Mireille raised a finger to her lips, then gestured toward the doors. She pressed her ear against one and Ronin did the same at the other.
Layla’s husky voice was low, but still discernible. “She’s refusing to come.”
“Why.” Otto’s short, sharp bark wasn’t even phrased as a question.
“She said she’ll only make the journey ifyouescort her personally.”
“We cannot leave our gues?—”
A metallic hiss sounded, likely Layla unsheathing one of her knives. “I could persuade her, if you’d like.”
“No,” Otto sighed. “No, that won’t help. She’s a stubborn old bitch, but she is essential to the next performance. She knowsit must occur when the Scales of Nyctima grace the sky and the pathway opens.”
“Does she often use blackmail to attain your company?”
“More often than not.” Otto’s response held a hint of begrudging respect. “We will fetch her. You and Julius must keep an eye on the guests while we’re gone. Keep them entertained and…pliable. With any luck, we’ll return from Listhima by Thursday afternoon with not a moment to spare.”
Footsteps approached the door and Ronin grabbed Mireille’s hand, rushing her down the hallway and around a corner. He poked his head around in time to see Otto exit the room, followed by Layla.
“What wasthatall about?” Mireille whispered. “Open pathway to where? And who isshe?”
“I don’t know,” he answered, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. His head was pounding, the need for a Delirium throbbing through his veins.
“And did you hear the name of the village he mentioned? Listhima. That’s the village where anastasium originated. Do you think that’s where Otto is from?”
“Guess we’ll have a few days to poke around and try to figure it out while our illustrioushostis away.”
She nodded, lost in thought. “That was pretty odd dinner conversation, too. He didn’t ask you a single question.”
“Of course he didn’t. He’s obsessed with you.” He couldn’t help the bite in his tone.
She waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, please. Don’t tell me it bothered you. It’s the whole point of why we’re here. Just think of it like your chess games. Moves and counter-moves, right?”
“I guess.” Ronin chewed his lower lip, and Mireille’s eyes darted there briefly, her cheeks reddening. The sight emboldened him. “How’s this for a counter-move then?” Hestepped in closer, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“You haven’t.” She gifted him an incandescent smile. He knew it was more real than any she’d offered their slimy host this evening. His chest squeezed, his jealousy dissolving.
“You look incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful tonight, Mireille.”
She dipped her head and hooked a strand of copper hair behind her ear, peeking up at him through her lashes. “I might say the same about you, but your checkered suspenders are ruining the effect.”
He bit back a laugh then plucked up her arm to lead her down to the main dining room.
“Don’t even try to deny it,” he said. “You fucking love them.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“That was some fight the other night, Butcher.”
Ronin tried not to flinch as the Deathstalker female seated next to him wrapped a hand around his forearm. On his other side, he swore he felt Mireille tense, though she didn’t break her conversation with Nero.
The Beastrunner had made a beeline for her as soon as the guests had retired to the parlors after dessert. Nero had been chewing her ear off for the entire hour they’d been here. Ronin hadn’t bothered to listen in—none of Nero’s inane chatter had any relevance to their case.
Ronin had no idea why Mireille was humoring him—maybe out of some newly-found font of patience? Or maybeshewas gleaning something from the conversation that Ronin couldn’t discern.
He probably should have gotten up earlier, done his part to mingle, but he was afraid of what he might do if he left Mireille’s side. A gleaming row of Delirium bottles beckoned from the credenza. But he was determined to keep his promise to her tonight. To not indulge his addiction. To keep his mind clear.
Plus, he was waiting for the rest of the guests to retire. He’d noticed something about this room during their arrival tour and wanted to scope it out with Mireille.
