Page 70 of A Wild Darkness

She runs a hand through her tousled curls as her cheeks balloon, blowing out a weighted breath. “Let’s do it.”

We enter a large foyer with tall, thick marble columns and bouquets of mixed white flowers.

“What do we do now⁠—”

“Hello.” We’re suddenly greeted by the same woman from the library. She wears a three-piece pantsuit, and her hair is slicked back into a tight bun. “Dark Prince and Ms. Annabel Lee.”

Stevie glances at me. She recognizes her, too.

“Hello,” I reply.

“Nice to have you join us.” Her smile is exaggerated and a bit off. “My name is Clara, we didn’t have the chance to formally meet last time. I work for Silas, and he has asked me to show you where you’ll be staying for the weekend.”

“We didn’t. We were busy entertaining everyone,” I spit out sarcastically.

“Right.” Clara grins, picking up on my comment but choosing to ignore it. “I hope you don’t mind, but our security needs to pat you down,” she says, right as a man in a blue suit and a handheld metal detector walks up.

I’m glad we have the SE devices and not our phones.

“Not at all,” I say.

“If you’ll follow me.” She gestures for us to follow her.

We’re on her trail down a long hall decorated with stone busts and ornate rugs. We pass a few rooms before she stops at a set of double doors.

“This is where you’ll be staying. The Couplet Suite is known around the property for its romantic atmosphere—it’s the type of varietal typically blended of two different reds.”

Great.

Stevie clears her throat.

A romantic room for me and my fake serial killer girlfriend, that I slept with, and that now I can’t stop thinking about when I need to be focusing on killing this group of psychopaths.

“That sounds perfect.” I force a smile.

“Wonderful,” Clara returns with a wide grin and hands both Stevie and me a single key. “Oh, and Silas has left a gift for you two. It’s a couple’s picnic and wine basket in the vineyard here on property. He figured you two might want to have some time alone together here before everyone gathers in the barrel room later this evening.”

“A couple’s picnic?” I repeat.

Is this a test? Is Silas watching us?

“Yes. Your basket is already prepared and waiting in your room with a map of the vineyard as well,” she says.

“Okay.” I nod.

Stevie clears her throat and then speaks. “What time for the barrel room?”

“Four. And please don’t be late. Enjoy.” Clara walks away, her heels clacking on the marble floor as the distance grows.

“Looks like we’re having a nice romantic picnic this afternoon and sharing a bedroom for the weekend,” Stevie whispers, her eyebrows knitting as she slips the key into the door. “Let’s see what this place looks like.”

I don’t answer. Instead, I simply smile and follow behind her, rolling our luggage inside.

The suite is large, with a separate living space and bedroom. I spot two couches facing one another with a vintage mahogany coffee table in the middle and another one closer to the door. Then I make a mental note to sleep on that one to ensure I have a clear view of the entrance.

“Two couches.”

“And one bed?” She gasps, staring at the bedroom through the open door.