Malach grins, and we follow Luca. For now, at least, we’re safe. Like Malach said, tomorrow is a different story, but we’ll cross that icy, fucked-up bridge when we get to it.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Monster Realm Survival Tip #27:
Avoid the veydran.
CELINE
I need to keep an eye on Luca.
There’s a wild gleam in his eyes, and it’s got nothing to do with his pupils narrowing to slits every few minutes.
When he returns with Malach and Ciprian, I link our fingers and squeeze. His calloused hand feels perfect against mine.
“No heroics,” I tell him. “I mean it, Luca. Don’t make me chain you to my ass.”
“Kinky.” He’s teasing me, but there’s no humor in his eyes.
“Luca, please.”
“I’m good, baby. Upset, but I’m here, aren’t I?”
I frown and tighten my grip on his hand. “You seem...”
“Miserable,” Alistair says. “With a dash of self-loathing.”
“Fuck off.” Luca shoves Ali with his free hand, but it’s halfhearted. “You would know, Mister I-would-rather-starve-to-death-than-tell-the-people-I-care-about-that-I-need-their-blood-to-survive.”
Alistair shrugs, then gives me a loaded look. We’re on the same page, and it makes me feel better. With Ali’s help, we’ll hopefully be able to give Luca the same level of support he gives the rest of us. I’m not alone in this.
“I don’t have an abundance of bedrooms,” Riven says briskly. He’s acting more like a snooty concierge at an upscale Vegas casino than a face-shifting prison warden. “Cutting into the mountain wasn’t easy, and I had no reason to believe I would need room for guests.
“We can sleep anywhere,” I say. “We’ve certainly had worse.” Am I petty to remind him? Maybe, but I’m not a pushover. If he thinks I’m going to skip away from this realm with a heaping helping of Stockholm Syndrome, he can think again.
Riven’s lips twitch. “Point taken.”
“Do you wear that face all the time?” Luca asks.
I kick him in the shin, but he doesn’t even flinch.
Riven stiffens. “I can wear something different if you prefer.”
“No.” I kick Luca again. “We don’t need that; Luca was just being...” I sigh, unsure what word could make this moment less awkward.
“An asshole,” Alistair says.
“Curious, not an asshole,” Luca argues. “I’ve never heard of a veydra showing... the underneath part.”Good gods. The underneath part? Really, Luca?
Riven sighs heavily and glances at his feet. “I find it unnerving to wear someone else’s face for an extended period.” He points through a dark doorway. “This will be your room.” I blink until my eyes adjust to the gloom. It’s about the size of my bedroom at home, but the bed itself is bigger, filling most of the floor space. “The bathroom is through there. The water’s heated, but thecharm only lasts for about thirty minutes before needing to recharge.”
There’s dust piled in the corner, and my index finger twitches. “You don’t come here often, do you?”
Riven shakes his head. “It’s difficult while keeping it a secret.”
“Should we set up a watch?” Alistair asks.
“I have wards in place.”
