“The wedding?” Nadi repeated, momentarily confused. Then, she remembered—Lana’s upcoming marriage to Zabriel Rosov. “Right. Yes. Sorry. Everything’s been such a blur.”
“Of course! You poor thing. But I was hoping to get your help with some of the preparations.” She paused. “It’s important, Monica. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t.”
It made her uneasy. Lana was definitely up to something. But Nadi couldn’t refuse without raising suspicion. And, moreover, she wanted to know what was going on. “Of course. I’ll be there.”
“Wonderful! Just come alone, would you? Girl talk and all that.”
The line went dead before Nadi could respond, leaving her with a growing sense of unease.
Lana was playing some kind of game—she always was—but what exactly did she want?
There was only one way to find out.
Lana’s estate was a sprawling, modernist monstrosity at the edge of the metropolis, all sharp angles and gleaming surfaces. It couldn’t have been more different from Raziel’s home with its modern lines and sleek, polished luxury.
A human servant met Nadi at the door, ushering her through a series of stark white corridors to a sunroom at the back of the house.
Azazel was sprawled out on a chaise longue, reading a book, eating grapes in a manner that she was certain was meant to be annoying.
And there, surrounded by exotic plants in glass terrariums—each carefully sealed to prevent any infection from the Wild—sat Lana, resplendent in a pale pink dress that made her look almost innocent.
An illusion that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Monica! Right on time.” Lana gestured to the seat across from her. “Come, sit. Would you like some tea? Or blood, perhaps?”
“Tea would be fine,” Nadi replied, taking the offered seat cautiously. Every instinct she had was screaming danger. “My stomach is still getting adjusted to blood.” She glanced over at Azazel. “I thought you said this was girl talk.”
“Who, Azazel? He doesn’t count.” Lana waved dismissively at the servant, who bowed and retreated, closing the doors behind him. The moment they were alone, save for Lana’s favorite boy toy, something shifted in the vampire’s demeanor. The playful facade fell away, replaced by a sharp, calculating assessment.
“You know,” Lana began, pouring tea with practiced elegance, “I’ve been watching you quite closely since my dear brother brought you home.”
Nadi accepted the cup, careful to keep her expression neutral. “Have you?”
“Mm.” Lana’s smile was all teeth now. “And I must say, I’m impressed. Most humans barely last a week in Raziel’s company before they’re begging for death. Yet here you are, not only surviving but…” She leaned forward, magenta eyes gleaming. “Thriving.”
Nadi sipped her tea, using the moment to compose her response. “I’m stronger than I look. The outer cities are rough.”
“Clearly.” Lana set her own cup down with a soft clink. “But that’s just it, isn’t it? They’re rough. But they aren’tthatrough. No rancher’s daughter from the outer cities handles herself the way you did at The Poisoned Serpent.”
Ice slid down Nadi’s spine. So that was it. Lana had been watching her, monitoring her movements.
“You had people there.” She kept her words calm. All the while, she was debating how quickly she could grab the small pistol from her purse and put a bullet between Lana’s eyes.
She could kill Lana fast enough. Azazel was the unknown variable. Would he kill her? Or would he just sit there? Maybe he would even applaud or help her escape. There was no telling.
Lana laughed, the sound like breaking glass. “Oh, Monica—or whatever your namereallyis—I have eyes everywhere. Did you think I wouldn’t station my own people at Braen’s club when I knew my brother would be sending his new pet there?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nadi kept her voice level, though her heart was racing. “My name is Monica Valan?—”
“Please.” Lana cut her off with a dismissive wave. “Let’s not insult each other’s intelligence. Mael may be too soft-hearted—and frankly, toohorny—to put two and two together, but I know what you are.”
“And what is that?”Fuck, fuck, fuck!
“A spy.” Lana’s eyes glittered with triumph. “Though I can’t quite tell who you’re working for. Not yet. Either Raziel replaced Monica with you, some secret vampire operative he’s been keeping hidden, deciding he wanted nothing to do with whatever little cow they sent along as a sacrifice, or you’re a plant from a rival family, or you’re some new, unknown entity entirely. Either way…”
Nadi said nothing, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and just waited.
Lana leaned back in her chair. “I think it’s absolutelyfantastic.”
