"Brace yourself," he warns. "It's about to get a whole lot weirder."
We drive for a long time. South, then off the highway, then up a private road with a wrought-iron gate. The gate opens before we even slow down, as cameras installed on top of the posts swivel ominously to track our progress.
The house—well, I want to call it a house, but that's like calling the ocean a puddle—rises up out of the trees. Stone and glass, modern and ancient at the same time. Lights gleam in every window. The fountain in the middle of the circle drive has been drained for winter, but the stone gargoyles carved into the spout still snarl and gnash their teeth.
"Whose place is this?" I ask.
"Lukas's. Well, one of Lukas's," Afon says. "He has a lot of them."
The SUV stops and a man hurries up from the front stairs to open my door. Another man is already at the back, easing Wolf's crate out like it's full of eggs.
I climb out into the cold and just stand there a second, looking up at all of it, wondering what in the Alice in Wonderland I have gotten myself into.
"This feels a bit like overkill, doesn't it?"
"That's how he does things." Afon comes around to stand next to me. He's still in his bloody sweater, hair a mess, beard wild, and he looks like a wild grizzly bear that somebody dragged into high society. "But make no mistake: It all comes with strings attached. Lukas is not a bad man, but he is consistent in one regard. He gives first. Then you find out the price."
A woman in a gray maid's uniform comes prancing down the steps to meet us. With a curtsy, she says, "Mr. Satyrin! Miss Oglethorpe! Welcome. Mr. Lazarev is expecting you, but he said to let you clean up and eat first. There's no rush."
"Where's the dog going?" Afon asks bluntly.
"We've converted one of the guest rooms into a medical bay, sir. A veterinary tech will be at his side throughout the night, with further checkups arranged for the morning. Rest assured, he is in good hands.
Afon nods, satisfied with that answer. He follows the man with the crate inside.
I follow Afon, because that's just what I do now.
They put us in a room. One room, with one bed. Not so long ago, that would have been the cause of a very major freak-out on my part. Now, though, I can't imagine every sleeping by myself again.
Although sharingthisparticular bed with Afon is basically like sleeping alone. The thing is so huge that I might have to call him if we happen to find ourselves on opposite ends. There's kings, California kings, and then this contraption. I don't even think they have a name for it. Jupiter King? Galactic King?
Off to the side is a bathroom bigger than my parents' living room in Manhattan. Matching terry cloth robes hang on the door, a perfect, fluffy set of two.
There's rich, like my family was.
And then there'srichrich, like the Lazarevs.
I'm learning lots today.
I'malsolearning something about our benevolent overlord's assessment of the current situation.
"They think we're together," I say.
Afon looks up from where he's checking the windows. He can't help it. "Barb thought we were married."
"Yeah, well, you sure set Barb straight, didn't you?"
He stops and sighs, rubbing his temples. "I was wrong about a lot of things in that diner," he says.
I let it go. I'm too tired to fight, and honestly, I don't want to. WhatdoI want? A shower would sure be nice. I'm kinda sick of having a second skin of dried canine blood, thank you very much. If I never saw these filthy clothes again, that would be alright as well.
Mostly, I just want to submerge myself in hot water like a frog for a minimum of an hour, then bundle up in that insanely soft robe and feast until Ilooklike a frog.
Luckily, Lukas and his staff have prepared for me to do exactly that. The shower is heavenly, borderline orgasmic, so good it should probably be illegal. How come no one ever told me that you could have six simultaneous showerheads blasting you from every direction at once? The guys at NASA are really coming up with some amazing technology these days, I swear.
And the guys in Lukas's kitchen are, too. Because when I reemerge, I'm greeted by a room service cart bearing several silver cloches. Afon and I take off the lids to reveal dish after dish. Roast chicken seasoned with rosemary, loaves of freshly toasted French baguette, pats of butter, vegetables I've never even heard of. It's all amazing.
And best of all…
