Page 28 of Never Run from an Immortal

The table broke into laughter as Rae neared a steward. “Is there somewhere I can get some fresh air? Somewhere quiet?”

The female smiled politely. “This way, please.”

All the talk of Witches and Fae, when there had still been no word from Nim or Reed. She was out there somewhere, and the thought of her in a cell, or worse, wasn’t something Rae could let herself dwell on tonight, choosing instead to believe Reed had whisked her away for a few days for more of his romantic nonsense. It was just the type of gesture Nim loved, the kind of spontaneous suggestion she was always babbling about as she worked.

Rae spun her thumb ring with her forefinger and willed herself not to worry. She’d opted to leave her PAD at the manor, reluctant to risk communicating with her recruits under Aidan’s watchful gaze, and besides, so far she had learnt absolutely nothing that was of use to her. None of the Vampires mentioned the testing that was going on across the city or the missing citizens, which meant they could be working against Aidan too. That came as no surprise to her either.

The steward opened a balcony door, and Rae stepped out into the night air with a quiet thank you, Quinn’s head passing her hip where he flanked her side. Beyond the balcony, lights fromnearby buildings illuminated the docks, a few boats bobbing up and down against the current. Demesia had long, arid summers. Too long, in Rae’s opinion, but it meant the air was pleasant even when darkness had long since fallen over the city.

“I’m sorry I can’t give you five minutes of peace.”

She didn’t need to turn around to know Baelin had followed her. Aidan had probably commanded it the moment she’d left the table. Rae held back a sigh as she turned to face him, though, in truth, she didn’t mind. She could see why Aidan had chosen him for his Ascendant, and it told her just as much about Aidan’s character as it did Baelin’s. She clicked her tongue at his apology, rolled her eyes but shot him a grin. “I thought that might be the case. Can I borrow your PAD?”

Baelin gave Quinn a scratch on the head, his soft brown eyes darting up to meet Rae’s. “There’s been no sign of her, Rae.”

Rae questioned whether she should tell him how important Nim was, tell him just how much the Witch meant to her. She held out her hand instead. “It’ll make me feel better.”

He slid a hand into his suit jacket, the PAD lighting up as he pulled it out, frowning at the message. Rae knew at once something was wrong; a lock of dark hair fell across Bae’s eyes that he didn’t bother to swipe away. “Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He didn’t leave through the door, vaulting over the balcony wall instead without waiting for her response.

Rae leaned forwards just in time to see him land his manoeuvre, murmuring into an earpiece. Now that she was at the perimeter of the venue, she could feel the wards again, just as when she’d entered with Aidan earlier, but something about them had changed. She raised a tentative hand into the air in front of her just as Quinn growled, leaping up onto the balcony wall and following Baelin into the dark.

Even Rae knew better than to stand and wait out there alone. She reached for the pencil dagger strapped to her thigh as the balcony doors opened behind her, moving the blade out of sight.

Kuron, Lorsan’s Ascendant, flashed her a smile, canines extended to their full length. Rae didn’t need a second warning. “Aidan asked that I remain with you until… well…”—a crash sounded from within the restaurant, shouts and cries following it, and the Provident arched a brow—“things quieten down.”

He took a step closer, and Rae chanced a look over her shoulder to see if there was any way she could climb down to ground level. She’d never make the jump as Baelin had, certainly not in her current attire.

“We took bets, you know.” Kuron stalked closer still, and Rae ran through her options. One, try to fumble some excuse about her feet hurting and remove her heels. Too slow and clumsy. Two, ask him to remove them, but the thought of him touching her made her want to gag. “On how long he’s going to keep you alive.”

Three, let him take the final step to put him within arm’s reach, and hope she could stab him in a few choice places to give her a couple of seconds head start on throwing herself over the balcony. The fall would not land well. Fuck. Rae remembered to laugh as dryly as possible. “Who’s to say I won’t be the one to get bored first?”

Kuron closed the last of the distance between them, and Rae stepped into him, bringing the blade to his throat.

The scent of rikoli and blood hung heavy on his breath. “What would your lord think of you raising a blade to one of his councilmen?”

“He’s not my lord, and last I checked, you’re Lorsan’s bitch.”

Rae half expected Kuron to lunge, but something in his expression crumpled, canines receding into his mouth, his breathing growing heavy.

The balcony doors swung open and Aidan strode through, sliding an arm around Rae’s waist and tucking her into his side, his hand blazing through the flimsy fabric of her dress. “My Odalik can do whatever she likes with her blade,” he said far too casually. “I gave it to her.”

Rae didn’t lower her weapon. Didn’t acknowledge Aidan’s arrival or the way her heart hammered in her chest, but Aidan carefully rested a hand over hers, unfurled her fingers, and took the dagger, examining it closely, because he certainly hadn’t given it to her. Kuron hadn’t moved, a sheen of sweat coating his forehead and his skin paling as he watched them both.

“A gift,” Aidan said darkly, “that she was to use however she saw fit. Perhaps you should demonstrate for us instead, so that she doesn’t have to ruin her beautiful dress.”

Kuron’s hand shot out for the blade, palm upturned, fingers curling around the hilt as Aidan handed over the dagger.

Rae swallowed.

“Where shall we have him demonstrate,lux mea?” Light of mine.“With his tongue, for speaking to my Odalik with such obvious disdain? With a hand, for coming within touching distance of what’s mine? Or somewhere lower? Something he’s more likely to miss.”

Kuron moved the blade like a puppet on a string, the tip slicing the skin beside his lip, trailing down his arm to his other hand, moving across to press against his groin. A pained groan escaped him as he pushed the dagger against his trousers, and Rae watched, frozen somewhere between fear and disgust as his hand shook, as if he were trying to fight against Aidan’s hold on his mind.

“If only we had more time,” Aidan said dryly. Rae looked up to meet his gaze, half remembering he still had his arm around her as Kuron collapsed, the blade clanging to the floor.

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