He arrived precisely on time.
Laken’s dark and dangerous eyes widened as I opened the door, soaking in all of me and my tight black silk dress. I didn’t own many dresses fit for underground auctions with the rich, but there was one I’d never worn—and it hugged all the right curves. Thin straps came over my shoulders, dipped across my chest, and kissed my hips with a slit on the leg. Dresses like this couldn’t be bought in Honey Brooke.
“You… uh—you look good.”
I raised my brows, walking past him to Moon and the cart he’d loaded with two cages and a tarp. “You think?” It didn’t take more than those seconds for me to memorize his outfit. A fine black suit embroidered with black threads along its trim and embellished with silver gems around the wristsand collar. Dark-blond hair flowed over his head in a wave, messy yet clean in the way I loved. I swallowed. “Wasn’t going to let you look better than me.”
We matched.
We fucking matched.
Grabbing onto the cart’s seat and hiking a leg to lift myself, the bare skin of my thigh fell through the slit in the dress. Knowing he stared, I peeked over my shoulder. Laken stood with his golden-boy smile and shook his head at the ground.Thank you, Maggie.
“I don’t think I could’ve if I’d tried.”
With Laken settled by my side, I suddenly found myself wishing the seat were broader. Our legs pushed against each other, and due to the dress’s restraint, I didn’t have many options.
Night already devoured the light from the day; shadows and whispers were all to be seen or heard. Auctions were always held after sunset, according to Laken and Deklan when I’d jumped at the mention of leaving after I’d typically be sleeping. However, I couldn’t deny the night and her beauty. A full moon hung over us, casting a glow over the stone streets of Honey Brooke.
“Do you have everything planned for the fundraiser?” Laken pulled my attention from the sky.
“Yes,” I said, keeping my gaze away from him.
“That’s good, it’s only a day away now. You’re close to being done with all of this.” He tried, really tried to make conversation with me. But I couldn’t talk to someone whose love I might be mourning before the week ended.
So I did everything I could to distract myself. Did I lock the doors to the sanctuary? Did I head count the hellblazers? How many stars were in the sky?
Laken stayed silent, and I wished it didn’t bother me as much as it did, but it hurt. We came to a fork in the road and Moon took the left path, leading us deeper into a forest trail. Overarching branches intertwined like arms and hands playing tug of war, glimpses of dark greens and browns. The shadows seemed to dance around the trunks, slithering in and out wherever they could and taking everything they touched with them. The quietness felt like it held secrets farther within.
It went on and on—and on.
Until Laken shattered the silence. “Are you armed?”
What the fuck?I frowned at him as if he should’ve known better than to ask. “Armed? What do you mean, am I armed? If my fucking arms count, I guess.” I wiggled my limbs.
Without more to say, he pulled a scabbard from under the seat with a dagger already attached. Not any dagger—hisdagger. The one he didn’t let anyone touch, use, or breathe on. From under his dark lashes, he looked at me. “Leg, please.”
I would’ve had a remark about it, but the fact he trusted me with the blade told me enough to keep my mouth shut. Sliding my leg to him, he sat up and leaned over, running his hand up the slit in my dress. His bare skin did something to my body that felt very unholy. Something I’d burn for if the Gods ever caught word of it.
His fingers ran the strap through the latch and pulled tight, moving fingers under it to make sure it wasn’t too tight. “Good?”
I swallowed and yanked my head to look in the other direction. “Mm-hmm,” I groaned.Fuck, Reece. He’s leaving. Stop this shit.
Luckily, it didn’t matter because Laken went right back to minding his own business, and I couldn’t bring myself to say something. Why wasn’t he talking? Was he mad? I hadn’t done anything, really… or was he also preparing himself to be without me? And did it even matter?
But there wasn’t time for that. Over the horizon, a black mansion came into sight along with the sounds of horses and others arriving.Game time.His eyes darted around, observing and studying as we came closer. I hoped he knew what he’d gotten us into because I took one little glance at all the guards in crimson uniforms and could’ve run with my tail tucked. They stood firm with daggers around their thighs, swords on their backs, and several of them with magic flaring between their fingers.
Something stirred in my gut. All these guards, the other attendees, all of this money. They do so much to come and buy magical creatures. How many animals were in there? How many needed saving?
“Are Deklan or any Wraiths coming tonight?”
Laken shook his head. “No, we’re just getting the pigs and leaving.”
“Why not”—I leaned in to whisper—“take the poachers out while we’re here?”
His lips turned downward. “We haven’t been paid to. We were paid to save piggly wigglys.”Right.Everything wasbusiness. “We pay what you owe, and the sanctuary leaves their list. That’s my only concern.”
“What, they don’t attack paid and well-kept sanctuaries?”
