Page 264 of Caelum

The fence cleared his throat. “Apologies. But I’ll be in touch. Same number, correct?”

“Yes.” I tipped my head to the side and passed him a card. “We’ll be taking the goods with us.”

“But—”

“No buts,” I told him with a smirk. “You and I both know what we’ve got here. We’d be fools to leave it behind. The buyer can view it for himself and bring any technicians he’d like to authenticate the piece. As it stands, it has to happen in front of us or not at all.

“This ring is going to pay for my grandchildren’s university education,” I assured him with a smirk. “I don’t intend on just giving it away for free because some shady businessmen think I’m a moron because I’m young.”

Nostrils flaring, the older man dipped his head. “I understand and I’ll be in touch.”

I got to my feet and held out my hand. Begrudgingly, he stood and clasped my fingers in his. I was impressed that he didn’t try to squeeze the heck out of my hand, considering he was angry with me.

“It will be a pleasure doing business with you, Herr Ibramovicz.”

The man’s tight smile told me he wasn’t sure if that was likely, but he was more irritated than suspicious, and in my eyes, that was a definite win.

SEVENTEEN

EREN

Prahova Valley, Romania

“Eren?”

The hushed murmur had me stirring in bed. “Eve? What is it? Are you okay?” I asked as I leaned up on my elbow to stare at the darkened doorway where she was standing.

She seemed to whisper into the room, her body sliding through the darkness in a way that had everything inside me surging to life. I wasn’t sure why she was here, but I wasn’t about to complain either.

“Can I get in with you?” she replied softly, but even as the first words slipped from her mouth, I’d lifted the cover and was inviting her into bed with me.

When she settled next to me, she released a soft sigh. I wasn’t sure where to put my hand, if I were being honest, but she decided for me, curling into me so our legs entwined and we were huddled up next to one another.

“Not that I’m going to complain,habibi, but what’s wrong?”

She tensed then pressed her face into the nook between my shoulder and neck. “Nothing.”

“Sounds like something to me,” I countered, reaching up and stroking her hair. It was like silk in my fingers, and it slipped against my skin just as that delicate fabric would.

“Tomorrow is…”

When she broke off, I murmured, “The beginning of theend?”

She gulped. “How did you know I wanted to say that?”

Because it was how I was feeling.

I’d been staring up at the ceiling, contemplating what exactly could go wrong tomorrow, and because there were so many ways in which disaster could strike, it wasn’t making resting any easier than usual.

Even if I didn’t sleep, I could zone out, but that just wasn’t happening today.

We were in Stefan’s personal hell—Romania. Had traveled here this morning once Ibramovicz had contacted us and informed us his client was interested in what we were selling, but we had to travel to this small town to meet with him.

I’d never been both terrified and excited before now—I mean, I thought I had, but nothing to this level. Still, this was a time for firsts, and I was experiencing them all around this woman at my side.

“When the Ghouls are gone, Eve, then we can?—”

“Can, what? I mean, without them, what will creatures even do?”

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