Sweet Reckoning(82)

“Yes, sir.”

Kaidan untied me, and I rubbed my wrists. He pulled me from the car, taking my hand securely in his while he held his duffel bag in the other. A valet took the black sedan, and the three of us made our way inside the hotel. Though Kaidan came across as cold, his hand was warm and I was glad to be touching him.

Pharzuph bypassed a long line of people waiting to check in at the giant, fancy lobby. He smiled warmly, and nobody complained. It was amazing to watch his willful influence in action. The checkin clerk was blushing and laughing as she placed the key cards in his waiting hand.

He strolled handsomely back to us, winking at the tallest, slimmest woman I’d ever seen. She wore a silver, slinky dress, and was on the arm of another man, who didn’t notice as she turned and stared brazenly at her tempter. He was much younger than some of the women checking him out, but that only added to his allure—young, confident, handsome, built, and rich.

“I love this city,” Pharzuph said to himself. He handed a key card to Kaidan. “Keep to your room. I’ll send someone for you when it’s time for the summit. It’s likely to be late in the night before everyone gets here. We’re planning for the witching hour—demon hour if we must.” Pharzuph looked me up and down, a sneer on his lips. “She can’t get into the club dressed in that. Find something more appropriate.”

“Yes, Father.”

Without another word, Pharzuph strode away. My back relaxed as distance was put between us, but I stretched my hearing to him, determined to listen to where he was going and what he was planning. I knew Kai would be listening, but I wanted to hear for myself.

“Come on,” Kaidan said, tugging my hand.

It was a relief to be out of Pharzuph’s presence. I was quickly taken in by the hotel’s ambience. It was like a hotel, high-end mall, and entertainment gallery combined. We walked down a wide corridor full of the diversity of humanity and the army of guardian-angel soldiers, who focused with total devotion on their jobs. I wondered if all of these angels knew the dangers that were in store for their humans’ souls tonight. I still tried to keep tabs on Pharzuph, placing a bubble of my hearing around him, but I had to shift it every time he moved, and it took great concentration to focus on his voice and footsteps, especially with all the sensory distractions.

The Venetian was home to an indoor waterway that replicated a canal in Venice, Italy. There were gondola boats and singing “Italians” in red-and-white-striped shirts. The rounded ceilings were painted to look like a summer sky above the Piazza San Marco, as vivid as the real thing, if only the sounds didn’t echo off the storefronts lining the walkways.

Kaidan tried to lead me into a boutique dress shop, but I noticed the window display in the next store and stopped.

Leather.

I bit my lip, and pulled him in that direction. He made a face, confused, but took my lead and let us walk in. One look at the badass female mannequin in front of me, and I knew. I was not wearing a dress tonight. Kaidan raised his eyebrows, but didn’t stop me as I approached the racks and made my purchases, hoping the clothes were true to size.

Back in the hall we had to squeeze through a ton of people to get a better look at the waterway and sky scene. It was so crowded that we were well hidden from anyone who might be trying to get a look at us. I pulled my hand from his and signed a question to Kaidan, keeping my hands low: What are the witching hour and demon hour?

Witching hour is midnight. Demon hour is three a.m., he signed back. He again entwined his fingers through mine without looking at me. We could only stand there for a moment, pretending to be a normal couple, before it was time to get back to our room.

Knowing what would go down that night, it seemed like everything around us took on a strange distortion. The happy faces surrounding us were like mocking carnival masks. We shuffled quietly through the crowds, then elevators, and the long halls. The hotel felt like a maze, but Kaidan seemed to make sense of it.

I could still hear Pharzuph, his loud footsteps, and his occasional words. I was proud of myself for keeping up with him while we were on the move in such a busy, large place.

I listened as Pharzuph walked two floors above us down a quiet hall on the other side of the hotel. He had been silent for some time now, so I had to focus on the sound of his footsteps against the carpets. He stopped. Now I heard him knocking and the sound of a door opening.

Kaidan and I turned down our hall.

“Brother Pharzuph. Didn’t I just see you on the slopes in Switzerland?” The man laughed, and I recognized the rough English accent as belonging to the Duke of Adultery. My stomach dropped. Kaidan’s hand squeezed mine.