Annabelle smiles with one side of her mouth. “I don’t look like a tomato?”
“You look like a beauty.” I take her arm and guide her toward the lounge area. “Now rock that shit.”
Ten minutes later, Valery returns to collect us. She’s wearing a silver gown, and as we head toward the great room, she has to slap Max’s hand away every few seconds. Though it doesn’t escape me that each time she lets his touch linger before batting it away.
As we walk like cattle to the slaughter, Charlie twists her ankle, Blue stutters trying to talk to Aspen, I make fun of Blue’s stuttering, and Annabelle loses an earring. Aspen is the only one who acts like a refined adult, which both surprises me, and doesn’t.
When we spill into the great room, Kraven is there waiting. He stands from the end chair and waves an arm toward the table. “Please, take a seat.”
The Mute Chicks pull out our chairs as Kraven instructs them to serve the first course.
“Why don’t those chicks talk?” I ask when they’re out of earshot.
“Dante,” Charlie chastises, but I catch the hint of a smile.
Kraven pushes his hair behind his ears, something he does way too often. “They’ve taken a vow of silence.”
“Why?” I ask.
He unfolds a black napkin and lays it over his lap. “Where is the other human?”
I narrow my eyes at him. He avoided my question, but that’s not what has my attention. Kraven—he’s nervous. But what about?
“Dropped an earring,” Blue answers. “She’s coming.”
Kraven studies Blue, and then his eyes widen at something different. I follow his gaze and spot Annabelle standing in the doorway.
Seeing her there alone, my stomach clenches. We should have waited for her. She was nervous about being around Kraven after their exchange the first day of training. But it turns out I have nothing to worry about. Annabelle raises her chin, drops her hands to her side, and strides toward the table like Cleopatra herself.
Kraven is suddenly on his feet, watching every step she takes. Only when she’s seated herself at the opposite end of the table does he lower himself back down into his chair.
“That dress you’re wearing…” Kraven says to Annabelle. Her eyes rise, meeting his stare. “It’s quite expensive.”
Annabelle makes a face. “Don’t worry, I’ll give it back. You’re the one who wanted to have this ridiculous dinner.”
We all turn and look at Kraven because this here is entertainment at its finest.
He opens his mouth to respond, but just then three girls close to our age enter the room with silver trays. They lay down white dishes filled with lobster bisque that looks so good, my stomach aches. Next comes a spinach salad with raspberry-walnut vinaigrette. And then the main course: stuffed prawns, garlic rice pilaf, and roasted asparagus sprinkled with goat cheese and sautéed grape tomatoes.
As we eat, Valery forces conversation. We do our best to join in, but mostly we watch Kraven and Annabelle to see if they’ll talk some more trash. Every once in a while, someone brings something up that’s an obvious attempt to make them argue. It’s sad, really, because we like Annabelle, but we’re stir-crazy, and this is the most fun we’ve had all day. Plus, Kraven seems to be on better behavior tonight, so no harm done.
A man who’s dressed like an old-fashioned butler clears our dinner plates and chauffeurs in miniature dishes that look like dessert. What I want to know is where they’re hiding the cooks. Because I’d like to human traffic them to Peachville, assuming we ever make it back there.
As an older woman sets a fresh plate in front of me, something catches my eye. It’s Kraven, rising from his seat like if he moves too suddenly, his chair will explode. At first I assume Annabelle has done something heinous, like used the wrong utensil for her spiced-chocolate tart.
But it’s not that at all.
It’s men—three of them—snaking into the room with blades in their hands.
27 
Spy
Valery springs into action, rounding the table and grabbing Charlie. She pushes her away from the men, using her body as a shield. Kraven lunges toward Aspen and does the same. Even Max has come alive, snatching Annabelle from harm’s way. The house staff scurries from the room on mouse feet.
Then it’s just me and Blue.
My pulse pounds so hard in my head that my hearing dulls. With as warped as this house is, how did they find their way in? One of the guys with a shaved head tosses his knife to his other hand and moves closer. That isn’t what scares me, though. It’s that his eyes are locked on Charlie. When I realize what he’s come for, and that this guy is a siren, I lose my mind with rage.
This place is supposed to be safe. But it’s not. Valery said it herself, no matter where we built, they would find it. Well, I’d done enough running. These dudes are human.
And I’m immortal.
Born Dante Walker, reborn a demon—
Today a liberator who’s about to put these guys down.
Lunging toward him, I keep my hands up, protecting my eyes. Then I land a solid blow into the guy’s arm that holds the knife. He nearly loses it, but not quite. I’m about to go in for another hit when dizziness overtakes me. Then I’m looking up from the ground.
There are three of them, I remember.
Behind me, I can hear Charlie’s voice. My head is still foggy, so it sounds like she’s screaming from behind a closed window. But remembering she’s here drives me to regain my composure, and before I’m knocked out a second time, I slide to the right. Then I throw my fist into a siren’s ribs and hear a dull crack. From the corner of my eye, I notice Valery shoving the girls through a doorway, leading them somewhere safe. Max flanks behind her, alert and at the ready. Seeing Max reminds me I only have to fight the sirens off long enough until Max or Red—or hell, maybe even Aspen—can return to help.
I land a strong kick into the next guy’s knee, and he drops to the floor. Then I spin on the other siren and attempt to throw my fist into his gut. I don’t make the connection, though, because the siren I kicked is already up, and now he’s got his arms under mine, restraining me. Where’s Blue when I need him? A quick glance tells me the answer. He’s busy defending himself against the third siren.
Defending.
In a flash, I remember what Kraven taught us. On instinct, I’d been using some defense. I had to. But I hadn’t thought to apply the new tactics I’d learned.
Now I do.
The siren behind me restrains my arms, but I still have access to other body parts, starting with my foot. I slam my heel back into the siren’s knee and then bring it down on his shoe. He groans and loosens his grip. As soon as he does, I collapse to the ground in a heap. He doesn’t expect this, so he stumbles and falls with me. His arms pull away, and I jump to my feet. But I’m only free a few seconds before the second siren goes for my throat. I deflect his hands and pull a Charlie, kicking him straight in the junk. He stops reaching for my throat, instead cupping his manhood and crumbling to the floor.
But now the guy behind me is up again. He heads toward Blue like he’s done with our fight. I’m about to stop his advance when Bruised Balls grabs me again. Now Blue is stuck defending himself against two sirens.
As I deflect an attack from Bruised Balls, something causes me to pause.
Where is Kraven?
We’ve only been fighting the sirens for a few seconds, but he should have been here. A thought fires through my mind. I shuffle back from the siren who faces me and hold up my hand. He hesitates, his brow creased with confusion. Glancing at Blue, I notice the two sirens take turns attacking and restraining him. But neither inflicts much damage to the liberator.