Page 476 of Shadowblood Souls
The hairs on my arms rise. I crouch down by the wall, following the call.
Here. A small, smooth stone, solid black, little more than a pebble. It’s lying amid the grass like it was tossed over the wall carelessly.
But there’s nothing careless about this. The moment I pick it up, a faint quiver passes through my skin.
And a voice I now recognize as Rollick’s resonates from the stone.
“Hello, little banshee and company. Don’t worry—no one without our essence in their blood will be able to hear thismessage. I just wanted you to know that I got yours. I’m not sure how long it’ll take to sort out your latest mess, but I’m on my way.”
Twenty-Five
Zian
Irub my hand across my mouth as if I can wipe away my nerves and glance at Dominic where he’s standing across from me by the kitchen doorway. “You’re sure that you’re okay with this?”
His gentle smile takes the edge off my nerves—but only the edge. “I’m honored that you want my help. I think taking this step could be good for all of us. And I want to see you and Riva happier.”
We both turn our attention to the far end of the room, where Riva is just finishing washing the dinner dishes. She hands a plate off to Andreas for him to dry, her stance more relaxed than I can remember seeing in ages.
It was just before dinner that Andreas showed all of us his memory of the covert email she sent during their “date” in Florence. He communicated her hopes in a way no one listening in could pick up on.
And then Riva told us, in an even tone but with excitement shimmering in her eyes, that she thinks she’s going to get what she asked for.
I’m not sure what else she’s requested that she expects our captors to assume she’s talking about, but she clearly meant Rollick’s help. She must have seen some sign that the demon is coming to our rescue.
I have no idea how he’s going to manage to get us out of here or when—she didn’t indicate that we should expect him soon. But she’s lit up just a little like she hasn’t been since… since the last time we were free, I guess.
Wouldn’t it be nice if she could feel that way all the time? If all of us could?
I hope Rollick gets his ass over here and puts Balthazar in his place ASAP.
It seems like as good a time as any to approach her with the proposition I’ve been mulling over for days. She’s in good spirits, and I don’t want to leave it long enough that I’ll regret my hesitation.
Who knows what Balthazar might do to us next? Whether Rollick’s plan will get all of us out of here alive?
Dark thoughts, but necessary if I’m going to kick my own ass into gear.
Riva swipes her hands on a towel and heads toward us. I draw myself up a little straighter, like I’m not already more than a foot taller than her tiny frame.
Fuck. Is this going to work at all? Am I an idiot to even?—
I tamp down my worries and manage a smile that’s not too tense. “Hey. Could—could you come with me? I was hoping we could… spend some time together.”
Riva cocks her head with curiosity darting across her face. Something about the way her expression softens when I putmyself out there like this always gets my heart thumping twice as fast.
“Of course,” she says. “What did you have in mind?”
“I, ah, I’ll explain in a minute.”
Can she already tell from my awkwardness? The back of my neck burns with embarrassment.
But then, it’s not as if I’ve ever been particularly smooth when it comes to Riva.
When she realizes that Dominic is heading down the hall with us, she reaches for his hand automatically. Seeing the simple gesture sends a pang through me that’s not pleasant at all.
She’d reach for me too if she thought I’d welcome it. If she wasn’t worried that I’d flinch away like I have so many times before.
That’s why I have to do this.
