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She dropped her gaze. “What happened… after you left the club?”
Aarin scrubbed a hand over his nose and mouth. “I got her back to my flat. At first, she was sort of quiet, weird for her but understandable. I get her to sit on the couch, and then I’m running around, trying to pack and figure out our next move, and next thing I know, without saying a word, she gets up, calmly walks over to me, and clocks me in the fuckin’ face.” Aarin laughed. “Damn near broke my jaw. Stole my guard’s rifle and the rest of my vanishing grafts—”
“How many?” Lilith cut Aarin off, moving in front of him. “How many grafts?”
“Two,” he said, voice lightening along with his aura. “I haven’t seen her since. After I heard what happened, I was gone before the Swarm’s soul suckers ended up on my doorstep. They were single uses but still had plenty of energy to get to you and out. I thought if Rey ended up anywhere, it would be here.” He looked at Lily again. “What about Xavier?”
Lilith averted her gaze and spoke softly. “The Stalker didn’t have him,” was all she said. Not a lie, but not the whole truth.
Aarin’s mood lifted, but Lilith didn’t react in kind, staring blankly ahead until she appeared more distressed than anything. This had gone on long enough.
Jarek made a rumble in his throat, and Aarin and Lilith glanced at him like they’d forgotten he was there. He backed away, and she straightened her posture, aura dimming as she tried to subdue her unease.
That vibrant light he had coaxed out of her through the night was completely gone. Discomfort wormed around in his chest, wanting to bring it back, but unsure how without the use of the Serpent or presenting her with Aarin’s severed head on a platter. It seemed appropriate to offer advice, but unfortunately, he could once again do no such thing without the knowledge of what was troubling her. Instead, Jarek floundered for anything until an idea he regretted entertaining left his mouth.
He manifested ahead of Lilith, putting further space between the two. “The Wraith has deemed your life valuable enough to live another day. However, I am not so willing to let you wander away without some kind of guarantee.”
Aarin stepped back, lifting his hands. “A-Are you open to something not so permanent?”
Jarek had never been under the scrutiny of an intuitive Escardian’s gift before, making it hard to tell if the scratch under his skin was his Diseased Flare warning him of danger or Aarin’s probing. “If you’re useful.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lilith’s interrogation in the streets proved to be a stroke of luck for a number of reasons, all of which were in her favor, though she refused to admit it. Jarek didn’t think his offer to give the man a chance would actually turn into something so fruitful for someone who found him so detestable.
The women trusted Aarin more than Lilith. He knew the manor well and could help her while Jarek secured the armory and kept an eye on Caiven. In return, Aarin wanted access to Zaitrerin. The problem was immigration to the southern realms was all but impossible in the winter. The process was selective during the warmer seasons, but in winter, they closed the gates completely. If one had the blessing of an Imordial—no matter how disgraced—and if said Imordial already had a convoy heading that way if her mission were successful, it could be possible.
Another trickle of strange energy wriggled across Jarek’s skin. Aarin’s frown from across the table deepened while Lilith and Croll discussed the inside of Caiven’s manor. The inn was dim; the rest of its patrons had filed back to their rooms.
A garnet aura swirled around Aarin. Not a bright, fiery anger, but a subtle, quiet curiosity. “Do I know you?”
“No,” Jarek said.
“I feel like I know you.”
“I can assure you, you don’t.”
“I’m surprised you don’t recognize him,” Lilith said, a sly smile pulling at her lips. “You’ve visited the top of Reave more than me. He’s everywhere up there.”
“So, I have seen you around before.” Aarin snorted. “But not a surprise I can’t place your face. Lily replaces bodies in her bed faster than she does guns.”
“Yeah, well at least I wasn’t unfaithful to any of them,” she said listlessly. The rebuttal drew a begrudging but agreeable tilt of the head from Aarin and a curious look from Jarek.
“Good for you for landing an aristocrat, I guess.” Aarin eyed Jarek again. “Were you the one who got her out of Reave?”
“If I’d had help from high places, it wouldn’t have been as messy as it was,” Lilith said.
Aarin’s frown returned as he bounced between the two. Jarek simply smiled back at him.
“Not even a little bell ringing?” Lilith goaded. “Maybe like the ones at the temple? I know you visited a time or two.”
Jarek’s amusement fell away. “Temple?”
“Oh, yes sir,” Croll butted in. “I visited on every trip I took to the city.”
“You never mentioned anything to me about a temple.”
“You specifically told me you did not want to know the extent of the Serpent’s worship.” Croll side-eyed Lilith. “Since the topic has been breached, it is very lovely. The statues really capture the magnificence of your spirit.”
