“Nosy ass,” Ciprian mutters even as his lips twitch into areluctant smile. “I can’t come to Celine’s fight tonight. Will you tell her I’m sorry?”
“Why don’t you tell me yourself?” Celine walks in and shuts the door behind her with a determined thud. “Do you have a date?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” Ciprian grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles as he looks her up and down. “But you are infinitely hotter.”
Celine frowns, then wipes the expression from her face. “Anyone I know?” She does her best to sound bored, but lukewarm feelings aren’t her strength. Fiery anger and chilling sadness? She’s got those down. But pretending she doesn’t give a damn who Casanell is seeing tonight? Yeah, no one’s buying that.
“It’s Alistair,” Ciprian says, shrugging as he kisses her cheek. “The stubborn bastard finally wore me down.”Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Celine smirks and shoots Luca a triumphant look. “Pay up.”
He shakes his head. “This doesn’t count, baby. They’re hiding something.”
“Not well enough,” I say. “Our secrets are being uncovered much more easily than the elusive bottle of liquor you’re hunting.” I do my best to sound aloof, but my heart is racing. “We will meet up with you after the fight, angel.”
Celine nods, but her eyes are narrow as she searches my face.
“Where’s Malach?” Ciprian asks. “I haven’t seen him here all afternoon.”
“Someone on his team reported movement near the gateway, so he’s out hunting assassins,” Celine says, her brow furrowing. “It’s been oddly quiet since the last attack.”
A prickle of unease curls in my gut and spreads. If there’s movement by the gateway to the celestial realm... I don’t like the idea of leaving her side. But I promised Ciprian. Torn, I look at Luca, and he nods, yellow briefly consuming thehazel of his eyes. I can’t be in two places at once, but Luca will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
For tonight, that will have to be enough.
A voice in my head whispers that I could lose them all.
I tell it to shut the fuck up.
Celine eyes me and sighs. “I know it’s not my business. I didn’t pry about the sun curse, and I’ve kept my mouth shut about your frantic research. You two can obviously do whatever you want—you don’t need my permission—but I feel sick right now.”
She wraps one arm around her stomach. “Can you at least tell me that you plan to be careful? Ineedyou both to be okay. I-I won’t be able to fight tonight unless I’m sure.”
My teeth grind. Her uncertainty—I hate it. If it was up to me, I would tell her everything. I’m tired of the secrets and lies. They’re wrapped around me like a damn noose.
“Alistair is helping my best friend,” Ciprian says softly. “The one I told you about. She’s the one who lifted his sun curse. Sheena’s been in trouble for a long time, but if tonight goes as planned, she’ll be safe again and his deal with the enclave will be done.”
Celine raises her eyebrows. “But will you two be safe?”
“We won’t be on the front lines,” Ciprian says. “I’m Sheena’s backup while she acts as bait, and Alistair is her ticket in the door.”
“It doesn’t sound as simple as you’re making it out to be,” Luca says.
“Come on, have a little faith in us!” Ciprian smiles, but it’s missing his usual charm. “It will be a piece of cake.”
My stomach flips.
I wish I felt that confident. Unfortunately, I’m out of wishes.
THIRTY-FOUR
Unsent correspondence, translated to English, and addressed only to My Truth:
My magic felt like damnation, boiling me from the inside out. It had never felt that way before—not once since the day I received my radiant gift.
MALACH
The motel smells of stale cigarette smoke and something evil called ocean breeze.
