Page 75 of Monsters Carve Thrones

“Does it say where they’re keeping them?” I asked.

“Not directly, but–”

Footsteps suddenly sounded from the hall. I raised a hand, and everyone froze. Luckily, the sound passed. Not security. Just another guest.

I exhaled slowly, but my rage didn’t. “I want her,” I said through gritted teeth. “Waleria. I don’t care what it takes.”

“We’re closing in,” Nico said. “She’s nearby. She just hasn’t slipped up yet.”

“She will.” My eyes narrowed at the glass of wine. I swirled the dregs and watched it stain the sides like blood. “I think I have a plan.”

“Okay, great. If it works, then what?” Kieran asked.

“Then I obviously kill the bitch.”

***

Saint Petersburg burned in gold and gray as night fell over the city. We stood in the cold behind a closed-down jazz bar near the river, waiting.

Waleria’s driver was supposed to meet our contact here. He had something for her–something we’d staged, some fabricated documents we knew would be bait if she caught wind. Word was, she was looking to tighten her routes. The manifest we’d found in her hotel room helped us dangle just enough of a lure.

Nico leaned against a dumpster, flipping a knife between his fingers.

“This feels too easy,” Kieran muttered.

“It’s supposed to,” Laura said. She was scanning the street, her hand on the grip of her pistol tucked under her coat. “Waleria likes control. She wouldn’t send just anyone unless she was sure.”

“She doesn’t know we’re here,” I said. I wanted to believe that, but she was known for her intelligence.

The wind bit through my hoodie, but I barely felt it anymore. My body ran on fumes and pills–whatever cocktail I threw into my bloodstream just to stay moving. I hadn’t slept in days and hadn’t spoken to anyone without barking. My fingers twitched. The drugs were wearing off.

I needed more.

A black, sleek car finally pulled up, idling like a predator.

“This is it,” Laura said.

We moved as one, surrounding it as the driver stepped out, hands visible.

“Don’t shoot,” he said in Russian. “I’m just here for the pickup.”

I nodded at Kieran. He patted him down. No weapons.

The driver popped the trunk. “It’s in there.”

I stepped forward.

Laura grabbed my arm. “Wait,” she said.

But I was already leaning in. I saw the blinking red lightjustas the gas hissed out.

Chloroform.

“Fuck–!” I tried to shout, backing away, but the second wave hit harder, from the side.

A canister rolled out near Nico’s feet. It exploded with white mist.

“MOVE!” Kieran shouted, coughing, firing blind toward the car. I heard one shot, then another.