Page 67 of Crown of Death
If I’m not what Cyrus is searching for, I don’t think I want to have to go there, seeing him, but knowing he wasn’t interested in ever talking to meagain.
“Consider your mother,” Edmond says again, raising his eyebrows just slightly. The music ends, and with a knowing smile, he walksaway.
I hear footsteps coming up from behind, and turn to see Cyrusapproaching.
“It is time,” he says. “I must return you to your home so that you may continue with ourbargain.”
I give a little nod, at a loss for anywords.
“I thank you, House of Valdez,” Cyrus says. He does not speak overly loud, but every head turns at his commanding voice. “Thank you for your impressive accommodations. Thank you for your hospitality. And thank you for providing such qualityentertainment.”
He holds out his hand, I take it, and without another word from the crowd, or from their King, he leads me back to theelevator.
He’s tight. That’s the best way I can describe it as we silently ride the elevator down. He’s wrapped up in his own thoughts, lost in possibly thousands of years ofmemories.
So, I let himbe.
We exit onto our floor and silently we both part ways into our rooms to change. I pull on another pair of shorts and a shirt. As soon as I’m done, Mina packs up my dress, and places it with my other bags, which have already beenpacked.
When we walk into the common room, I find Cyrus and Fredrick, waiting. He still does not say anything as we take the elevator back to the ground floor and then climb into a limo, which drives us to theairport.
It’s dark by the time we climb aboard Cyrus’ jet. Ten o’clock. The lights are dim as I sit in my same seat as before, and Cyrus takes his place, as well. Fredrick and Mina sit toward the back, but this time they just relax into their seats in silence. No more franticplanning.
We take off into the nightsky.
Just twenty minutes before we land in Denver, Cyrus says, “Was Las Vegas what youexpected?”
I look up at him. He’s looking back at me. But his expression is different. It’s distant. He’s still lost in his ownhead.
“No,” I say, looking out the window. “It was so much…more. It was everything you wanted it to be for me, though. It had the desired effect.But…”
“What?” he encourages when Ihesitate.
I take a breath. “I think I enjoyed it.” I blush at the confession. “Not every second of it. But…there were parts that I think Ienjoyed.”
He blinks. Threetimes.
He reaches forward, taking myhand.
And we both look back out at the night sky as we land inColorado.
Chapter 15
Just a friendly little reminder,the text reads,$1,000, 3 moredays.
I swear under my breath as I pack up at work. With shaking fingers, I text back,I know.I step out into the blinding sun after work on Monday. Mentally, I think through all of my things again, considering what I could sell to come up with the extra fivehundred.
Nothing. Nothing I own is worth that muchmoney.
Short of selling my body for services, I can’t think of anything I can do to come up with the money beforeThursday.
“You seem tense,” Mina says as we both slide into mycar.
“Not all of us can afford to buy mansions at the drop of a hat,” I say, annoyed. I pull out of the parking lot and head onto theroad.
“If money is what has you so stressed out, perhaps you should talk to Cyrus,” she says. “You are a Royal, after all. That entitles you to certainbenefits.”
My brows furrow and I look over at her insurprise.