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Ray takes a couple of photos of the room. It’ll be interesting to see how many of the clientele show up in them once they’re developed.
“Not a fan of people staring at you?” Chrissie asks, after we’ve each had a drink.
I thought I had my body language under control, but there’s little point trying to hide your emotions from Chrissie, and she’s right—I feel like everyone’s eyes are on us, and most of them don’t feel friendly.
I shake my head. “Can’t we get one of those alcove tables?”
Chrissie takes a sip of vodka. “You and Connor could head over there. We’ll join you once the management have got the message we’re not in hiding.”
Connor helps me down from the barstool and leads me past the gambling tables and over to the far corner. There’s a space built into a semi-circular alcove with a table in the middle, a sofa around the outside, and some space for dancing or mingling in between. Higher up, there’s a balcony recessed into the back wall, though no obvious way of reaching it. Connor waves his hand, and the party that are occupying the space all get up and leave. It’s not quite within the rules Nikki set out for us, but I gratefully sink into the sofa. It feels more private here, safer.
“Do you think they left us alone deliberately?” I ask, with an attempt at a mischievous grin.
Connor smiles back. “Who knows? We’re both just the staff, after all.”
I don’t reply. It’s long past time I told the truth. This is starting to feel like more than just a fling. Thanks to his bodyguard duties, we’ve spent a huge amount of time together since I arrived in Mannith. And whether he’s driving me to court, we’re enjoying a meal, or we’re alone in my room, he’s so sweet and easy to talk to. The sex is great, but so is his reassuring presence. If this relationship—or whatever it is—is going to continue, then he needs to know who I really am. But with every day that passes, revealing that the woman he’s dating—and maybe starting to develop real feelings for—doesn’t actually exist seems more and more impossible.I’ll do it soon. I have to. But I can’t face doing it tonight. Connor was meant to be a bit of fun, but if he was angry—or if he walked away—it’d really hurt.
“Mind you, the Sadlers are all oddly perceptive,” Connor adds, shaking me out of my guilty thoughts. “They might realise there’s something going on. In which case, I guess this is one way of showing their approval.”
When he says “perceptive” he means Liam’s a telepath and Chrissie is an empath, on top of their general magic. I love the way he tries to tell me what’s going on without mentioning anything magical. But either way, it’s pretty clear my siblings do approve. Which is one more point in Connor’s favour.
I’m about to say something. I’m not sure what, exactly. Not the truth about who I am—I still can’t make myself. And not anything quite as dramatic as “I love you”. That’d be a bit fast, and, for now at least, over-stating things. But something about how much he already means to me. About how I’d like to try to make this work—maybe not forever, but perhaps for more than just the duration of the trial. I just need to find the right words.
Before I can say anything, the sense of foreboding I’ve been trying to shake off since we arrived reaches a peak that leaves me gasping. I have nowhere near my sister’s skill in reading the room nor my brother’s skill in reading minds. But though they’ve honed those abilities into something special, the basics is just the usual application of magic. And however much I try to breathe deeply and tell myself I’m being paranoid, all my senses are screaming that there’s something wrong.
Before I can warn Connor there’s a problem, a few tough-looking men casually detach themselves from the crowd then pointedly stride towards the alcove.
Connor instantly jumps to his feet and into a fighting stance.
Within the space of a minute, we’re surrounded by suited, heavily built practitioners with fire in their eyes, and those distinctive Thornber markings under their ears.
I’m already calculating three things. Can Connor hold his own? Can Liam and Chrissie see or sense what’s going on? And if push comes to shove, do I dare use my magic to take them down? I’ve no idea if I’m strong enough, considering how out of practice I am, and attempting it would show my hand once and for all whether I succeed or fail.
Before I can reach a conclusion about any of that, one of the men blasts a ray of pure power in Connor’s direction, which he smoothly deflects. At the same time, an invisibility bubble descends. I scream at the top of my lungs, but whatever else the rest of the casino are up to, they’re not going to bear witness to this ambush.
The attacks come thick and fast. The Thornber stooges are throwing fists and spells at Connor in equal measure.
I’m going to be sick. I can’t bear to watch this, but I can’t look away. I need to help him, but the thought of using my magic to break this up makes my vision blur. I’m still in my seat, panic and horror keeping me from moving.
Connor’s fighting back physically and psychically—a punch to the jaw here, a fireball there. It’s all so different from the day Gabriel attacked me and put him out of action with one glance. It’s terrifying to think how powerful Gabriel really is, if Connor can face down ten strong men but is vulnerable to him standing alone.
“Kate, get out of here!” Connor shouts. “Find the Sadlers.”
Even more so than on the night of the Greenfire attack, it wrenches my heart to hear him use my fake name in such a genuine tone. He’s clearly more worried about me than about himself, even in the face of all that violence. And in turn, I’m so worried about him that my vision’s blurring.
I drag myself to a standing position and attempt to snap out of the haze that’s descended. No one’s attack has come anywhere near me. I ought to fight, even if that means blowing my cover and putting my neglected powers to an unwelcome test. Connor may be a Sadler acolyte in a Thornber establishment, but it’s hard not to jump to the conclusion that his proximity to me is the reason for this level of violence.
“Let’s watch the show from a safer vantage point.” Gabriel appears out of nowhere. I flinch at the sensation of his hand on my wrist and his voice close by my ear.
Before I can reply or shrug him off, he traverses us to the balcony overlooking the alcove. It’s as firmly concealed by the invisibility bubble as the alcove below.
“Get the hell off me!” I shout.
Slightly to my surprise, he lets go of me.
“What do you think? Can your protector take down ten men? Place your bet now. This is a casino, after all.”
I swallow hard. “Connor has done nothing wrong.”
