I bite my swollen tongue to stop myself from telling him Iwouldn’t have used personal information against him if he hadn’t played me for a fool.
“I’m listening,” I say instead, then chug a glass of water. It tastes like ash and does nothing to mute the agony in my throat.
“If I were to set up a meeting for you, would you keep her identity a secret?”
My eyebrows lift. He’s willing to introduce me to the djinn?
I expected death threats, but this... This is far more interesting.
“I take the confidentiality of my clients seriously, Casanell.”
“Sure, you do.” He makes a guttural sound in the back of his throat—a cross between a laugh and a scoff. “If she becomes a client of yours, I want your word you won’t try to fuck her over.”
“As I said, I do my utmost to deliver satisfactory results to everyone who makes a deal with me.”
Ciprian laughs at that. The sound is ugly—nothing like his usual carefree amusement. “Because you didn’t turn on me the second you got the chance, even while I was actively helping.”
“You know why that happened,” I say. “Celine and Luca?—”
“Had nothing to fear from me,” Ciprian interrupts. “I want you to swear to me you won’t hurt Sheena. She’s been through enough, and—” He chokes up, his voice fracturing before he clears his throat. “She deserves to have some positive interactions with this fucked-up supernatural shit show.”
I frown, wishing I could see his face.
Ciprian is mad. He also sounds emotional, but that could be an act, an attempt to gain my sympathy before he pulls the wool over my eyes again. I can’t forget how good he is at playing the game he pretends to hate.
“I swear I will treat her with respect,” I say. “Providing she offers me the same in return.”
For a full minute, the only response he gives me is heavy breathing.
Ciprian is thinking hard. This djinn, he truly cares about her. I’m convinced that part is no act. “I’ll tell you when we’re on our way,” he finally says.
I scowl. “You’ve given me no assurances that the enclave won’t attack Celine and Luca. Our deal isn’t done.”
“That was never part of the deal, Ali, because I was never going to sell them out. Celine told me what happened, and I believe her. You see enemies in every corner, even when there are none. You’re fucking blinded by my last name.”
“Excuse me for protecting my...” I trail off. Helpless anger presses on my chest.
“Your what? Oh, that’s right, she’s not your girlfriend anymore, is she?”
I hiss, unable to hide my rage. “Perhaps I see enemies in every corner because I’m haunted by a nightmare.”
“Yeah? Keep telling yourself that, dude. Whoever or whatever made you this way has nothing to do with me. I’ll be in touch about the meeting.”
He hangs up, robbing me of the last word, and I taste my own blood. Gods. It’s been years since I accidentally tore my lips with my own fangs. I swallow, but the drip can’t satisfy my thirst. Another glass of water, it is.
I stand and stumble. Black dots muddle my vision. The room spins, and...
I wake to the deep, sinking sensation of fear. My head is pounding.
Did I pass out? I roll to my side, my shoulder throbbing from the uncomfortable way it’s wedged against the base of the couch. My forearm stings. I blink, confused.
Glass. Why is there broken glass on the floor? Myempty cup. It must have shattered when I collapsed.When I collapsed.This is even worse than I thought.
My stomach growls loudly, twisting in on itself with a cramp that squeezes the air from my lungs. This thirst. It isn’t normal. I’ve found nothing to explain why it’s happening to me, but I’m losing the ability to function.You’ve got to call her.
Mind rebelling, I stagger to my bedroom to plug in my phone. It’s completely dead, giving me the length of time it will take to power on to talk myself in or out of calling my mum.
It’s the middle of the night in England. I know she’ll be up. Asking for her help, though... My stomach cramps again. The only thing I want to do less is drink another bag of tepid blood only to decorate my toilet bowl with it later.
