Page 112 of Their Reckless Thief
Luca pulled a small, shimmering gem out of his pocket. His shadows appeared at his feet and danced up and around his body. He held the gem in his palm, using his left hand to send the shadow magic directly into it. Within seconds, it pulsed with dark magic. Luca handed it to the wraith. The figure accepted the offering with a nod and stepped aside, allowing us to pass through the gate.
I swallowed hard, my body trembling. We pushed forward, my thoughts erratic. What kind of deal had we just made? And more importantly, what the hell waited for us at the end of this journey?
One thing was clear: in this territory, nothing was ever as expected.
The momentwe stepped into the auction hall, it was like stepping into another world, one drenched in shadows and opulence, where danger and luxury walked hand in hand. Evenin our finest attire, the stares we received were unmistakably hostile. This wasn’t our territory, and everyone knew it.
The wraiths and other dark creatures that prowled these halls weren’t used to outsiders moving freely through their space. When Vincenzo flashed the tickets Ciro had arranged, the guards reluctantly stepped aside, granting us entry. Their gazes lingered, though, cold and unwelcoming, a reminder that we weren’t supposed to be there.
The auction hall itself was a masterpiece of dark elegance. High ceilings stretched above us, draped in opulent, black velvet curtains, making the space feel endless. Overhead, the eerie, bluish glow from the chandeliers illuminated the room just enough for me to make out the faces of the bidders seated in plush, shadowy alcoves around the perimeter. A low whir of conversation filled the room, but it was hushed, secretive, as if even speaking too loudly might alert something unseen lurking in the darkness.
In the center of the room stood a raised platform, where the artifacts would be displayed for bidding. Vampires, demons, fae, and others I couldn’t even begin to name were seated around it, their stares glinting with hunger as they waited for their prizes to be brought out. And just beyond them, wraiths hovered, their ghostly forms slipping in and out of the shadows, ensuring everything remained in check.
If we made any sudden moves, they’d see, and we would be fucked. I had no idea what type of punishment a wraith would dole out on a human, but I assumed it had something to do with my soul. I certainly didn’t want to find out.
Vivian’s voice crackled to life in our earpieces, calm and composed. “Good to see you’re in. Stay close to the stage, don’t draw too much attention, and blend in. The item that’ll be your cue should be in the second half of the auction.”
I adjusted the earpiece slightly, nodding to myself as I took in the sheer grandeur of the place. Even with the tension rippling around us, there was a certain elegance to the auction hall. Everything screamed wealth, and it was evidence of how badly these creatures wanted what was about to be auctioned.
Vincenzo led us deeper into the hall, scanning every face, every movement. Luca was right behind him, shadows curling at his fingertips, always at the ready. Dorian was uncharacteristically serious. The atmosphere here demanded it.
I glanced around, careful not to linger on any one face for too long. Everyone was here for some dangerous item that could tip the scales of power in an instant. Across the room, a vampire woman, draped in dark silks, leaned closer to a hulking demon, her attention never leaving the platform as she whispered secrets only for his ears. Nearby, a group of fae with iridescent skin lounged in their seats, their faces carefully blank, but the tension in their bodies evident from the way they tapped their fingers impatiently on the arms of their chairs.
Dorian made his way to a group of female vampires who’d been eyeing us suspiciously. Within minutes, he had them giggling and completely wrapped around his little finger. I narrowed my gaze as he ran his hand up one of the women’s arms. Him flirting was part of the plan, but I still couldn’t ignore the pang of jealousy in my stomach.
“Keep your distance from the fae in the far corner,” Vivian warned. “The quick facial recognition I ran shows they’re trouble. Known for turning people into stone with a single glance. If they find you suspicious, they’ll be the last thing you ever lay eyes on.”
I subtly adjusted my stance, angling my body away from the fae group without making it obvious. There was enough going on here.
The auctioneer stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding as he raised his hand for silence. The room hushed almost instantly as anticipation settled over the crowd. The first item was brought out: an ancient dagger with magical runes that glowed faintly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Blade of the Abyss,” the auctioneer announced. “Forged in the depths of the underworld, it’s said to be capable of cutting through the very fabric of reality itself.”
The bidding started immediately, placards shooting up around the room as the numbers climbed higher and higher. It was fascinating, in a way, to watch these powerful creatures vie for control over objects that held such dangerous potential.
As the bidding war for the dagger raged on, we moved through the room, mingling enough to avoid suspicion. It wasn’t easy being in a place like this, surrounded by predators who could probably smell the unease radiating off me. But I kept my cool, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. All my years of trying to control my aura in Roberto’s presence had prepared me for this heist.
The next few items followed the same pattern: ancient scrolls, cursed relics, and enchanted armor. Everything fetched an astronomical price. None of the items, though, were what we were here for. I glanced at Vincenzo. He was watching the auction intently, his posture relaxed but predatory, as if he was going to pounce at any second. Luca stood by his side, his expression unreadable, his fingers twitching ever so slightly as his shadows writhed around him, feeding off the tension in the room. Dorian grabbed us a tray of drinks.
Finally, the item we were waiting for was brought out, a small, unassuming box made of dark wood, bound with iron. This item would cause the distraction we needed to slip out unnoticed.
“The next item is a rare artifact believed to be one of the few remaining soul orbs once hidden deep within the realms of shadow and time. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, and its true purpose has been lost to history. Its power, however, is undeniable.”
A low rumble coursed through the crowd. This was the item everyone was waiting for. The orb would fetch a pretty penny.
Vivian’s voice was calm in my ear, but I could hear the edge of tension beneath it. “Get ready. Vincenzo, you know what to do.”
We triangulated so as not to draw attention in one area, but we were all headed to the same place: the magically hidden door located in the far back corner behind the auctioneer’s stage. Luca stayed with me as we took the route Vivian planned for us. So far, everything was going smoothly.
Stay sharp, Celeste.
The real game was just beginning.
34
CELESTE
We crept downto the basement where the vault was hidden. My heart pounded so loud it drowned out all sound. I’d never done a job where the stakes were so high. Every step we took felt like we were on borrowed time. I half expected Ciro himself to appear before us, claiming he’d changed his mind and siccing his wraiths on us.
