Rafael stiffened, and I ground my teeth. I only seemed to be valued by the wrong fucking people.
“They are not on the table,” Lucas insisted. “And I don’t fail, you know that.”
She shrugged. “We’ll see.”
Not exactly words of encouragement as the Hitzu turned away to lead us into the building. The interior was even more impressive than the exterior, with a soaring ceiling and walls made from polished white stone.
Artwork was everywhere. Sculptures on display stands, paintings on the walls. Laresse stopped to stroke the erect dick of a naked figure—a Satyr? Carved in what looked like dark wood. The artist’s interpretation of his equipment would have given Kiko palpitations.
“One of my favorite pieces,” she purred, her eyes sliding to my hooded face. “Nothing like a good piece of wood, don’t you agree?”
When I didn’t respond, her gaze moved to Lucas. “I mean what I said. I’ve missed you.”
“This isn’t my life anymore, Laresse.”
She offered another pout before taking us straight through the house and out the back entrance.
The grounds were also impressive. Centered in the garden was a small cottage, its architecture designed to complement the sculpted trees that surrounded it. It wasn’t lost on me that while the twenty-foot walls around the compound kept us safe from the locals, they also kept us at the mercy of someone very powerful.
Laresse opened the front door and said, “I’ve included you in the roster for meals, so the staff will run them out to you while you are here. You’ve missed end meal, but there’s fruit and cold meatrolls on the counter for this evening. Make yourselves at home.” She glanced at Lucas. “The guards know you will be leaving for a bit. And I will send over the crystals this evening.”
He nodded, and she stared hard at me before she left.
“Are we safe here?” Rafael asked as soon as she’d shut the door behind her.
“Yes, and no,” he said. “Laresse owes me. And I know her well enough that she does honor her debts. Doesn’t mean I trust her.”
“What does she have you doing?” I swayed, and Rafael took me to the couch and sat me down.
“A small job.” Lucas shrugged. “It should be a quick in and out, easy.”
“You shouldn’t do this alone,” Rafael said.
“I most definitely should do this alone,” he said. “I can Morph and slip in as someone who belongs. Anyone with me will only get in the way.”
Rafael’s mouth pulled into a grim line, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he lifted the plate of meatrolls and brought them to me. “You need to eat.”
They might as well have been covered in slime. My stomach heaved, and I pushed the plate away. “I can’t even look at food.” I was shivering again, uncontrollably.
Rafael put the plate back on the counter and disappeared down the hall. I slumped on the couch while my head spun.
“You look like crap,” Lucas observed.
“Believe me when I tell you I feel even worse,” I said. “Do you really think Rafael can fix this?”
His eyes flashed so wildly that I had to shut my own, it was making me dizzy. But then he said, “Cara has sent you a message. She says, when it comes to miracles, never discount the power of Fate.”
I opened my eyes again and stared at him. “If I ever meet Fate, I swear I’m going to punch that bitch in the face.”
Lucas grinned. It transformed his entire face.
“I felt that way once, too. But it turns out, Fate was right. And so is Cara,” he said. “She believes Rafael can fix you. And so do I.”
28
Rafael
As Riley spoke with Lucas, my pulse pounded in alarm.
