She hummed. “Too much time.”
“No use mourning it.” He would far rather mourn the lost hours than be mourning her. “Lana marries Zabriel in a week.”
Nadi sighed. “Not much time to plan…whatever it is you’re planning. I hope it’s more foolproof than ourBraenscheme.” She shot him a look.
Raziel grimaced. “I bore the brunt of that misstep, not you.”
She arched an eyebrow at him, clearly questioning that statement. But she said nothing.
He grunted. He was nearly mended, but he was still feeling the effects of being drained entirely of blood. “The wedding will provide us decent cover for an attack. But in the meanwhile, we’ll need to make our appearances. Kiss the ring. Play the dutiful, obedient, subservient, and repentant children.”
She snorted. “We have to keep it believable, Raz.”
Ivan chuckled.
She shot him a look.
The bodyguard shrugged. “What? S’funny.”
Nadi’s expression was one of such absolutely beleaguered exhaustion, it was Raziel’s turn to chuckle. And when had Nadi begun to refer to him asRaz?He had earned a nickname. He was honestly flattered. “Mael will be our target.”
“Counterpoint.” Nadi tilted her head to the side and scratched at the edge of her bandage on her throat. “I thinkVolencia should be the first to die, not Mael. Cut off the heads of theissha.”
Raziel had no idea what anisshawas, or why it had more than one head, but he understood the gist well enough. “I want her dead just as much as you do, believe me. There is no one in this world who harbors more hate for that whorethan I do. But this needs to be done in sequence. Mael is more dangerous than you think. Without him, she will be rendered toothless.”
“Don’t slander whores like that.” She sipped her water. “I know plenty of wonderful whores…” Would she fight him? Or would she listen? Tension hung in the air for a long moment, as dark opal eyes met his. “Your plans get me in a lot of trouble. But, fine. However—if I see a chance to take her out, clean? I’m doing it.”
That, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to argue his way out of. But perhaps he could still get another bargain from their negotiation. “All right. In exchange, you will have to give me your word that you won’t attempt to murder Ivan.”
“I don’t like him knowing my secret.” Nadi grimaced, baring her teeth. Her canines were much shorter than a vampire’s—but were still sharper than a human’s were capable of being. “He shouldn’t be allowed to live. This is a stupid risk.”
“Or, we need to admit that we can’t do this with just the two of us. We’ll need someone watching our backs. And having him know the truth will make thismucheasier.” Raziel sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. He was still starving. He’d have to go out and feed soon, but he wanted to ensure that Nadi was asleep in bed before he did so. Bottles of blood were one thing, but he needed something—someone—fresh. “Do we have a deal, little fae?”
With a faint, frustrated growl, she tucked her knees up under her on the sofa and pulled a thick blanket around her shoulders. “Fine. Okay.Deal.But Ivan—if I even get awhisperof ahintthatyoumightbe working for someone else? I am going to cut off your balls, string them up with wire, and make you wear them as nipple tassels before I finish letting you die.”
A grin split Ivan’s face. “You’re right, boss. I like her alotmore than Monica.”
“Then, we have our next steps. We play our parts. And we plan to murder Mael at my sister’s wedding.” Reaching down, Raziel scooped Nadi up in his arms. She didn’t make a fuss about it and looped her arm behind his neck. “Just another cheerful Nostrom family affair.”
Everything was starting to feel dangerously like it might have a chance of working.
Which meant it was all more than likely going to come crashing down.
SIXTEEN
Nadi had never realized it before that day, but suddenly, she did.
Shedespisedperfection.
In her experience, the more polished something appeared, the more rot festered beneath its surface. Either in its making, or in the mold it was simply covering up, like so much decay beneath layers of paint.
And nothing proved this theory more conclusively than the Nostrom family.
She stood beside Raziel in the foyer of Volencia’s estate, wearing Monica’s face once more. The dress she’d chosen was deliberately understated – a simple black sheath that fell just below her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a severe style that emphasized the sharp contours of her borrowed face. Just enough makeup to hide the lingering pallor from her near-death experience.
Her glamor hid the still-healing wounds on her throat.
Wounds that Raziel had given her.
