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“You could borrow my talent for siphoning energy,” Dominic says in a subdued tone. “Or I could come along.”
And then silence falls as they wait to see what I’m going to say.
I swallow hard. I didn’t like this idea when Riva first pitched it, and I still would rather have a million miles between me and any of those fuckers with their helmets and vests.
But there’s a plea in Riva’s gaze. And where the hell am I leaving us if I say no?
It’s not as if I’ve got a better suggestion. At least this part of the plan involves sticking it to the pricks.
I grit my teeth and then force the words out. “All right. Tell me where to go, and I’m in.”
Thirteen
Riva
My heartbeat doesn’t quite even out until I see Jacob and Zian emerging from the car outside the mansion. Rollick reported that he’d gotten word their covert mission had gone as planned, but after seeing how resistant Jake was to the whole idea, I couldn’t help tensing in anticipation of some disaster.
I know all too well how vicious he can be with people who’ve provoked his rage.
I push past the doors to meet them. Jacob strides over to me with a tight smile that shows he’s still not happy about the situation, but he doesn’t show any signs of guilt.
“It was fine,” he says brusquely. “We bashed up a couple of buildings, left an obvious message, and got the hell out. The worst any of the people got was a splinter.”
Zian huffs. “They deserved a lot more than that.”
I grab his hand and squeeze it. “Well, there’ll be plenty of time to seethatjustice done after we’re finished with Balthazar. Come on. Are you hungry? You’ve got to be tired after all that traveling.”
Rollick sent them in a private jet from a nearby airfield across the ocean and back again. Does jet lag even set in when you’re only in the other time zone for a couple of hours?
Jacob shrugs and slings his arm around my waist with a vaguely possessive air, as if he doesn’t want Zian to hog all of my physical attention. “We had a four-course dinner on the flight back. And a nap. I feel about like I would if I’d been here the whole time.”
As we walk into the mansion, the other three guys come into the hall to look Jake and Zian over. The softening of Griffin’s expression reassures me more than my own observations of the duo.
“It all went well,” he says. “Good.”
Jacob makes a face. “We’ll see how ‘well’ it actually was when those assholes get their butts into gear. I don’t know if the Guardianship will definitely fall for the trick—or if they’ll do anything useful even if they believe Balthazar has joined up with shadowkind to attack them.”
Rollick’s smooth voice rings out as he emerges from a nearby room. “We’ll just have to wait and see on that score. I have people watching the board members we identified—and Pearl will nudge them in ideal directions as much as she can.”
The thought of the succubus having to seduce the jerk currently leading the guardians makes my stomach turn. But I have to admit she didn’t look all that bothered about it when she left to make her own trip via portals.
I guess when it comes to meals of sexual energy, all sources are pretty satisfying. And I know she likes getting to contribute to our war with Balthazar the one way she can.
I sigh, and Jacob’s arm tenses around me, pulling me a little closer.Ihaven’t been doing a whole lot all day other than tracking Balthazar’s movements and brainstorming possible attacks, but I feel as worn out as if I’ve jetted around the world alongside him and Zian.
Rollick’s penetrating gaze passes over us, and a sly smile curves his lips. “I think the six of you deserve a break. You’ve been through an awful lot—in the past few months, and in your entire lives.”
I shake my head to deflect his concern. “We’re used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to be. And you’ve been working hard ever since you finally broke free. Youarefree, even if everything else isn’t perfect. For once, no one’s even hunting you down. Why don’t we establish a new normal? It’s time you took the opportunity to unwind.”
I study the demon warily. “Unwind how, exactly?”
I don’t think he’d suggest anything I’d find totally horrifying. Rollick has our best interests at heart. But he is still a sort-of monster. He doesn’t see things the same way a human being would.
The demon waves off my question with a carefree air. “However you like. I’ll just make it easy for you. Why don’t you take a little staycation in the guest cabin across the west garden? It’s set up for visitors who want a little more independence. The fridge is stocked, and so’s the bar.” His smirk grows. “And I’ll make sure none of my shadowy companions venture out that way all night, so you don’t have to worry about invisible spectators.”
It's not hard to figure out what he’s suggesting withthatremark. A wash of heat tickles over my skin, matching the trace of pheromones given off by the guys on either side of me.
