My booted feet sent sounds echoing against the stone walls of the castle. With my ladies, we headed from the lower chambers to the kitchen, but the sound of voices, loud, angry, some terrified, stopped me on my route and changed my trajectory.
I turned, walking down the passage and into one of the many great halls.
There, kneeling in the middle of the room, their hands bound behind their backs, were two men. Their clothing was torn, saturated with blood. Their faces, bruised. Cuts marred their skin.
I knew they were human the moment I stepped foot inside.
Before them stood Cyrus. Other guards surrounded him.
“What is going on?” I demanded, my eyes locked on my husband’s.
“Wolfhard found who broke into the storehouse a few days ago,” Cyrus said, as he looked back at the humans. “These two were hiding in the tower of the abandoned church. Apparently, they have been watching us for over a week.”
I looked back at the men. When they met my gaze, their eyes widened with terror. They physically recoiled from me, as much as they could considering they were bound.
I understood without anyone having to explain.
These two were not part of the human community that lived here in Roter Himmel.
Outside of our safe haven, humans knew nothing of our kind.
“I’m sure they can be reasoned with,” I said, as I stepped forward, toward them. “I’m sure they understand the gravity of what this place is. Surely they can keep a secret.”
Both of them nodded their heads frantically, a few tears leaking down one of their faces.
But Cyrus’ expression hardened. I recognized that familiar set to his lips, his jaw.
“We let them walk and who knows the price they could obtain for information,” he said. I felt it growing—the darkness that existed in the man I had loved for so long. It gathered like a physical thing, and all any of us could do was brace ourselves for it.
“Please,” one of the men begged. “I only stumbled upon your town while traveling through the pass. I swear on both our lives, we won’t breathe a word.”
Cyrus’ face was stone cold. “I’m afraid I cannot allow that. I value secrecy above all else.”
In a blur of a movement, he crossed to them. Gripping them each by the scalp, he yanked in one clean movement, relieving them of their heads.
Blood sprayed, a warm splash of it flew across my right hand.
Cyrus took a step forward, dropping their heads to the stone floor with a wet thud.
“There are other ways,” I said as he walked past me. He paused, listening. “Not everything has to end in death.”
I felt him lean in close, and then his lips just lightly brushed over my cheek. “I will do whatever it takes to protect our life, my love. Whatever it takes.”
I swallowed as he walked away, my face and hands going numb.
* * *
Someone brings me food. I eat.
Hector sends up a woman for me to feed from, and I drink.
In my past lives I’ve never gotten control very quickly. But I manage to let go of her before I kill or turn her.
A messenger comes to tell me that if I need anything, all I have to do is ask the House of Valdez and they will do it.
A few hours after dinner, someone drops by a note. It says that Cyrus has arrived in Roter Himmel and it was uneventful. It requests that I send word to let him know I am all right.
Glancing over at my phone on the nightstand, my heart feels pulled in two.
One side is annoyed, angry that Cyrus isn’t exactly giving me the space I asked for. Another is so grateful that he thought to let me know he’s safe, and ask if I am, as well.
I remember the look in his eyes just before we parted ways.
And my chest cracks.
I grab my phone.
I’m fine. I’m at the House of Valdez. Thank you for letting me know you’re safe.
I send the text to Cyrus.
Instantly, it says it’s been read.
A tiny smile forms on my lips.
There’s a quiet humming sound suddenly, and the coverings on the window begin retracting, disappearing into the wall. My view of the city slowly opens up.
I walk to it, looking out over the dazzling lights of Las Vegas at night.
I can see everything from up here. Up and down The Strip. There are thousands of people going from place to place. There’s an electric excitement that promises a night of sinful possibilities.
I go to the closet and dig through my bag, grateful that the House of Valdez didn’t go through my things and hang them up for me. I drag out a dress, bright red and form fitting. Stripping out of my clothes, I change into it. I curl my hair and do dark, smoky makeup. Finally, I strap on some black heels.
Quietly, I open the bedroom door and peek out.
Rath lies on the couch, one arm over his eyes. He snores softly.
Without making a sound, I cross the space to the entry door. I place my hand on the pad, and silently, it slides open and I slip out.
I’m grateful there’s not another soul around as I walk down the hall toward the elevator. I press the button and just five seconds later, the doors slide open and I slip inside.
Alone, I plummet through the casino and the doors open on the ground floor.
If I thought the smell was bad before, it’s nothing compared to it now. There are ten times more bodies around, and I realize just how popular The MetroCosmo must be. It’s packed. The energy is crazy. The volume is nearly overwhelming. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol nearly knocks me on my ass.
Looking around, searching for familiar faces, and smelling the area for other Born, I work my way through the crowd toward the front doors. I smell someone across the casino, but far enough away to not be spotted.
Without being caught, I slip through the main doors and work my way to the crowded sidewalk. Down a block I quickly walk, making sure to get lost in the crowd and not be spotted.
And finally, I stop. I look around.
I revel in the anonymity.
It won’t be long. Cyrus was right. It won’t be long until word of my return spreads throughout the world. The House of Valdez might have already told others. It could be slipping down the chain as I stand here.
So I appreciate it, here in this moment that I get to stand here alone. And no one around knows who I am.
No one bows.
No one jumps to fulfill my simplest wishes.
No one looks at me with fear because they know what my husband is capable of.
He isn’t your husband, half of me shouts as I set off down the sidewalk. He’s never even told you he loved you. There’s no ring on your finger. You’ve never even kissed the man.
Not my husband, I think to myself as I cross the street and disappear into the crowd.
I duck into a casino Amelia and I visited when we came here last summer. We weren’t even old enough to sit at the tables and play. But we did shop our hearts out. At least as much as our tiny budgets allowed.
I hold my head high and make my way to a table.
I won’t claim Cyrus as my husband just yet, but that money is just as much mine as it is his.
Before long there’s a good gathering of people at the table. Others begin to gather to watch as the seven of us play. One by one, I take their money, winning three games in a row.
I’m kind of shocked, myself.
I’ve always had the world’s worst luck. I lose money. I don’t get lucky winning. So the fact that I’m here, rocking this hand and another, it has nothing to do with me as Logan Pierce, and everything to do with Sevan.
Apparently Sevan is good at gambling.
“I think three is my lucky number,” I say as I collect my winnings and turn to leave. The other players and the crowd groan audibly. “Learn this lesson: quit while you’re ahead.”
I smile as I walk away and go to collect the cash.
I move from one casino to the next, in all stopping three times to play, in all winning nine games. The money I make is more than I earned in the last year and a half of my life.