Page 35 of Rivals

“I do, little bird. So hear me when I say youwillwith me because you don’t have a choice.”

“I just love how you continue to remind me of that.”

“Clearly, you needed to be reminded,” I snap.

I glance at my phone again. I need to go. “Please, Revna. Just don’t start the canvas without me.”

“Yeah, whatever. I won’t,” she grumbles.

“Ok, I’m going to go. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

She grins at me with a devilish look on her face. “What? Afraid I’m going to do something?”

I run my tongue across my teeth. “It did cross my mind.”

She purses her lips. “Well, I guess you’ll just have to take that risk.”

“I guess I will, little bird.”

“I really hate that nickname.”

“I really hate that you think I care.” I wink and walk out the door. Hopefully, this session goes quickly so I can get back. I hope she doesn’t go all out and screw everything up. I think we are in sync, but I’m not positive, so it makes me nervous leaving her to decide for herself.

Chapter 26

Revna

ThemomentLachlanleaves,and the door slams behind him, the motivation drains from me. I know I need a boost, so I find another pill in my bag and hope that will rev my engines a little more. I want to have almost all three pieces sketched out by the time he gets back.

I hear what he’s saying about architecture, and I surprisingly like his idea. Despite my lack of motivation, I can’t get that fresco out of my head. My mind feels weirdly like Pop Rocks. However, I am a little nervous that it will feel like we just ripped the concept from the old masters. They are part of a time in history that changed art forever, and I want to make sure we honor that. I don’t want us to come across as if we are trying to be something that we are not.

I grab paints and a new sheet of paper and sketch out a modern angel. I want to add the dramatic robes and clothes, but that still feels too repetitive. I think of Lachlan and his sticker tattoos as I sketch a few on the angel’s arm. I add ear-length, floaty-looking hair and then draw large, beautiful wings. I decided to go with strategically placed patterned fabric, like a tartan or random designs I can think of.

After I mixed my paints, I painted the flesh color and black feathered wings, switching to a paint pen for the tattoos. I add in fluffy pink clouds with hints of blue shadows. My mind keeps going to the baroque design around the people on the ceiling, and I wonder if we can add that within the architecture element like Lachlan wants.

I continue to draw people, angels, demons, and the hands of God. I don’t know why I do it, but it feels right, and the OBA is in full swing.

I like it. I think Lachlan will, too.

I agree—wait. The voice is back.

You should use various hair colors.

Yeah, I know, that’s what my plan was. Oh no…

You’re not crazy, Revna.

As much as I would like to believe that, I don’t think it’s true. Ignoring the voice the best I can, I keep painting people and then cut them out to get an idea of placement for the painting.

Before I know it, the door opens and Lachlan comes to a stop where I’m sitting on the floor. He looks at the figures I painted and taped to our example canvas on the floor.

“How was the tattoo?” I ask. Lachlan shrugs and goes into the kitchen. “Whatever,” I mumble and go back to work.

Lachlan plops down on the floor next to me and uses some of the scraps I had left from cutting out the angels and demons. “I like that you made that demon look really attractive.” He glances at the painting of the stunning demon woman. She’s almost too perfect with her body shape, eyes, long flowing hair, and perky breasts.

“Is that how you see yourself?” I jerk back at his question, not sure what he’s trying to get at.

“What the hell kind of question is that?”