Mireille brushed her hair off her shoulder, wafting her sweet, musky scent over him. His wolf took a deep whiff, sighing contentedly. “I’m sure they do. I just don’t know what yet. We could probably figure it out if we could get into Otto’s office.” She released a frustrated grumble.
“The servants have access to the room.”
She perked up. “What? How do you know that?”
“Took a little surveillance tour earlier while you were napping.” He winked. “I saw one of the servants press his palm to that pad outside the door. That short, older man with the silver hair who distributes the breakfast trays.”
“That’sexcellentnews,” she grinned. “I think I know how we can get in there.”
“Veiling potion?”
Mireille shook her head. “No, the veiling potion only affects one’s outward appearance and scent. It couldn’t recreate his essence. I have something else in mind.” She tapped at her lip. He felt a tiny stab of disappointment that the color he’d put there earlier had worn off. “Though it will take a full day to produce. Did you bring those Lethaphyll cigarettes Mattias gave you?”
Ronin nodded, but didn’t press further as the couple in the corner finally left the parlor. As their footsteps faded down the hall, he pulled Mireille from the settee.
“Now that we’re alone, I want to show you something.”
She glanced playfully at his lap, cocking a sleek eyebrow. High Gods, he couldn’t get enough of mischievous Mireille.
“Not that, filthy little she-wolf.” He pinched her nose, then padded to the side wall, running his hands along the trim. “I noticed a door here when we first arrived. A servant dragged that blond man through it. Thought it might be useful for us to see where it leads.”
“Good thinking.” Mireille stepped up beside him, her gold gown rustling across the carpet, and began searching as well.
He pressed the wall and a soft click sounded as a portion opened, revealing a white stone corridor lined with dim sconces.
Mireille poked her head through, then retracted it. “After you, big, scary boyfriend.”
He chuckled and ducked through the small entrance, Mireille on his heels as the door snicked shut behind them.
His wolf perked up, sniffing at the air and whining.
What is it?Ronin asked.
That scent again.It’s far more concentrated in here. Death and…ashes.
Ronin shivered, scenting the smoky tinge on the air. He heard Mireille sniff behind him as well.
“Whatisthat?” she asked, covering her nose. “It smells like burnt hair.”
He swallowed her small hand in his own, his wolf pacing and growling as they crept down the sloping corridor. Their footsteps were far too loud in the dreadful silence.
Ronin paused at the corner, then angled his head around and sucked in a breath.
The vast, empty chamber was built from the same white stone as the exterior of the estate. Evenly spaced columns climbed to the curved ceiling like the rib bones of some gargantuan creature. Rows of stone benches jutted up from the floor on either side of a long aisle leading to an altar.
Diva Carmina’s bare body lay atop it, two strips of cloth draped over her breasts and pelvis and two puncture wounds in her neck. Behind her loomed the strangest fireplace Ronin had ever seen.
The stone was sculpted to look like the skull of a giant serpent, its sharp fangs framing a charred pit.
As they approached the altar, Mireille let out a choked noise. “What a terrible, wasteful end for such a supreme talent. She didn’t deserve this.”
As Ronin approached the snake head, he noted a barrel behind the altar. He removed the lid, and pale blue stones glistened back at him. “Is this…”
Mireille leaned around him, her soft breasts pressing against his back as she cupped his waist. He tried not to let it distract him.
“The anastasium.” She rounded the basket, bending over to examine the facets of the apricot-sized gems.
Footsteps pounded down the hall outside the chamber.
