8

GEMINI

M y new doll fought me all the way home. Luckily for me, she’s underfed and underweight, and my dragging her to the dock was a facile feat, if not slightly grating with her constant flailing of limbs.

We zipped across the harbor on a speedboat to reach the other side, where my house is perched atop a cliff facing Pandaemonium.

My driver didn’t bat an eye—didn’t dare question why I was abducting a little twig-like thief—even when I tried to silence her protest with a hand over her mouth. She bit down into my palm and broke the skin.

I must say, I rather enjoyed that.

My delighted laugh seemed to unnerve her more than the actual kidnapping. She grew quiet for the second half of the ride, but I didn’t risk letting her go, even after she calmed down. She seemed like the type who would fling herself off the boat in an attempt to escape.

Now here we are, in my living room, staring at one another as she sits on my red leather couch and I stand in front of her. Her long, wavy hair is wild from the windy boat ride. She’s wrapped her arms around her waist, her fingers nervously toying with the sleeve of her ratty sweatshirt.

No, no, no, that won’t do.

I’ll need to rectify her hideous wardrobe immediately.

She hasn’t made a peep since we stepped onto my property. The sun has had time to set somewhere in the distance, the shadows gradually crawling up the living room walls like vines.

Finally having had enough of our silly staring game, I let out a bored sigh and break eye contact. I turn to the wet bar, next to my vinyl collection near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“In the mood for a drink, love?” I ask over my shoulder as I lean down and open a small wine fridge, stocked with my favorite champagne. I pull out a bottle and uncork it while I wait for an answer, but I’m met with icy silence instead.

Unbothered by her lack of participation, I pour us two glasses and set hers on the coffee table before sitting on the couch a few seats away, sitting diagonally from her on the sectional. Her coupe is left untouched in front of her.

I give her a small tut, waving at her champagne. “Don’t be shy now, you’ve come such a long way to visit me.”

I take a refreshing sip of champagne while I wait for her to speak. Although I’m unsure if I have the patience, especially when there’s the pressing matter of the bombing and its aftermath.

I made a few quick calls when we first arrived at the house, making sure my mother was safe, but grew worried when Mercy and Constantine didn’t answer my call. I managed to reach Aleksandr, who informed me Mercy was in hiding with Wolfgang and Constantine was in the hospital after a large beam fell on her.

I plan to visit later this evening, after I’ve dealt with my new favorite acquisition

Veil’s stormy brown eyes slowly slide to mine, her arms still tightly tucked across her body.

“Why did you let me go in the first place if it was to just kidnap me again?” she mutters, her tone flat and defeated.

I let the silence percolate between us before I smile, flashing her my roguish charm.

“You are mistaken, pet.” I lean forward, placing my glass on the table before settling back into the couch. I tilt my head to lean into my outstretched index and thumb, crossing my legs in her direction. “I never said anything about letting you go.”

Her thick brows furrow in confusion as her mouth presses into a thin line. “You did let me go,” she repeats, as if I didn’t quite understand her the first time.

I chuckle. “Don’t mistake my mercy with selflessness, love. I always intended to find you again.” I narrow my eyes in mischief. “The gods specifically chose you for me; it would be a slight against them if I ever let you go.”

Her gaze turns hard, and her laugh is dry and derisive. “The gods,” she repeats in disgust.

“Careful,” I respond with a tsk. “Our gods do not respond kindly to heresy. Especially in the presence of one of their humble servants.”

I reach for the champagne again and finish it in one big, undignified gulp, the bubbles tickling the back of my nose. “Now,” I declare as I spring up from the couch, “if you’ll excuse me, I must visit a dear friend.”

I snatch Veil’s elbow with a strong hand and pull her onto her feet.

“Wait,” she splutters as I drag her out of the living room and into the hallway. “You’re just going to leave me here?”

“Cunning little creature,” I mumble, my hand still firmly latched around her arm.

Opening the door to one of my guest bedrooms, I shove her inside. She stumbles in, eyes wide.

I pull out the handcuffs I previously tucked into the back of my pants and guide her to sit near the top of the bed.

“Please,” she continues to protest, but doesn’t try to fight me. “You don’t need to do that; I’ll be good, I promise.” There’s a small quiver in her voice, and it sends a delicious shiver down my body.

“Oh, I’m sure you will be, love,” I reply drolly as I latch her wrist with one of the cuffs and attach the other to one of the bars on the wired bed frame. “Now sit tight,” I say with a smile. Staying eye to eye with her, I give her nose a light tap with my finger and wink. “I’ll be back soon.”

I catch a flash of fury behind her irises before standing back up to my full height.

And, oh , that pleases me even more than her delectable fear.

“Gemmie!” Constantine chirps loudly when I enter her hospital room.

The place, decorated in soft florals and pale yellows, is spacious but dimly lit due to the pulled curtains, concealing the Pravitian cityscape behind it.

Constantine is propped on a mountain of pillows, her leg raised and set in a pink cast. She pushes herself up and looks like she’s planning to stand, but Aleksandr jumps to his feet and fusses over her like a startled mother bird trying to protect the nest.

“Tinny,” he scolds, pushing her back down by a palm to the forehead, “you’re injured .”

She puffs out a short but shrill shriek, her blue eyes rolling upward dramatically, and I laugh as I bend down to kiss her on the cheek. I can’t help but antagonize her by patting the top of her head.

“There, there, my love. How are you feeling?”

“Never better,” she answers glibly with a wide smile.

We both ignore Aleksandr grumbling under his breath. He’s changed into a black velour tracksuit, his brown hair disheveled, as if he’s been continuously raking his fingers through it.

“Where were you?” Constantine asks, a curious twinkle in her eye, as I pull a chair closer to her bedside.

The room falls silent. My eyes jump to Aleksandr, pacing near the window, then back to Constantine. She shoots me an understanding look.

“Sasha,” she says, her tone warm, turning her attention to her childhood best friend. “Can we …” She doesn’t finish her sentence and simply signals to the door with a small jerk of her head.

Aleksandr sighs but mutters, “Sure.” Taking his phone out of his pocket, he adds, “I need to make some calls anyway.”

I watch his shoulders slump while he steps out of the room, before I look back to Constantine.

She answers my question before I ask it. “Alina died in the bombing.” Her tone holds as much empathy as she can muster for someone who has never experienced emotional pain before.

Aleksandr losing his mother certainly explains his morose attitude.

I nod solemnly, leaning my elbows on her bed. “Anyone else?”

“Not of importance.”

We stay silent for a few seconds until she swats my arm, shifting the mood. “Where were you? Your mother says you left in the middle of the ceremony.”

I quirk a conspiratorial smile. Slowly walking two fingers up the length of her cast, I consider how much I want to tell Constantine.

“I’ve caught myself a little rabbit,” I finally say. “I was busy chasing it when the bombing occurred.”

Constantine’s eyes grow wide as her mouth drops open in an excited gasp.

I cut her off before she even utters a word. “Hands off, Tinny. This one is mine.”

She pouts, crossing her arms petulantly. “You’re no fun.”

I chuckle softly at her spoiled attitude.

“What’s so special about this one?”

I lean back in my chair, grinning from ear to ear as a buzz of reckless anticipation hums in my chest. “I’m not sure yet, but I’m desperate to find out.”