33. Time is Running Out

thirty-three

Time is Running Out

Alessia

I stare at Prichard’s unseeing eyes and his wide-open mouth for another few seconds.

“Shite,” I mutter. I glance around, wondering how no one heard the ruckus. But when my eyes meet a cool gaze in the stairwell, my heart drops.

“Rainer,” I exhale. Warm relief floods me that it’s him.

He stands casually with his ankles crossed and his hands in his pocket. His lips twitch as he takes in the body on the ground. He pushes off the wall with ease and arrogance and strides over to me.

“Are you okay, mo róisín?” he murmurs, cupping my cheeks carefully. His eyes roam my face, then drop down my body. He studies me carefully, like I’m the most valuable work of art he’s ever encountered.

It’s like the first time I met him.

“I think I am,” I whisper. My heart races with adrenaline still, and my hands shake with shock, but my mind is clear.

He pulls me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tightly.

I wait for the guilt to hit, but it doesn’t come. There’s something decidedly humbling about taking a life and not feeling wrong for it. Murder doesn’t feel like the wrong choice when it comes to protecting someone without the power.

“How long have you been there?” I murmur.

“The whole time.”

I pull back, gripping his forearms as I stare into his face, confused. “Why didn’t you help?”

His responding laugh is so genuine, giving me a glimpse of that darling dimple, that it catches me off guard.

“You didn’t need me this time— you were in control,” he says with pride tinging his voice. “And you, my little rose, were magnificent.”

I run a hand over my braid, exhaling heavily. “I think my shadow likes it when I let it choose violence.”

He studies me, searching for anything I might not be saying. His lips pull down, and his eyes lock onto mine. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod, swallowing the thickness in my throat. “I won’t ever be okay,” I say honestly, giving him the truth that sticks to my insides like tar. “Not when innocent people are stuck in these lives. Not when abusers walk freely, wielding their power over others.” I suck in a sharp breath and stand a little taller. “It’s not just Luis I’m thinking of—or Zephyr and Sheila—but all the others, too, Rainer. There are so many out there being…” Emotion clogs my words. “I don’t want to be a murderer, but the alternative is worse.”

Watching this happen and doing nothing is worse .

Fire blazes in his eyes as he gives me an appraising look. “You might be a monster to some, but you are a hero to others."

A tear sneaks down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away. “I just wish the violence wasn’t necessary.”

He nods in understanding. “Do you remember when I called you the girl who fights?”

I smile through my watering eyes. “How could I possibly forget that?” It’s stuck with me, an echo of confidence amidst all the chaos.

“We wouldn’t be fighters if we didn’t have something to fight for , little rose.” He uses his thumb to swipe away another escaped tear, and I shudder, letting my eyes fall shut. His touch lingers, sending a surge of calmness through me. I don’t reopen my eyes until he pulls away.

“Is that why you kill the humans and send them back?” I ask. “Because they’re… perpetuators of harm?”

He smirks at me. “If I admitted that, you might think I’m too soft.”

I chuckle. “On the outside, you’re all sharp edges and lethal glares—all thorns—but you’re soft as rose petals on the inside.” My smile grows. “Maybe you’re the rose.”

“Maybe I am.” He winks at me. “Let’s keep this between us, though. I have a reputation to uphold.”

I playfully swat him, but the humor is short-lived. “Where is everyone?” I glance at the stairwell, half-expecting one of the other patrons to appear, curious about the source of the screams. “There are other guests here.”

Rainer snorts, eyes darting toward the ceiling. “Yes, Tynan is glamouring them into forgetting everything they heard in the last half hour. And Zephyr and Kenisius left early this morning to gather our garments for the fête.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment at my careless actions. What if Tynan hadn’t been here? “Is he going to be okay with using so much glamour?”

Rainer strokes his jaw, apology forming in the corners of his crinkled eyes.

“How exactly does he make his glamour last permanently?” I ask.

“He needs to feed from the source,” he says. My mouth drops, and before I can protest, he adds, “Only a few drops. And his self-control is much more than I’ve given him credit for.”

“He killed Felix,” I hiss. As much as I’ve forgiven Tynan and warmed up to him, it’s impossible to forget that he killed my first—and only—lover on Ostara.

“He was drunk,” Rainer says. “And he thought Felix was like the others.”

As in the assassins—the humans caught crossing the Gleam to spy or kill. Deep down, I figured as much. It’s why I was quick to forgive Tynan.

“If he hurts any of them, I swear I will let my shadow have its way with him.”

Rainer’s lips quirks. “And I won’t stand in your way.”

The front door slams open. Ken strides in, gripping Luis by the back of the shirt. The boy’s feet dangle, kicking around uselessly. Zephyr follows behind, carrying a stack of garment bags and practically bowing beneath their weight.

Ken kicks the door shut with a booted foot and then drops Luis.

Zephyr scurries to the couch, dropping his load on the cushions. He sighs heavily and plops into a chair to catch his breath. “This is insane. ”

“What the hell, Ken?” I scurry to Luis, checking for injury. He swats my hand away, curling into a fetal position on the floor.

