“We’ll be fine,” Zaria reassured her friend, dismay flooding her as she recalled their conversation two nights ago.You have to let him go.“Promise.”
Jules gave her shoulder a squeeze, shot Kane one last threatening look, then disappeared around the corner. Zaria took a steadying breath and squared her shoulders. The only light in the storage room emanated from the kitchens next door, and she was abruptly all too aware that she and Kane were alone.
Don’t be ridiculous, she chided herself.This is hardly the time.
Her head knew as much, but her body didn’t appear to want to listen. Her stomach did flips as she followed Kane up the narrow wooden staircase, doing her best to keep her steps as quiet as his. He stopped just before the door at the landing, causing her to collide with his back. An arm snapped out to steady her.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
His tone was wry. “The last thing I need is you falling down the stairs before we’ve even made it to the meeting.”
It was such a typicallyKaneresponse, Zaria couldn’t tell whether she was relieved or disappointed. Perhaps he’d decided to disregard all that had happened last night. To pack it into a tiny box and toss away the key. It would be better that way, wouldn’t it?
“You don’t need to be an ass,” she snapped back.
He turned to face her, something pained in the depths of his gaze. His eyes were gold in the distant spill of murky candlelight. “Yes,” he whispered. “I think I do.”
Zaria understood what he was trying to say. She swallowed and nodded, looking away from the shadowed planes of his face.
You have to let him go.
It couldn’t be that hard. After all, she’d never truly had him in the first place, had she?
Kane pressed his ear to the door. After a long moment, he dipped his chin. “Okay,” he said, low enough that Zaria had to strain to hear him. “Follow me. And get your gun out.”
She procured the aleuite revolver, her heart snagging in her throat as Kane carefully turned the door handle and then beckoned her out into a hallway of white and gold. Zaria had to admit, this part of the building was beautiful; it felt more like a king’s palace than a home for a mayor.
Nobody was visible in either direction, so she followed Kane to the left, sticking close to the wall. Had they been any louder, their footsteps would surely have echoed through the cavernous corridor, and Zaria felt far too exposed for comfort.
“Where are we going?” she hissed.
Kane turned, putting a finger to his lips, but responded nonetheless.“The meeting is taking place in the Egyptian Hall. Conveniently for us, there’s a narrow attic area surrounding the perimeter of the room. That’s where we’re headed. You’ll go to one side, I’ll go to the other.”
“We can’t go together?”
“The hall is too big. We’ll see and hear more if we’re on different sides.”
Zaria supposed that made sense, but the prospect of being alone anywhere in this building was rather daunting. “Why is it called the Egyptian Hall?”
“No idea. I expect we’ll find out.” A few paces from the end of the corridor, Kane came to a sudden halt, inclining his head at a nondescript door beneath an archway. “There. Behind that should be another staircase leading to the attic. The banister is low and doesn’t conceal much of anything, so it’s probably best to crawl once you’re up there. Make sure nobody spots you.”
She scowled. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” Voices emanated from the far end of the hallway, and Kane whipped his head around. “I’d better get to the other side of the building before too many more people arrive.” But he hesitated, scanning her face as if trying to commit it to memory. “Do you think you can do this?”
“Crawl around and spy on some rich old men?” Zaria said lightly. “Yes, I think it’s within my skill set.”
She tensed to make a break for the door, but before she could do so, Kane caught her by the arm, pulling her close and pressing his mouth to hers. Her knees buckled as he trapped her bottom lip between his teeth, a hand sliding to her lower back. He kissed her harshly, desperately, breaking away again all too soon.
“Sorry,” he breathed, tracing her parted lips with a finger before letting his arm fall. “I couldn’t help myself.”
Zaria’s entire body seemed to be vibrating. She wanted to tell him not to be sorry. That she hadn’t been able to think about anything but kissing him again. That the way her body fit against his felt like an impossible kind of perfection. She wanted to tell him that all the reasons they weren’t right for each other only made her want him more. That she was willing to cut herself on his edges, and that perhaps it meant something was very wrong with her, but she couldn’t find it within herself to care.
She brought her hand to Kane’s face, brushing her thumb over the curve of his cheekbone. His jaw went taut; she could tell he was clenching his teeth.
“I want…” She paused, swallowing. “I just want you to be happy.”
Kane’s gaze was downcast. He took a bracing inhale, then grabbed her wrist and brought it close to his lips. His breath whispered along her skin, his next words slightly muffled. “Ah, Zaria. I’m never happy. But you bring me pretty damn close.”
