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At least they restrained tackling me like an actual intruder.
Thorn will never see me as more than a means to an end. It doesn’t matter. They’ll report me climbing into my window like a drunken idiot even if I can’t get drunk.
Part of me was disappointed I didn’t transform with the moon last night. I manifested all the metaphysical markers—heightened senses, now more than ever, tracking humans, differentiating them, and even spotting who I could most easily hunt. But no claws, no fangs. No change.
My phone, still in my back pocket, buzzed at me, shaking me from my thoughts.
Fuck. Thorn.
Thorn: Come to my penthouse.
Me: And I should why?
I imagined Thorn’s eyes swirling red in anger.
Thorn: I’m not in the mood to play games, Elena. Get here.
I’m not thrilled about heading to the demon’s casino. But Thorn had acquired a new trick. In my chest, where the hand’s mark rested, I experienced the sensation of tugging. Thorn was summoning the damned thing, which he could do because of our connection. It pressed against a major artery, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe.
Damn him.
Me: Okay.
He released the spell, and I could breathe again. A creeping sense of alarm spread through me. Could he off me that easily? Best to play along until I discovered the truth.
I’ll heed my demon’s call to the damned casino. Or was it Samara’s casino? Either way, I hope they’re all fucked out. And I’m hoping that instead of making me a voyeur in their sex games, Thorn is ready to progress to step two of the plan.
I packed, guessing at the tools Thorn’s job would require. All my usual tricks, headlamp, lock pick set, silk handkerchief-wrapped stone eye, and field tools. I tucked the butterfly knife, wire cutters, and a loop of fine gauge wire from my failed jewelry-making hobby a few months back into my pack. Thorn’s obsidian knife I stuck in my boot.
I watered my neglected plants and headed out the door with the spare key in my back pocket and sunglasses hooked into the front of my button-down shirt. It’s a cloudless day, with the sun high in the sky and not a wolf to be seen or scented anywhere around.
Why was that strange?
I hopped the bus to Thorn’s Casino, which was a pain because I had to transfer three times to get to that part of town. No further instructions blazed across my phone’s screen, so I slipped my shades on and enjoyed my new strength and energy. It’s less than last night, which roused my curiosity. Am I a child of the moon, still?
The clerk behind the desk changed. This one is older and more respectful as I give him my name.
“I’ll announce you, miss.”
I strode to the elevator and hit the call button, this time avoiding all thoughts of Thorn on the ride up. The episode with Samara was something I could not unsee or shake from my thoughts. It was a raw, embarrassing memory I’d give a piece of my soul to excise. Listening to and semi-experiencing Thorn’s carnal romp with Samara did not shoot to number one on my hit parade.
A gentleman in a white suit answered the door this time, and inside, a nice-looking woman smiled at me as she dusted.
Not like last night. There’s no sign of Samara anywhere. No pictures or belongings lying around to remind anyone of her.
“Took your time I see.” Thorn emerged from another room and glared with his eyes that were more red than brown.
Oh, he’s pissed. Good. That should keep the embarrassing situations at bay.
I offered him my sweetest smile. “You didn’t tell me you were in a hurry. Especially with Samara to keep you busy.”
He stared me down, but I couldn’t break even if I wanted to. I’m elated. The benefits of sharing the mark with him or accidentally absorbing the hand made me feel indestructible.
“Someone had a good night.”
My smile widened. “Oh, that would be me, sort of. I couldn’t enjoy it though, I was exhausted, but I slept well inmybed.”
His eyes stopped swirling red, and I spied the first glimmer of a smile twitching his mouth’s corners. “It’s not so bad being my partner, then?”
