Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(98)
As soon as we entered the mansion, the Keystone group howled victoriously. Several headed for the dining room to open a few bottles of wine while the rest of the team changed out of their bloody clothes. I took advantage of the last shower I might have for a while, taking a final look at the room that was once mine. Since my clothes were stained with blood, I stuffed them back into my bag and put on a loose pair of jeans and a long-sleeved grey shirt. After my last cab ride, I decided to walk back to the city. As long as it didn’t rain, it would be a nice evening for that.
I hefted my duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder, taking a leisurely stroll down the stone steps, my fingers running along the banister and tracing the grooves of a corner statue. My shadow ran away from me each time I distanced myself from a hanging lantern.
When I saw Blue crossing the room in front of the stairs, I dropped my bag and ran down to the first level. “Blue! My father…”
She turned on her heel and touched my arm. “He’s fine. Darius didn’t send out his men to search the area. The only thing I saw moving for miles were a few rabbits and a teenager sneaking out.”
My shoulders sagged, and I collapsed on the step behind me. I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to him. I never meant to put him in danger with my late-night visits. I rubbed my eyes with trembling hands, trying to hide my emotions.
Blue’s floor-length red dress looked antique, with long sleeves that widened at the cuff and a hood in the back. It was very plain and a deep rose color. It swished as she turned and sat to my left.
“Were you two close?” she asked.
He was my world, I thought to myself. But that was not what I said. “It wasn’t the typical father-daughter relationship. I didn’t appreciate him as much as I should have.”
“Memories should be cherished, not looked upon with regret.”
I tucked my unkempt hair behind my ears. “It’s hard to think of my father as a memory when he’s still alive.”
She nudged me with her shoulder. “It gets easier with time.”
I laced my fingers together. “So, you’re a bird?”
She laughed and stared at the tips of her shoes. “My animal is a peregrine falcon. It’s not as formidable as a bear or panther, but she allows me to go virtually anywhere undetected. She can rest on windowsills, fly through subways, and travel across the city faster than a cab could get you there. Most people don’t pay attention to birds, so we make good trackers and spies.”
“Don’t you lose a lot of your clothes when you shift?”
“Not really. I plan most of my shifts and always choose a spot to leave my things where no one will find them. But the earrings sometimes get lost. No big deal. There are plenty more where they came from.”
I hadn’t connected the dots until just then. The feather in the earrings I’d seen her wearing must have belonged to her animal.
“You did a good thing tonight, Raven. To be honest, I didn’t expect that from you. Darius has money and power, and his offer must have been tempting. That’s a lot more than Viktor offered you. I’ve known people who switched sides for less.”
“Darius only wanted to use me for his own gain. I’m nobody’s lackey. If he hadn’t done it right away, he would have eventually tried to get rid of me like he probably does with anyone who stands in the way of getting what he wants.” I stood up and lifted my bag off the floor. “Thanks for looking out for my father. I guess maybe I owe you.”
She stood up and lightly tugged a lock of my hair. “It wasn’t a favor.”
I looked on wistfully as Blue headed off toward the dining room, where bursts of laughter echoed through the dark hall.
“Raven, can I speak with you before you go?” Viktor asked, standing in the open doorway of a room to the right of the stairs.
The front door opened, and Christian strode in with an arsenal of attitude. He flipped off his trench coat and draped it over one of the wings of the statue next to me, pretending I wasn’t there.
“I should give you a thick ear for leaving me behind like that, but I’m beginning to see my place in this house.”
Viktor folded his arms. “Let’s not be dramatic.”
“I’d like to speak with you, Viktor. Alone.” Christian flashed an enigmatic look at me.
“It will have to wait. I need to discuss something with Raven before she leaves.”
“It’ll just take a moment of your time.”
Viktor’s hand flew up. “Let’s not spoil the festivities. Unless someone is dying, it can wait.”
I followed Viktor into the dark room, and he struck a match, lighting a small candle on the table to my right.
“Sit down,” he said, closing the door. “This won’t take long.”
“You should really think about solar-powered lights. Did you know hardware stores sell lanterns that are rechargeable?”
He chuckled and moved the candle to the center of the table. “You young ones and all your inventions. There is something that natural light brings to a conversation that artificial cannot.”
“An inability to read people’s facial expressions?”
The candle stopped flickering and finally stretched into a slender body of light.
Viktor tucked his cheek against his fist. “What are your plans?”