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“Where are you going to go?” I drew out a pocket knife from my bag. I’d be arrested in two heartbeats if security saw us, but the alcove was empty. Like luck—or fate—was on my side. In a tricky move, I opened the blade and spun the handle between my fingers. “Lloyd’ll find you.”
Graham eyed the knife. “What are you doing, little girl? You really think you’re going to stop me with a boy scout knife?”
“I think I’m going to give it a try. See how it goes, you know.”
Tell it where to fly, Wildling.
My breath hitched. The voice, so soft, so fierce, bloomed in my heart. A memory, an illusion, I didn’t care. It knew what I could do.
Before the idiot could make a move, I threw the blade. Graham shouted his stun when the point sliced through the tails of his suit coat, pinning the fabric to the drywall.
His mouth dropped open. “You little bitch. That could’ve hit me.”
“I know. Seems my aim isn’t on point tonight.” I clicked my tongue and sauntered toward him, grinning. “Don’t blame me. You brought this on yourself.”
In a frenzy, Graham stripped his coat without even trying to remove the knife from the fabric. I made a lunge for him. I’d claw at his damn eyes unless he took his ass down the escalator to face his own fate.
My fingertips brushed his sweat-soaked shirt in the same moment the whole of the casino tilted. I lost my footing and smacked my head against the wall and, for a moment, the world went black.
My eyes fluttered open.Overhead, halos beamed around the ceiling lights. My skull burned as though a dozen feet danced over the top. Did I pass out? With a groan, I sat up, one hand pressed against my temple.
Graham was long-gone, and the casino was eerily quiet. Still on my knees, I crept out of the alcove. My heart stopped. It wasn’t merely silent; the casino wasempty.
How . . . how was that even possible?
Hands shaking, I scrambled for my discarded bag and removed my phone. The screen flickered on and off like something inside was shorting out.
“Damn.” Pulse racing, I secured the strap of my bag over my head and neck, rising to my feet.
Game tables were empty, but the cheery tune of slot machines whistled and chirped through the casino. Great, I was officially every horror movie victim.
In the next breath, the parking garage door flung open. A woman peered into the alcove. She wore a dealer’s uniform and had her amethyst hair tied up in a wild sort of bun.
“Where the hell is everyone?” My voice trembled.
“I’m afraid those who were meant to meet you are not here.”
Meet me? “What’s going on?”
“I hope you will soon find out,” she said, concern edging the strange accent to her tone. I couldn’t place where I’d heard thedialect before, but it was familiar, almost comforting. The woman lifted her gaze. “I fear something has gone gravely wrong. He should have been here.”
“He? Are you working for Lloyd?”
“No. I speak for the one who knows all.”
Enough of this.
Three quick strides and I was nose to nose with the woman. One glance at her nametag, and I selected my words carefully. “Listen, Abba, if you’re a cop, Lloyd threatened my loved ones and me. Also, I’ve been blackmailed.”
“I am not part of this world’s law enforcement.”
Okay, the woman was odd. “Right. Well, if you’re one of Lloyd’s silencers, I had Graham, but I can’t control when there’s a damn earthquake.”
“Forgive me.” Abba nudged me toward the parking garage door. “But the time to go is now. I pray you find answers as to why your retrieval has been altered. I wish I could offer insight, but I am not often summoned to the mage palace. They do not care much for my word, but you must go now. The Veil closes soon.”
Rule one of a horror movie—never go in the direction you think you should go. Certainly not when it’s a random door in an empty casino that should not be empty.
Rule two—never trust a woman who speaks in vague words and uses terms likeThe Veil.
