AFTER A RESTLESS night watching the door to my room, waiting for Lucinda to creep in and hack me into a million pieces, I got up with the sun. I’d hoped to sneak out before anyone woke up, but when I went to grab the phone from the jar of cream to see if I had a new message from Timmons, it wasn’t there anymore. I tore through the bathroom hoping I’d just forgotten to put it back, but I knew I had. I also remembered the look Lucinda gave me as she was leaving Dane’s study last night. I wondered if she went into my room and took it. Wouldn’t put it past her. I thought about using a house phone, but like an idiot, I didn’t write down the number.
Since I’d already blown my plan of an early getaway, I checked in on Beth, before heading downstairs.
The immortals were unusually quiet. I wondered whether the hair analysis had come back early, but I couldn’t worry about that right now. The only good thing was that Lucinda was nowhere in sight. I couldn’t stand to look at her traitorous face this morning.
Walking down the long seashell path, past the gates, I found a car waiting for me. There was a driver already inside. Dane’s personal guard opened the back door for me.
“I can drive myself,” I said.
The guard looked past me, toward the gates, giving a slight nod.
The hint of mandarins and sandalwood slipped over my senses, making my blood come alive. Dane.
“Did one of those vipers tell you I was leaving?”
“I wouldn’t need anyone to tell me that,” he replied. “I could feel you walking away from me. The ache in my chest.”
Peering over my shoulder, I tried not to get caught up in him—how good he looked, strolling through the gates, in a button-down, his hands thrust casually into the pockets of his linen trousers.
I wanted to tell him my suspicions about Lucinda, but I didn’t want to start tearing his world apart until I was absolutely certain.
“Is this really necessary?” I asked, nodding to the two Arcanum guards now in the front seat.
“I kept my promise. You’re lucky I’m not sending you in a tank.”
“But—”
“You can always call that taxi. They should be here in a few hours, three tops,” he said as he ran his hand down my arm, giving me goose bumps.
“Has anyone ever told you that you play dirty?” I said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said as he maneuvered me to take a seat in the back. “I’m an angel. You won’t even know they’re there.”
“Doubtful,” I said as I glared at the back of their heads.
“Take her to Mersilla’s,” he said to the driver. “It’s the finest lingerie shop in Barcelona. It’s in the Barri Gòtic. Very discreet. Oh, and this is for you.” He handed me an American Express black card.
“Thanks, but I can buy my own underwear,” I said as I tried to hand it back.
“The pleasure’s all mine.” He held his hands in the air, refusing to take it back. “Truly.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch him in the mouth or kiss him. But that’s how it always seemed to be with the two of us.
As soon as we pulled away, I noticed an identical car following. No doubt it was full of Arcanum guards.
He wasn’t going to make this easy.