He turned the towel over. “Because we only want the best. I would have hired you if you lasted more than ten minutes in there. No one has lasted more than five.” Once my hands were spotless, he stepped back. “Before you leave, someone would like to meet you.”
A woman floated toward us from around the bend. Her alabaster skin wasn’t without flaws, so I ruled out a Vampire. I always tried to assess people’s Breed right off the bat. Her orange hair, which was styled in a finger wave, ruled out Chitah. Candy-apple-red lips turned up in a smile, revealing teeth so white and perfect that she almost didn’t seem real. The sequins in her silver gown caught the light and shimmered like diamonds.
Pablo shoved a chair in front of me. Out of breath, he stepped aside to let the lady sit.
She offered me her hand, the emerald ring on her middle finger as deep green as Irish pastures. “Hello, Robin. I’m Audrey.” It was the same British announcer from the fight, only now she spoke more softly.
I stared at her hand, wondering if she wanted me to kiss it or something.
“I’ve never been a fan of all the bowing,” she said. “I think that custom began because of people like me.”
I took her hand and lightly shook it. “People like you?” Before letting go, I felt what I could only describe as the sensation of running through a meadow of flowers—warm wind in my hair, golden sunshine melting against my skin, and the fragrant smell of lilac and phlox. I retracted my hand. “You’re a Sensor.”
She crossed her legs. “Breeds have never trusted each other. Beware the stranger. I suppose bowing was one custom we created to avoid a Sensor putting power into another without permission.”
“Like you just did?”
She waved her index finger at me while looking at Pablo. “I like her. She has gumption.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, who are you? I got your name, but—”
“I’m the reason you’re here. Pablo handles the vetting process, but after tonight’s fight, I had to meet you myself.”
“I think that woman down there has a lot of gumption. Hope you don’t fire her.”
Audrey turned her gaze downward to the window as the blonde made her way out of the room. “I never let go of people like her. A fearless woman is a diamond. The worddiamondcomes from a Greek word that meansinvincible. Diamonds are harder than any other mineral, and they’re not easy to break. But nothing is unbreakable. You’re a Stealer, aren’t you?”
“What makes you think that?”
She pinned me with her gaze. “I saw what you almost did in there. Pablo’s a Stealer.”
“Is that so?”
“Robin, don’t hold back on your gifts.”
I furrowed my brow. “You don’t see the problem? If I stole her core light, she’d be useless to you.”
Audrey leaned back in her chair and gestured to the windows. “That’s what they pay for. It would certainly put me out, but there are always replacements.”
“Do you have any male fighters?”
“Our clients don’t want to see men fighting. They’ve been watching that for centuries. There’s a particular audience who relishes in the success of women—seeing their power on full display. They want to feel that power.”
“Feel?”
“Before you leave here, I’m going to pull that experience out of you and sell it to the highest bidder. You’ll keep the memory but not the sensory information. That’s where we make the most money. I implant that memory inside them so it’s theirs to keep. They will possess the feel of every blow, every kick, and every rush that you did while dominating your enemy. Theywantyou to use your gifts against each other, so long as you both walk out of that room alive.”
“You’ll run out of fighters.”
She laughed brightly and shared a look with Pablo, who gave a mechanical smile. “Nowthat’sconfidence.” After stifling her amusement, she looked me over. “Have you ever killed anyone? Is that why you stopped pulling her light?”
Uncertain what she wanted to hear, I raked my fingers through my hair. I heard Viktor’s voice in my head, telling me to get more information. “Who’s your audience? It might shock them if they saw what I almost did in there. Making someone mortal is worse than death and strikes fear in a lot of people.”
Audrey tapped her bottom lip. “I cannot divulge who pays to play, but you’re right. This audience isn’t interested in watching a murder. It’s about the champion and the battle.”
“Are they all men?”
Her brows subtly arched. “What makes you suggest that?”
