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Taking a few assisted steps toward the kitchen, but the direction of the pull stays centered, indicating the amulet is further down. Darian’s fingers gently wrap around my arm as he brushes past me, disappearing out of sight as he checks the rooms ahead. It’s a long moment before he reappears with a grin on his face.
He holds a necklace up and the tug lessens as he places the amulet in my hand. This one has a beautifully detailed peacockdepicted in the center, its vibrant feathers spreading majestically as shimmering liquid surrounds it.
“This seems too good to be true that we’ve come across two within a day.” My voice is thick with concern as Darian nods.
“Caspian must have known where both of these were since he specifically said to use the executive airport and stop by Tamara’s apartment. I’d wager that he just had no way of knowing for sure nor pinpointing the exact locations. It’s unsurprising that he would have had this all mapped out from the start.”
I clasp the amulet on my neck alongside the others and sigh with nervous relief before we make our way to the place we will be staying.
Darian opens the door, letting Val go in first to sniff around.
The apartment is enormous, surrounded with floor to ceiling windows that have motorized blackout curtains covering them. There’s a long couch along the wall, with a large, mounted flat screen TV across from it. The kitchen and front room are attached in an open concept, with an island in the center. The appliances are all stainless steel, but the fridge has a large touchscreen on it that displays the date and temperature inside.
Okay, let’s face it, Lara. You desperately need some upgrades at home.
Darian snickers as my eyes scale the room and as he presses a button on the wall next to me. With a click, the area starts to gradually brighten and my gaze snaps to the windows where the curtains are raising from the floor all the way to the ceiling.
The gasp gets caught in my lungs as my eyes adjust to the light and I quickly close the distance to the window.
God. This is…
“Incredible.”
The windows boast the display of mountain ranges and forest that descend into neighborhoods of houses which gradually become more compact. The dense communities stretch as far as the eye can see, until finally in the distance, these suburban homes turn into the concrete towers of downtown. The view is littered with various high rise complexes that reach the sky, some nearly the same height as the building we’re in.
I glance at Darian, and he’s staring out the window with a somber expression. I can’t help but wonder what goes through his mind in moments like this.
Does he think about how far down the path of darkness his brother has fallen?
Does he think about his brothers and wonder if they’re alive?
Does he wonder if he will ever be able to see them again?
The silence eats at my nerves and I find myself itching to fill it with anything.
“So what do we do now?”
Smooth, Lara.
Darian’s lips twitch and his mismatched gaze meets mine, “Now we wait for new coordinates.”
I nod, “Great, and what do we do in the meantime?”
Darian cocks his head and his grin turns mischievous,“I have a few ideas.”
My cheeks burn.
He dips his chin slightly, “Mind out of the gutter, Ray.”
I blink at him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I huff in a failed attempt to hide my flustered state, snatching my carry-on and wheeling it down the hallway.
Ass.
I only make it a few steps before I realize I have no idea where I’m going or which door is mine. The first room on the leftappears to be an office by the large desk inside and the shelf built within the wall, filled with books and plants.
Taking a few more steps, the next room on the other side of the hall has a giant king-sized bed, a walk-in closet and a large TV hung on the wall.
