Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“There will be no turning around,” Vitor growled, sounding as if he were pushing each word out between his clenched teeth. “Someone started a fire.”
Yeah. The fire.
“Please tell me about the fire. Just a small thing in a wastepaper basket, right?”
Adrian gave Haru another shove, getting him to sit in his seat properly. “Not quite. It was in a broom closet. I might have set a mop on fire.”
Vitor’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, making his knuckles crack. “Were there a lot of cleaning supplies in there?”
“Yeah, there were quite a few bottles.”
The spy groaned and banged the back of his skull against the headrest of his seat a couple of times. “Okay. Assuming they find the fire fast and there isn’t some kind of explosion thanks to the chemicals.”
“Or deadly gas released because of the chemical cleaners mixing,” Haru chimed in, sounding far too happy about the possibility.
“Yes, assuming that didn’t happen as well, the servants working the party will discover the fire and put it out. It’ll be fine.” Vitor sounded calmer, but not happy.
“Sorry,” Adrian muttered. “These dirtbags were giving me a bad feeling.” He glanced at Haru and offered him a half smile. “I felt safer with those assholes who tried to jump us in that rundown apartment.”
“It’s my fault,” Vitor broke in. “I should have given you a better warning. Dealing with the extremely wealthy and powerful is often more dangerous and complicated than those who have less or came up from a poor start. Those people can be reasoned with. They aren’t as impulsive and unpredictable. A small arms dealer will try to work with you if they’re sure they can profit. A rich man will kill you because talking to you has become too much of a burden on their meager brains.”
“While our exit might have been unexpected, I believe we made some good progress,” Haru stated, directing a reassuring grin at Adrian. “This Ruben could lead us to the people who have Shey.”
“Thank the gods.” Adrian sighed.
The corners of Haru’s mouth dipped. “But it will not be easy.”
“Of course not.”
The rest of the ride to the hotel was quiet. There was no point in relaying everything they saw and heard when they’d need to repeat it all for Caelan.
The moment they stepped into the hotel room, Adrian stripped out of his borrowed fancy clothes and into his own worn jeans and ragged T-shirt. With every ring, bracelet, and earring he stripped off, he felt more like himself. He almost wished he could slip into his royal guard uniform, as if that piece of clothing could wash away the insecurity that still plagued him. It felt as if everything about this mission had gone wrong, and it was all his fault. As a royal guard, he didn’t make stupid mistakes because he couldn’t. Stupid mistakes put Caelan and Rayne in danger. That wasn’t allowed to happen.
He rejoined Haru and Vitor in the living room, which provided a view of the city from a set of glass balcony doors. Haru lounged on the sofa wearing a pair of black slacks and a long black robe made of a thin, soft material. The only thing that remained of his old disguise were the jewels and rings in his hair. He looked like some foreign prince or glittering god descended among mortals.
Before he could even sit on the sofa near Haru, Vitor called Caelan. However, it was Rayne’s voice that cut through the room first.
“Have you found him?” Rayne demanded, his voice sharp and panicked.
Adrian cringed. Rayne was not only Shey’s ex-boyfriend, but he was very much Shey’s friend. “Not yet. I’m sorry.”
“How the hell have you not found him yet?” Rayne shouted. Anything else was muffled by soothing words from Eno that Adrian couldn’t quite make out. It sounded as if Eno was moving Rayne away from the phone and whispering reassurances to him.
“I’m sorry, Rayne. Really,” Adrian said. Haru’s hand came to rest on his leg and squeezed, but he wisely didn’t speak.
“It’s okay, Adrian, Haru,” Caelan cut in, his tone soft and weary. “None of us blames you. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine. It’s clear that I underestimated the situation there. I truly thought this would be a quick trip to Damardor and that you would be back prior to Rayne and Eno’s return.”
“What’s happening in Damardor is…complicated,” Haru chimed in.
“What have you learned? Vitor mentioned something about meeting with possible sources of information today. Please, tell me there was some progress made,” Caelan prodded.
Adrian glanced over at Vitor, who sat in a chair opposite the sofa. The man looked worn and exhausted. At that moment, it seemed quite obvious he was well into his forties or even fifties. The youthful energy that appeared to wrap him like an aura had faded. With a reassuring smile, Vitor motioned for Adrian to speak first.