Page 24 of Across the Crimson Sands

“How about we take these to go?” I suggested, already rising with my glass in hand.

He quickly followed suit, and we slipped out of the bar, poorly concealing our stolen glasses. Rokan tapped his percomm to settle the tab as we made our hasty exit.

A few doors down, we found the front desk for the array of hotel rooms. A weary old Mondian woman with vibrant green scales regarded us silently. Rokan produced his percomm, scanning it efficiently. The old woman rose slowly, reaching for something on her desk.

“605. Up these stairs and to your right. You need to be out by 10 tomorrow,” she rumbled, her voice like gravel.

Rokan nodded firmly as he accepted the key.

To my surprise, Rokan offered me his hand as we ascended the stairs. I accepted gratefully, and we walked hand in hand, the picture of a couple, searching for our room. Identical doors lined the hallway, distinguished only by the glowing numbers projected onto their surfaces. 605 was adjacent to the first landing.

Rokan unlocked the door and stepped aside, allowing me to enter first. The room was modest – a single bed, a small sink, and what I presumed to be a bathroom. Nothing fancy, just clean.

Rokan locked the door behind us with a soft click. I turned to face him as he approached, his intentions clear in the hunger of his gaze. He set his drink on the nightstand, and I placed mine beside it.

In an instant, he had me pressed against the wall, his hot breath ghosting over my neck. Desire pooled within me, but I made myself stay focused on the task at hand.

I reached into my pocket, retrieving the small piece of leaf with purple veins I’d secreted away earlier. Purple for poison. I’d taken only the tiniest fragment, not wanting to kill him – just incapacitate.

Not the stem, just fragments of the leaves that I’d shredded as we walked, hoping, waiting for just this chance.

I dropped the leaf into his drink while he was distracted, kissing a trail down my neck. I watched intently as they slowly sank into the dark purple alcohol.

Now or never, right?

With a grin, I pushed him away. “How about we finish our drinks first? And then you can do whatever you want with me.”

I saw his arousal twitch visibly through his pants. “If you want,” he growled, voice thick with desire.

I handed him his drink, guilt gnawing at my insides.

Vinduthi were strong. This wouldn’t hurt him at all. Just slow him down a little.

And I needed an edge, something I could use.

Forcing a smile, I held up my glass in a toast. He clinked his against mine, and we both took our sips. The warm, fizzy drink helped calm my frayed nerves.

I watched intently as he quickly downed his drink, oblivious to its extra contents. Taking his empty glass, I tossed it carelessly to the floor, then pushed him back onto the bed.

It was my move now.

ROKAN

“Rokan, you look pale. You should lie down.” Arilee’s voice made its way through the permisteel that seemed to clog my ears. Lines blurred around me as I realized, too late, just what kind of a girl I was dealing with.

“You…” I started laughing, knowing I was losing more of myself by the second. If I only got out one more word, just one more to reach her ears before she could take off again, I needed to make it good. “....perfect little minx.”

“But you wouldn’t like me if I didn’t run, right?” She bent forward, her face so close to mine I could smell her. As my eyes started to go black, it was all I could do. “You know, you’re so predictable.”

Was I? Or was she just having as much fun with the game as I was?

When I came to, she wasn’t there.

The first sensation that found me was a ringing in my ears. Hell of a wake-up call when you’ve been drugged by a human runaway.

“That fucking woman,” I said, shaking my head as the feeling returned there too.

Arilee wasn’t just the hardest captive I’ve ever tried to keep. She was easily the most ruthless.

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