The Venetian was home to an indoor waterway that replicated a canal in Venice, Italy. There were gondola boats and singing “Italians” in red-and-white-striped shirts. The rounded ceilings were painted to look like a summer sky above the Piazza San Marco, as vivid as the real thing, if only the sounds didn’t echo off the storefronts lining the walkways.
Kaidan tried to lead me into a boutique dress shop, but I noticed the window display in the next store and stopped.
Leather.
I bit my lip, and pulled him in that direction. He made a face, confused, but took my lead and let us walk in. One look at the badass female mannequin in front of me, and I knew. I was not wearing a dress tonight. Kaidan raised his eyebrows, but didn’t stop me as I approached the racks and made my purchases, hoping the clothes were true to size.
Back in the hall we had to squeeze through a ton of people to get a better look at the waterway and sky scene. It was so crowded that we were well hidden from anyone who might be trying to get a look at us. I pulled my hand from his and signed a question to Kaidan, keeping my hands low: What are the witching hour and demon hour?
Witching hour is midnight. Demon hour is three a.m., he signed back. He again entwined his fingers through mine without looking at me. We could only stand there for a moment, pretending to be a normal couple, before it was time to get back to our room.
Knowing what would go down that night, it seemed like everything around us took on a strange distortion. The happy faces surrounding us were like mocking carnival masks. We shuffled quietly through the crowds, then elevators, and the long halls. The hotel felt like a maze, but Kaidan seemed to make sense of it.
I could still hear Pharzuph, his loud footsteps, and his occasional words. I was proud of myself for keeping up with him while we were on the move in such a busy, large place.
I listened as Pharzuph walked two floors above us down a quiet hall on the other side of the hotel. He had been silent for some time now, so I had to focus on the sound of his footsteps against the carpets. He stopped. Now I heard him knocking and the sound of a door opening.
Kaidan and I turned down our hall.
“Brother Pharzuph. Didn’t I just see you on the slopes in Switzerland?” The man laughed, and I recognized the rough English accent as belonging to the Duke of Adultery. My stomach dropped. Kaidan’s hand squeezed mine.
What was Astaroth doing in Vegas already? Coming from London would have taken at least ten hours. He must’ve been closer for some reason. Then it dawned on me—he probably headed to the U.S. when he heard about the Sword of Righteousness, knowing that if they caught me there’d be a summit.
“Ha,” Pharzuph said. “Yeah, well, this summit’s going to be much more enjoyable. Let me in.”
Astaroth chuckled low as he let Pharzuph in and closed the door. “Do you have the sword?”
“No. She’s hidden it. That’s not why I’m here. I need a favor,” Pharzuph said to him. Kaidan and I slowed our pace to listen better. “It will only take a moment. I’m curious about a possible bond between two people, though there’s probably nothing there. I’ve just got a nagging feeling and I want to rule it out.”
“Ah. A possible conquest?” Astaroth asked, sounding interested.
Pharzuph paused, and when he spoke again it was in fluent Russian.
Chill bumps flew across my skin.
Kaidan and I stopped where we were in the long hall and looked at each other, both listening to the foreign conversation taking place between the two Dukes now. I didn’t know Russian, and I was guessing by Kai’s wide eyes that he didn’t either. Pharzuph had chosen to speak in a language he knew we wouldn’t understand. There was only one reason he would’ve done that.
He didn’t want us to know he was bringing Astaroth to our room to check for a bond between us.
We forced ourselves not to run the short distance down the hall to our room, keeping our steps as light, but quick, as possible. Pharzuph would be listening, and our sudden rushing would only rouse his suspicion further. I followed Kaidan’s lead until we were at the room, sliding through the door. What were we going to do? I felt caught, caged, one breath away from flipping out.
Kaidan strode fast past the bed, jumping over the three steps down into a sunken living room area, and tore open the small refrigerator on the floor. Yes! Alcohol would blur the bond between us! I rushed down and squatted next to him. He signed, One of us has to stay sober to listen.
I pointed to him. He was better at the listening. Even now, I’d lost Pharzuph in my panic and had no idea how close they were. But that would mean I had to drink. My heart thumped and my hands shook. I looked at the row of small bottles. I hadn’t drunk in a long while. I wasn’t sure how high or low my tolerance was now. I had to drink enough to hide the bond, taking into account the fact that my Nephilim blood would burn off the alcohol at a fast rate. But I couldn’t drink so much that I might lose control and say something stupid. We couldn’t afford a slipup. I would drink the absolute minimum amount to hide our bond, then they would leave and I could sober up quickly. I could handle that, couldn’t I? I had to be stronger than the alcohol, and Kaidan would be there to make sure I didn’t get out of hand.
He took a bottle of clear liqueur with golden flecks floating around, untwisted the cap, and passed it to me. I got a whiff of cinnamon as I brought it to my mouth and tipped back my head, chugging the thick, hot, sweet syrup. I blew out a long breath. Kaidan was ready with the next bottle. I could physically feel where the alcohol touched the inside of my body. It was on fire, down to my empty stomach.
I quickly drank the next bottle of liqueur he offered. It was too sweet. Kaidan’s eyebrows were crinkled together as he looked at me. I was feeling nice and warm, even a tiny bit more relaxed. I tapped my wrist to see how much time we had. He made a three and a zero, thirty seconds. I was expecting to feel something more from two bottles. Alcohol usually hit me fast.
He tried to hand me the amaretto, but I shook my head and reached over his lap. No more sweet stuff. I grabbed the bottle of golden tequila, screwing off the top and draining it fast.
What if the bond was still visible? I was so nervous. What would Pharzuph do to us if Astaroth saw something? He wouldn’t kill me because they needed me for the summit. Kaidan was a different story.
Fear struck and I stuck out my hand for another bottle, just to be on the safe side. He passed me the vodka and I made a face. I hated vodka, but I tilted my head back, slapping the carpet as the vodka burned its way down my throat. I held out my hand for another.
I stared at his hands as he signed, Are you sure?
It took me a second to comprehend what he’d said, and I nodded. He passed me the rum and I downed it, hardly feeling the burn this time.
I moved to adjust the way I was sitting, and swayed. Out of nowhere a giggle escaped me, and Kaidan’s eyes widened. Whoa, that was weird. I looked to the row of bottles, already wondering which I could have next, and he made a slashing movement of his hand across his throat to say I was cut off. A moment of panic overtook me. I realized, too late, that I’d had more than I probably needed. The alcohol was strong inside me, awakening and taunting the beast I worked so hard to keep tame.