Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(47)
“Okay. Stay right here,” Amelie ordered, pointing to the tile where I stood, as if I were a dog who might wander away. She vanished, only to reappear ten seconds later with coats and boots for both of us. “Come on!”
I had one boot on and was tugging the second on when Amelie grabbed my arm and began dragging me out the door, my coat hanging off one arm. “Quick!” She pointed to a navy jeep sat parked outside. Opening the passenger door, she bowed. “After you, mademoiselle!”
I took a deep breath. This was crazy. We were crazy! Before I could chicken out, I hopped in. “Sofie’s going to kill me,” I muttered to myself. Amelie was in the driver’s side an instant.
“And you’re sure you want to do this?” she asked slowly.
I sighed. “Amelie? We’ve got both our hands in the cookie jar and now you’re the voice of reason?”
“Well, I don’t know … you’re always the good one.”
“Yeah, and where has that gotten me …” I peered over my shoulder at the chateau, where too many problems lay hidden within the walls. Turning back, gazing down on the city of Paris, I saw only freedom beyond the ten-foot stone wall. An escape, if only brief. I nodded firmly. “We need to get out or I’m going to go bat-shit crazy. Besides, you’re with me and we’re in Paris. No one knows we’re here … we’ll be fine,” I smiled, adding, “Just don’t forget … Sofie can’t fix me if I get broken.”
Amelie grimaced. She grabbed my hands, her voice suddenly urgent. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ve already lost one best friend. I won’t lose another. I promise. If I suspect anything, we’ll come right back. Swear!”
I held out my pinky finger. “Swear.” She giggled, hooking onto my pinky, and then followed it with a ferocious hug. Like a cloud lifted, she was back to Amelie, her pretty little face full of determination. She began pawing the visors, the side pockets, the console, the glove compartment.
“Where are the damn keys? There must be a set somewhere …” When it was obvious that we weren’t going to find a set of keys in here, she shrugged. “Rats! Oh, well.” Reaching down to the ignition, she yanked the cover off, exposing a mess of wires. She had them plucked apart, stripped, and crossed in seconds. The rumble of the engine filled my ears.
“Where the hell did you learn to hotwire a car?”
She giggled, pleased by my disbelief. “There were a lot of cars sitting around after the war and no keys. And I was bored.” She threw the car into gear and gunned it, the back end of the jeep sliding sideways in the snow before correcting itself. “Caden taught me.”
“Caden …” A sharp prick stabbed my heart. I forced the grief away. No doom and gloom, if only for an hour or two. Please.
The jeep moved forward, weaving along the long drive, the two of us chattering as if we were home free. It wasn’t until I spotted the giant brick wall, and several of Ivan’s men, both in human and wolf form that I realized that they wouldn’t have to smell me. They’d see me sitting in the passenger seat! I slammed my hand against the dashboard. “Damn it!”
Amelie hit the breaks and the jeep went sliding sideways. “What?” Wild green eyes stared at me.
With an exaggerated gesture at the wall, I said, “They’ll see me sitting here. They’ll have Sofie after us in under two minutes.”
“We could crash through and keep driving?” she offered with no conviction in her voice. Her shoulders sank. “You’re right. I was so excited, I didn’t think about that part.”
“Bloody werewolves,” I muttered, feeling the exhilaration of moments ago deflating. No. I was getting past them. I needed this. I needed to get away. I was going to go crazy otherwise. Unfastening my seatbelt, I scrambled between our seats, over the back seat and into the back of the jeep, planning to lie as flat as possible. They had no reason to check the back of the truck, right? To my pleasant surprise, a navy and beige plaid wool covering sat folded in one corner. Perfect! I dove down and curled into the smallest ball possible, tossing the blanket over myself. I was a full-on stowaway.
“Ready!”
“Okey dokey!” Amelie chirped. “I hope this works!” The jeep lurched forward, my body jolting as it barreled over bumps in the old road. I dared not peek out.
An anxiety-riddled minute later, the brakes squeaked as the jeep slowed to a stop. I sucked in a mouth full of air, waiting. I heard the slide of a mechanical window as it opened. “Hello, friendly werewolves!” Amelie called out with a touch of displeasure in her voice, the touch that no one but a friend could identify.
Snow crunched, announcing the approach of a two-legged guard. “Where are you going?” a rough Russian-accented voice asked. I didn’t recognize it.
“Oh, down to the city for a stroll. Maybe a snack …” I could hear the vicious grin in her voice.
“You normally go on foot.” It was a statement, one coated with suspicion.
“Yes, but this time I need to bring back some blood with me and this is easier than lugging bags,” Amelie lied smoothly.
“Viggo brought back a supply yesterday.” Another statement, another layer of suspicion laid down like a heavy rug.
“And now I’m getting more! What can I say? We’re hungry! Would you rather we eat the staff who’s busy cooking your meals for you?” The edge in her voice was now razor sharp. Though I couldn’t see her, I imagined her small, delicate hands waving dramatically.