It looked painful, but my pulse raced at the memories of soaring through the sky with Havoc’s huge Dragon hovering protectively over me.
My heart gave a single, mighty pang, and the longing that swept through me made it hard to breathe.
Between the wings and the black-scaled bodysuit, Lucas looked lean and dangerous. When I told him that, his lips quirked.
“I’m a master of deception.” His gaze traveled to Rafael as he helped me up off the bed. “If we get into trouble, I’m good with a knife, but we might need what you can do.”
Rafael stiffened. “I need one on one, and a bit of time, to take them down. Even the control thing takes breathing room. Not great in a combat situation.”
“Most lowlifes here are not that organized.” Lucas paused by the door. “But I must also warn you about our would-be host. I have not given her any details about us, and it is important that she be kept in the dark. Or she will sell the information to the highest bidder.”
“You don’t trust this person?” Rafael asked.
“I trust very few people,” Lucas confessed. “And basically no one in Sarti. Speak to her as little as possible, and do not answer any of her questions. If we can disguise that Riley is female, even better.”
I gaped at him. “Does everyone in this city deal in slaves?”
He didn’t even blink an eye. “My contact’s mates are among the biggest slavers in this city. And she isn’t above turning a profit, no matter how small.”
She?Just where was Lucas taking us? He turned and led the way into the hall. A few seconds later, I deduced that walking remained an issue.
With my hood up on the cloak Lucas had scored for me, no one could tell for certain if I was male or female. But not appearing debilitated was a big part of staying alive in this place. So Rafael had his forearm beneath mine as we walked, holding me upright.
Lucas tossed our key to the innkeeper behind the counter and took us out the door. The sun was now so low in the sky that the light barely penetrated to street level. I sensed how those passing assessed us from hairline to boots. My skin crawled, but Lucas led us through the crowds with the air of someone who shouldn’t be messed with.
And they left us alone.
Rafael’s arm was like rock beneath my own, and he managed to hold me up and still walk as though he owned the place. I did my best to look dangerous, but I knew if he let go of my arm, I’d drop into a puddle on the pavement.
Lucas took us away from the main drag and down a dimly lit side street. On each side of us were twenty-foot walls interspersed with armor-clad gates. Those walking past us were even more intense than before, and my pulse pounded.
Lucas stopped before an entry gate and hit the intercom mounted on the stone. When it beeped, he stated his name.
A whir from above directed my attention to what was clearly a security camera pointed straight at us. There was a deep grind from within the gate mechanism, and it swung open.
Just inside stood two hulking guards with thick muscular bodies and weird eyes—the corneas were red around brown irises. I supposed having them on the other side of the entry made sense and cut down on staffing shortages. They assessed us, and then one escorted our group to the palace doors.
I had no idea of whether it really was a palace, but it sure had the breadth and scope. Obviously, when someone did well in Sarti, they did very well.
The entrance was guarded by two more of the same species as the gate guards. But waiting between them was a diminutive figure in a glittering robe.
When her tail twitched into view, it confirmed my startled assessment—she was a Hitzu. Her skin was darker than the twins at the academy, but she had the same red hair. In her case, however, it didn’t hang loose, but was tied in an intricate knot on her head and held in place by pins that glittered.
“Laresse,” Lucas greeted with the slightest bow of his head.
Her purple eyes assessed Rafael and me with interest. “Yatik and Lika will be back tomorrow. It would be best if you and your friends were gone by then.” She rubbed her arm as she spoke. It was an odd kind of nervous mannerism. “Can you complete your assignment within that time?”
Lucas grimaced. “I’ll be going in cold. But I’ve been there before. I’ll do it tonight.”
The Hitzu pouted prettily. “I’ve missed you, Lucas. Haven’t been able to replace you, you know. It’s put a real dent in my income stream.”
“But we’ll need the crystalsandcrystal dust right away,” Lucas added.
Her eyes narrowed. “That isn’t the usual deal.”
Lucas’s wings opened and closed. “We are low on options, with Yatik and Lika returning so soon.”
Laresse rubbed her arm again as her gaze moved to Rafael and me. “I guess I have sufficient collateral if things turn bad.”
