Where was he?
The guard’s hands tightened around her, moving up her back, and Tavia did not like the direction this was taking.
He yawned again and then lifted his head as if to kiss her. Instead, it lulled to the side, and he fell back on the sofa in a deep sleep.
Tavia sat there, not knowing what to do until the door opened, and Lucius entered. His face fell into a furious gaze, and she wondered if he was truly mad at her.
He locked the door behind him, and within seconds, he had grabbed her, yanked her off the guard, and into his arms.
“I’m so sorry,” he said in between kisses. “It was excruciating to say those things, but I needed it tolook real.”
The tension and fear in her subsided.
“That was a little too real,” she said, as he placed her on her feet. She tapped his chest.
“That was awful, and he almost kissed me,” she said, pointing to him.
Lucius frowned. “I had to avoid someone. Didn’t want anyone to recognize me. We don’t have much time.”
“Wait, wait.” Tavia needed to collect herself. “How long is this going to take?”
“Not too long. Just keep guard and do not let anyone in this room. Here.” He took out the transporter rod and placed it on the sofa. “If something happens and I don’t wake up, take me and the guard out of here. Back to where my house is in the city. You’ve spent more time there than in my estate. You’ll be able to travel there through the portal.”
“And what are you going to be doing?”
Lucius took a vial out of his pocket, popped the cork, and guzzled the liquid, then laid on the ground. “Dream walk. Once I implant what I need the guard to do, the rest is easy.”
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Tavia said as she kneeled next to him.
Lucius laid on his back, smiling up at her.
“If it doesn’t...” His voice trailed as his eyes shut and his head lolled to the side.
“Lucius,” she whispered.
He lay there, and Tavia wondered what she was going to do.
She had no idea who would wake up first, and what if it was the guard? He would want to know what had happened and why Lucius was on the floor. She sat there, conjuring a lie in her head.
She would think of something, but she hoped that Lucius’s plan would work, and they would escape tonight. He would get his artifact, and everything would be okay.
There was a knock at the door.
“Lucius,” the voice said, and Tavia panicked.
Someone had noticed him—a female.
Tavia went to the door.
“Sorry,” she said, “This room's occupied.”
“Oh,” the female responded from the other side. “Sorry. I thought I saw someone come in here. Excuse me.”
Tavia leaned against the door, a new panic racing through her.
Not only would she have to make sure the guard didn’t wake up first and that Lucius's plan would work, but now there was someone here who had recognized him, and it was a female.
Oh no,Tavia thought. What if it was the female who had betrayed him?
