“Yes, but—” She tried playing it off, but I wasn’t buying it.
“And you shadow-walked away from Henrik that time too?”
She nodded, looking miserable. “My grandmother taught me. I’m not very good at it, though. I’ve only ever done it a few times, and—”
I took her hand. “Why are you apologizing? That’s amazing.”
She snorted. “I only inherited a tiny bit of magic, and it comes and goes. I don’t really have any control over it.”
“Maybe you just need more practice.”
She blew out an uncertain breath. “Not sure I want to.”
A few seconds ticked by in silence, which I finally broke. “Well, I think you’re amazing, and not just because of the shadow-walking.” She opened her mouth, but I covered it gently. “Thank you for answering. I won’t tell anyone, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
She started to object, but I knew I’d touched a nerve there.
Bene hollered from outside. “Rise and shine, ladies and dragons. Our fearless leader has called an AAR starting right now.”
I groaned. Mina cocked her head. “AAR?”
“After action review,” I muttered. Rouxlovedgoing by the book.
“On our way,” Mina called back. Then she faced me with a wry grin, clearly ready for a change in subject. “Well, I guess it was a good thing we didn’t shower together. Separately turned out to be faster.”
I made a face. “Faster, but less fun.”
Her smile lit the room, and her eyes danced.
“What?” I cocked my head.
She blushed. “I might be corrupting you. Fun didn’t seem too high on your agenda when we first met.”
I snorted. “If anyone is doing the corrupting, it’s me.” Then I grew more somber. “As for having fun, maybe I forgot for a while. But now, I remember, thanks to you.”
Fun. Pride. Honor. The list of what Mina reminded me of went on and on.
I kissed her knuckles, because I could see her eyes better that way. Amazing, sky-blue eyes full of joy, hope, and other dangerous things.
Then she took an extra-deep breath — her reset button, I was starting to learn — and stood. “We’d better get ready. The sooner we get this over with, the better, right?”
I reached for pants and a shirt, hoping it would be that simple.
* * *
It wasn’t. Meetings with Roux never were, and having Bene and Henrik around always complicated things.
Except Henrik wasn’t there, and Delphine was beside herself.
The dining table stood in the morning sun, warm and inviting. A mountain of food crowded a shaded side table. Eggs,bacon, fruit, fresh juice… It would have been heaven if Delphine hadn’t been in her own personal hell.
“Shouldn’t he be back by now?” She paced around.
Bene set down a plate piled with food and flopped into the chair beside Roux. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
An uneasy feeling settled into my gut — a feeling confirmed when a car pulled into the drive and Henrik stumbled out like a man who’d long since lurched fromdrunktohungover. And since vampires got drunk on blood, not alcohol…
Roux, Bene, and I exchanged grim looks.
