passed me one of the small glass orbs. Magic vibrated against my palm, prickling and sharp. “They’re powerful, but I agree. I don’t think they’ll collapse the roof on us.”
“We j
ust need to know which wall to throw them at.”
Cordelia returned a moment later, then tilted her head, appearing to try to get her bearings. Turning, she scurried to a wall and laid a small paw on it. This one. The door is here. I can see it from the outside but not from the inside. It’s not normal—more like an outline in the stone. No wood or anything.
“No lock?” I asked.
No.
“Weird.” Carrow shrugged. “Shall we try it?”
I looked at the wall, then at Cordelia. “Could you tell how thick it is?”
No. But thick, I think.
I frowned, thinking. “If the bombs are too strong, the explosion will fill this room and kill us. But if they aren’t strong enough to destroy the barrier from the inside, we’ll have used them up pointlessly.”
“What do you suggest?”
I looked at Cordelia. “How far can you throw a ball?”
Cordelia scoffed. Really far.
“Is the hallway long enough that you can stand far away from the door?”
Much longer than this room.
“Okay, good,” I said. “Can you return to the hallway and throw this bomb at the door from the outside?”
Cordelia looked between Carrow and me, her gaze on the two bombs we held. If one is good, two is better.
“Like kebabs?” Carrow asked.
Just like kebabs.
“Okay, then,” I said. “Take both. But stay far enough away to avoid the blast. And if they don’t fully destroy the door, hopefully it will encourage the guards to check on us.”
I can do that. Cordelia held out her little paws for the bombs, and Carrow handed them to her.
She crouched down and met the racoon’s eyes. “Be careful, all right?”
Cordelia nodded. Sure thing.
A moment later, Cordelia disappeared.
“Come on.” I gripped Carrow’s hand and pulled her toward the far wall, away from the door. I moved to shield her, and she shoved at me.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
I looked down at her and just frowned. That hardly deserved a response.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I want to protect you.”
She scowled up at me. “Well, I want to protect you, too.”
The corner of my mouth tugged up in a smile. “Too bad. I’m bigger.”