Page 66 of Eternal Surrender

She bit her bottom lip and peeled back her sleeve revealing her brand. “If Orpheus is dead,” she ran a fingertip over it, “why give me this?”

I nudged her out of Blake’s line of sight. “Very few people know he’s dead.”

Her hand lingered near mine and then she withdrew it. “Back in the club you mentioned something about branding me for Orpheus.”

“It was important to get you out of there by any means,” I replied.

“So you lied to them?”

“Is this a moral discussion?” I asked.

“I detect avoidance.”

“More like boredom.”

She knitted her eyebrows together. “What’s to stop me from arresting you right now?”

“For what?”

“Assaulting a police officer.”

“They’ll want to know why you didn’t arrest me at the time. The delay will look suspicious.”

“I was in shock.”

“What I did to you has kept you safe. You know it’s true.”

“A sacred circle, I need more than that.”

“You’re on the right path.”

“You know I’m relentless.”

“Anything else you want to arrest me for?”

“Obstructing justice.”

“Merely smoke and mirrors.” I grinned off my remark.

She blinked several times, amazed by my daring attitude.

“Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” I turned slightly to face the painting of Voltaire. “His real name was François-Marie Arouet. He was an advocate for civil liberties as well as a writer and philosopher. He was known as Voltaire.”

“His name’s an anagram?” she asked.

“Very good. Arouet is the Latinized spelling of his surname.”

Ingrid snapped back into the moment. “So, how long have you been staying here?”

I gave silence a try.

“Perhaps you can show me around?” she asked.

Quiet ensued, and I let it, trying to savor these last few seconds that I had left with her.

Ingrid’s long lashes flickered, her natural pout giving away her boldness. “Was Orpheus buried?”

“Yes,” I answered too quickly. “Apparently.”