This time, there’s no mistaking that the fear in his eyes is reserved for us—for me. It curdles my heart, but I’m getting used to it. At least he’s alive, spared from Prichard’s abuse. He can hate me if that’s the cost.

“Found this guy pacing out front,” Ken says, pointing at Luis. “His fear reeked for a great distance.”

“You told him what happened?” I ask Luis softly, not wanting to scare him.

“No—no. I swear!” he says.

“Didn’t have to,” Ken says. “I saw him this morning on the way out. Knew he worked for the inn prick, and the moment I smelled him I knew something happened.” He snorts, then sniffs the air. He continues inhaling deeply, and follows the scent he’s latched onto. He strides to the counter, peering behind it. “Yep. That ain’t good.”

“We’re handling it,” Rainer says flatly, cocking a brow at me.

Ken pauses, then looks from Rainer to me. His smile grows into a blinding flash of teeth. “No… you did this, little demon?”

Heavy footfalls clamor down the stairs, and Tynan appears. “What the hell did she do now?”

Rainer growls, whipping his head toward his brother. But when Tynan offers him a placating grin, his protectiveness is quelled.

“I was only protecting one of my own,” I say, inclining my chin.

“Picking up strays again.” Ken chuckles, lifting himself onto the counter beside the tray of food. He picks up a piece of bread, dipping it into a ceramic jar of butter, and shoving it in his mouth. “Rawnee likes uhm bruhken end— ”

“Chew,” Rainer orders. “Swallow. Then try again.”

Ken’s throat bobs as he obliges, giving us a crooked grin. “Rainer likes ‘em broken, and you like ‘em pitiful, eh?”

“I’m not pitiful,” Zephyr mutters unconvincingly from his place on the couch.

“Stop being mean,” I command. “Ken, I was freeing Luis. You weren’t supposed to bring him back.” However, as soon as the words out I realize the flaw in my plan.

There is nowhere for Luis to go.

There is no freedom. Not here.

Rainer steps toward me. “I recognize that look,” he says quietly so only me—and Tynan and Ken—can hear.

“Oh, for fae’s sake,” Tynan mutters. “Let me glamour him and let him go—”

“No,” I bark, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Then what the hell do we do? We can’t travel to Ryalle with all this baggage.” He gestures toward the two Tradelings we’ve picked up on the way.

Rainer watches me curiously, but he stays quiet. I like that he’s giving me a chance to figure things out. He knows Dovenak was my home for so long—and being a Tradeling was my identity. He’s wise enough to recognize that this is part of my battle to fight.

Ken finishes his bread, then hops off the counter, inspecting the body.

I take in the sight of Luis—coiled and trembling on the floor—and Zephyr, boneless and defeated in the chair. They both represent different stages of my emotions when I escaped the Trade and met the fae. They might view me as a monster right now, but I can spare their lives. I can give them the freedom they crave.

“I’m taking them to Spiritus Court,” I say, crossing my arms and facing Tynan.

“You think that’s wise with a vampyr on the premise?” he challenges.

“I think sometimes we all pretend to be something we’re not.” I lower my voice. “And you’re no different, Tynan.”

Neither of us moves, his cobalt eyes narrow, holding mine. Then, a tiny grin graces his lips. He scratches the scar bisecting his brow, and strolls toward the counter where Ken is. On his way past me, he leans in, his words merely a breath as he says, “Guess my brother was right about you.”

Rainer steps forward, ready to intervene if needed. I give him a subtle shake of my head, and he halts.

Tynan chuckles and pulls away. “Guess I’ll clean this up. Kinda need it after all that work upstairs.”

“Take it to the back,” I say. The last thing the human boys need to see after everything they’ve been through is a feeding vampyr. If they choose to stay in Spiritus Court with me, they might one day, but today is not the day for that.

Tynan holds the door to the back open as Ken hoists up the body, throwing it over a shoulder. The two crack jokes as they stride out of sight.

I grimace, unsure that I’ll ever get used to the violence.

My body hums with awareness as Rainer joins me at my side. “They’re right, unfortunately.” His pinky brushes mine, and it lights me up. “I’m not sure it’s wise to bring them to Ryalle.”

The fact he waited to question my plan until his brother and pal were out of the conversation speaks volumes. It shows he respects me enough to have my back publicly, but keep me in check privately.

Despite everything going on, my heart melts a little.

“We’re not bringing them to Ryalle,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at the humans.

Zephyr helps Luis up, leading him to a chair. The two talk in quiet voices. Probably planning a way to overpower us and escape. The thought makes me chuckle.

“Then what’s your plan?”

“We’ll send them back to Avylon early.”

I can practically feel the questions radiating from him. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

I meet Rainer’s pale blue eyes. He watches me with a wolfish intensity, but the slight curve to his lips tells me he’s entertained.

“Ezamae,” I say.

“You think he’ll be back again?”

“Oh, he’s coming.” I smirk, finding humor in the unintentional innuendo. Ken’s humor is rubbing off on me.

After Ez’s visit today and after everything Rainer has done for me—all the ways he’s shown up for me—I’m confident that completing the bond is the right choice. I need him to accept it, even if it’s under less than ideal circumstances.

Soon .

Because our time is running out.