Lenore stepped forward and placed the necklace in his palm, but not before painfully gripping his wrist with her other hand. “Then tell Raven if she comes after me, it will beyouthat I kill. Tell her I have measures in place to take you out even if I disappear. Don’t think I won’t do it.”
He jerked his arm away, knowing full well she would hire someone to hunt him down. Not that he cared, but if Raven loved him half as much as he did her, she wouldn’t dare risk it. Lenore was Christian’s nemesis, and now he was bound to a favor that would protect her from his wrath.
Lenore reached inside the foil and pulled out a gold brooch. “This belongs to Viktor. I don’t want that silly trinket. I only needed it for a short while. Make him believe that I simply left him because he’s a weak man who took too long to decide.”
Christian dropped the brooch into his pocket. “There’s something I need if you want this to all go away.”
“And what’s that?”
“Your guest list.”
CHAPTER31
After Christian left to see Lenore, I went out back and practiced harnessing Sparrow’s gifts. I created a short wall but knocked it down before it grew to the heavens. It didn’t exactly instill confidence that I could figure this out in the next twelve or so hours, when his energy along with his gifts would vacate my body for good. There was no possible way to practice what I was about to do. Viktor suggested that I use the traitors in the basement as my first guinea pigs. If I failed, it wouldn’t be much of a loss since the higher authority planned to punish them.
The bonfires raged on.
So many bodies.
A while later, I retreated upstairs and lit a fire in my fireplace even though I couldn’t enjoy its warmth. It helped me relax, which I needed since my nerves were balled up like twine. My red blanket glowed in the firelight, and I sat against the headboard, feeling like a stranger in my own home. I wasn’t the same. None of us were. The hourglass still glowed on my hand, and the simple pleasures of eating and drinking were gone.
Christian entered the room without knocking. “We need to talk.” He closed the door behind him and sat on the bed.
“You were gone over four hours. Did you find her?”
“Aye. She was at home.”
“Why did it take four hours?”
“Traffic.” Christian reached in his pocket and held out the necklace. “I also retrieved our jackets that we left at the party. I know how much you love that leather one.”
Relief washed over me as I snatched the jewel, and I clutched it to my chest. “I don’t know if I can break the curse.”
“Then why are you so fecking happy?”
“Because I have your heart back.” When I put it on, everything felt right. Until the chain slipped through me, and the necklace fell onto my lap.
“I suppose you can’t wear it until you break his energy from it,” Christian said.
I stared at the gemstone. “And she just… gave it to you?”
“It’s never that easy. We favor traded.”
“What did she ask you to do?” I couldn’t look up. This was Lenore’s chance to steal Christian away from Keystone—from me—if she wanted. And I knew Christian would do anything if it meant saving my life.
“She wants her freedom. She asked me to scrub Viktor’s memories of what you told him about her. About seeing her with Sparrow, about her spiking his drinks.”
I jerked my head up, and the guilt on his face was obvious. “You’ve already done it, haven’t you?”
“Aye. Blue was easier. She only knew what you told her. Viktor had suspicions of his own, so I had to be thorough. As far as Keystone’s concerned, Lenore left Viktor. She ended the relationship. I made Viktor believe that she left him at the hotel after he went missing, which she did. But that it was obvious she wasn’t happy with him and lost confidence. I don’t think this will destroy him. In the end, it’s better this way.”
“Is that all she wanted?” I asked with trepidation.
“You and I can’t go after her. I swore to her that I would honor that agreement. You can’t know how much that burns me inside. I despise that woman with every bone in my body, but I had to put aside my hate. She possessed the one thing that would restore your life, and that meant more. Not just for me, but I want you to see your da, even if the old buzzard is one foot in the grave already.” He leaned in close and stared at my mouth. “There’s something else you should know. I thought about not telling you, but that wouldn’t be fair. She would only rub it in your face afterward.”
“What’s that?”
“I gave her my word but told her I had no control over your decisions. She wants you to know that if you choose to come after her, she’ll kill me. If she disappears, she’ll have someone finish the job for her. Don’t put anything past Lenore.”
