Page 56 (1/2)
Chapter 1
Neck craned, I squinted up between the shadowed apartloith the transparent sheen of glittery tissue paper The sporadic traffic at the end of the alley was enough to cover the sound of Jenks’s wings, but I could hear therimed
The ht but growing scent of frightened va second thoughts, but disobeying your master vampire could have lethal consequences
Still watching Jenks, I surreptitiously edged away from Marsha’s tense, middle-class office professionalism Her heels were this year’s style, but she wouldn’t be able to run in them Her hair was a luscious handful that spilled over her shoulders in an ebony wave—again, it ure sealed the deal that she was beautiful But as a living vaenerations, and not for Luke’s benefit, the man she’d unfortunately fallen in love with But she knew she was vulnerable That’s why Ivy, Jenks, and I were here
My neck was getting a crick, and I droppedcars, confident that distance and recycling bins would hide us froht hum jerked ed shadow A blue jay squawked, and the tips of five feathers spiraled down between the buildings Flapping wildly, the sheared birdto the sidewalk
Having already dismissed the bird, Jenks cupped his hands around his face and peered through theHis skintight, thief-black tights and knit shirt helped him blend into the shadows, and the red cap was to tell rival pixies that he wasn’t there poaching, a real issue this close to Eden Park So far, no one had bothered him, but birds were a constant threat
“I shouldn’t have to do this,” the woman at my elbow complained, oblivious that a third of the team here to keep her alive had just had a narrow miss “It’s my apartment!”
I took a slow breath when Jenks lifted the flap to the bathroo into Luke?” I said, and she made a sound of frustration Yes, she did, but to do so would mean her death
A lingering sensation that soed me, despite—or perhaps because of—the ease of the run so far Restless, I resettledI wasn’t a slouch when it came to looks, but next to this woman’s structured beauty, my frizzy red hair and low-heel boots fell flat
Ivy’s confident steps against the hush of the side-street traffic tightened ut The vaave Marsha a look to pull herself together “Stay here,” I said, not liking that Jenks was still inside “Jenks will tell you when you can coher, I headed for the sidewalk
“The hell I will,” Marsha said, then stepped as if to follow
Spinning, I shoved her shoulder, sending her thuainst the wall Shocked, the woer thanks to a lifeti “The hell you will,” I said “Stay here until Jenks says you can ht now”
Only now did her anger show, her pupils widening and the scent of angry va to nip this show of dominance, I stretched y flowed in,the tips of led, and I leaned into her space, proving I wasn’t scared of her little fangs or her greater strength “You’re under a conditional death threat, sweetheart,” I breathed “Once I verify that Luke isn’t in there, you can co for is a way to die that doesn’t invalidate your life insurance, do it on your own time”
Sullen, Marsha dropped her eyes, the ri to normal
I rocked back, thumbs in my pockets, satisfied that she’d wait It was unusual for a vampire to listen to anyone outside her ca, I looked up and made a sharp whistle Iave ainst the Duht
Appeased, I started for the front entrance The run had sounded sirilled cheese sandwiches and tos out of her apartment was a no-brainer—until she toldforced by two rival vampire caoing to end up dead No as Ivy going to do this one alone
This was doing nothing to bolster my already low opinion of the undead va in their decades-long ga a victim was to die and become a player yourself
But not Ivy, I thought as I eled toward me I wouldn’t let that happen to her Unfortunately, the harder you squirmed, the more they squeezed
Ivy’s pace hid a thread of tension I never would’ve noticed if I hadn’t been sharing living space with her for the past three years Sleek in her black slacks and top, she strode forith her ar black hair was up in a hard-to-grab bun, and even from here I could see the rims of brown around her eyes were nice and steady She ju two streets over, though She’d noticed so was off, too
Her shoulders eased as she fell in beside ether “Luke’s car is still in the lot,” she said as I pulled the door open and alked into the foyer of the old aparted “By the smell of it, it’s not been run for two days”
“So he’s doing what he’s been told and is still alive” I glanced up at the ca to him, they were fake The scuffed tile floor was dirty in the corners, and I leaned against the stairway as Ivy leafed through Marsha’sthe rest back in
“They won’t let one of the the other,” Ivy said as she made keep and toss piles “Otherwise the dead will clai as his or her scion”
Which wouldn’t do at all, I thought, looking up the dimly lit stairwell It reminded me a little of my first place “I don’t like this”
A rare smile came over Ivy, and the letter box snapped shut with a click “You worry too much These two aren’t that important”
My eyebrows rose Despite eous It would be hard for a o “Worry? I only worry about you I don’t like this run”
Ivy handed“You just don’t like the undead,” she said, and I pulled un out and checked the hopper
“Golly, I can’t iine why”
Making a soft sound of agreement, Ivy started up the stairs I knew she wasn’t interested in the iven us a chance to stand at the foot of the stairs while she breathed the air and decided if anyone aiting for us on the way up—Jenks’s assurance or not “Relax,” she said as I fell into place behind her “They agreed to not see each other We go in, get her stuff, get out End of story”
“Then why did you ask