Page 13 of Cuddling Sucks in Coffins
“They didn’t invite Night’s Fall either.” He threw his sword up into the air where the black blade merged with the night and disappeared.
But not to my slayer sense. Two black wings sprouted from the hilt of the sword where it stayed airborne, invisible except the slight luminescent outline of its bird-like body and eyes. It soared above us with just the slightest rustle of wings I knew I wouldn’t be able to hear without my slayer sense. With a flick of his wrist, he signaled it back. It hurtled from the sky and landed in his outstretched hand, hilt first, as a black sword once again.
“Undetectable. Quiet as night,” he said. “Night’s Fall got me inside the Senate.”
Well, damn. That was cool. “You love your bird-sword, don’t you?”
“For you, the slayer, I’m sure they would invite you in,” he said, simultaneously ignoring me and sheathing his sword once again. “But just in case they don’t, I will transfer the power inside Night’s Fall to you, temporarily, and it will lead the way to the Senate.”
A wealth of knowledge at my fingertips was worth nothing if I betrayed Jacek, though, if that was, in fact, who we were talking about. A betrayer wasn’t who I was. I would find another way. But if I refused this vamp, it would raise all kinds of red flags like I was hiding something. Which I was. Shit shit shit.
“What did you say your name was?” I asked.
“Ronick.” He eyed me as if peering through to the back of my skull. “Brother to Roseff.”
My body went rigid while my insides shivered away from him. Roseff had been Jacek’s captor. This was not good.
I’d have to take his deal and then find some way to wriggle my way out of it and still get the sword, all while Paul was strolling about and plotting his next move to kill me.
Not good times. These were dark days. These were the days of our lives carved from a giant, scary assclown unknown and vamps who named their bird-swords.
“So?” Ronick rolled onto the balls of his feet, his leather ensemble protesting every centimeter of movement with loud creaks. “Are you going to ask anything about this vampire who killed my brother? Physical description? Name?”
“I was getting to that,” I snapped. “I’m still deciding if I can trust you and your bird-sword.”
He rolled his eyes to the moon above and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll spare you the time. Tall, short dark hair, muscular. Name’s Jacek Oliver Bonneville.”
My stomach dropped to my knees even though I’d known what he was going to say. My mouth soured to the point it burned my eyes.
I wasn’t built for betrayal. Even though I’d only known Jacek a short time, he meant a lot to me, had done so much for me with just his infectious smile alone. I’d seen his pain, what he’d endured at the hands of this so-called slayer, not just in his scars but in his eyes too. I would’ve done the same thing he had. No question.
I didn’t have an ounce of betrayal in me, and yet I stuck my hand out for Ronick to shake, effectively starting the slow rot of my soul. “You have yourself a deal.” The words tasted like dead slugs, but somehow I kept from gagging on them.
“If you see him or hear about him, anything at all, touch that cut on your hand and call out for Night’s Fall.” He shook my hand, and a silver luminescence zipped through my wound before it faded.
“Uh, what was that?” I asked.
He dropped my hand quickly and stepped away with a grimace as if I repulsed him. I could relate since I repulsed myself.
“Remember that letter you got when you were chosen to be the slayer?” he asked. “Well, my brother got the very same letter, laced with a truth-binding spell that prevents slayers from telling humans what you are.”
That explained why I hadn’t been able to tell Mom. These Senate people were sticklers for secrets.
A smirk twisted his mouth. “I stole a little of that spell while I was there, heightened it, and doused Night’s Fall with it.”
“What the hell?” The urge to throat punch him cracked my knuckles as I balled my hands into fists.
“We made a deal,” he said, quirking an eyebrow. “I expect you to deliver without giving me away to anyone. Or without warning anyone who knows Jacek. Iwillget my revenge.”
Fuck. I couldn’t even tell Jacek he was being hunted by his past. But I wouldn’t just sit back and watch this vamp murder him either. There had to be a way out of this that wouldn’t tip anyone off or alert him that I was playing for the other side.
“Fine,” I said in bored tone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some vamps to interview so I can find a way to live another day.”
But not the three vampires I wanted to talk to now. Not about this. I was so used to spilling my guts to them without even really thinking about it. Telling them everything seemed as natural as breathing. Not doing that dug my betrayal into my skin even farther.
“Jacek’s name is the only thing you’ll be able to say about our little deal. Don’t forget to send for Night’s Fall if you find anything useful.” He brushed past me, then turned, his amber eyes gleaming. “Good luck.”
Yeah. I was going to need it.
