Page 77

Story: Feral Beauty

“Liam, look,” Vivian whispered.

He cracked one eye open. Around the blade was a rippling mirror. The stone wall shimmered as though it was transparent.

“What the hell is that?”

She rushed to his side. “It’s another room similar to this one.

“It’s the room next to us. The dagger created a portal.” It faded before his eyes, growing dimmer by the second.

“Can we walk through?”

He winced. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m kind of new to this dark energy bullshit.”

She took a step closer, peering at the dagger. “If it fails, we could materialize inside the wall.”

Knuckles rapped. Dante’s voice rang out. “Times up, Vivian. What’s it going to be?”

Liam jerked the blade from the stone, and the light vanished. “Portal was strongest when I first hit the wall. We nail it fast, there’s a chance it will hold.” Before she could work up another argument, he tucked her into his side and tensed, ready to haul ass.

“Hang on tight to me.” He drew back his fist.

“No, wait.” She grabbed his arm with both hands. “The floor,” she urged. “We may only have one shot. If we enter the next room, Dante’s men will be quick to follow. The gathering hall is below us.”

The unforgiving floor of that hall was at least a hundred feet below them. “If it works, that will be one hell of a fall. Sure you’re up for that?”

She firmed her chin. “I’m not as fragile as I look.”

He was beginning to believe her.

Knocking turned to pounding. Dante’s voice rang out. “Vivian, don’t make me do this. You won’t like me when I’m angry.”

Liam took a knee, set Vivian on his thigh and tucked her into his chest. Before he could draw back the dagger, she grabbed his face and planted a hard kiss on his mouth. “For luck.” She used to do the same when he sat down to play poker.

His lips curled. “Hold tight, honey. Here goes nothing.” He stabbed the blade into the stone beside his knee. Light exploded, and the floor dropped out from under them.

Down they went. His stomach rocketed up into his tonsils. They plunged through space, hitting the ground seconds later. Pain exploded up his splintered shins. His legs collapsed beneath him. Vivian spilled from his arms, and he tumbled.

Liam cursed, pushing up on one arm. In his hand was the dagger. At least he’d managed to bring it with them.

“Vivian?”

She lay a few feet away, sprawled on her stomach, not moving. He scrambled to her side and rolled her over. “Hey, you still with me?” He pushed her tangled hair from her cheek.

She winced, staring up at him, then looked past his shoulder at the ceiling. “You were right. That was really far.”

Raised voices and the sounds of splintering wood echoed from above.

“Come on.” He helped her to her feet. “We need to get out of here before Dante figures out what happened.”

Evidence of their wild night lay scattered around him. The torches on the wall radiated a dull glow. Snores filled the hall. At this time of day, only a handful of Dante’s guests remained, all of them either asleep or so drunk they were still passed out.

Which gave him an idea.

Draped over one of the tables, he found an abandoned length of gauzy red fabric. He held it up to Vivian, commanding. “Arms up.”

When she complied, he tied it around her chest and knotted it over her shoulder, toga style. She scowled, looking down at her new outfit. “What are you doing?”

“Walking you out the front door.”