Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
She smiles. “It’s when you aren’t looking that he does. And when you think he isn’t listening, he most certainly is. I bet you he’s listening right now.”
I let her words marinate in the crevices of my mind. I even try listening for Caz’s voice, but I hear nothing. I’m knocking and he won’t let me in.
She gracefully stands. “I’m going to finish off the rest of my duties for the night. We have an early start in the morning, so I’d like to get to bed as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night. And if you can’t sleep, ask Luzian for a cup of mulled wine with gold clover. It’ll put you right to sleep.”
When she leaves the garden room, I stand back up and walk to the window. I drop my gaze to the waterfall tunneling into the ocean, studying it a moment, before making my way back to my room for the night.
Before I can get to the room, I spot Juniper, whose room is two doors from mine, only she’s not in the clothes she had on earlier (a tweed suit and brown cap). She’s in high-waisted black trousers, a blood red blouse tucked into them, and a thick black belt wrapped around her waist, accentuating her hips. The belt doesn’t look like Vanora material, and when I see the red rubies in the buckle of it, I figure it’s a Blackwater belt she had with her.
“There you are!” she chimes when she hears my steps.
“You’re looking for me?”
“Indeed I am. I want you to come to the city with me.”
“To the city?”
“Vanora is a beautiful city at night. You’ll love it! Let’s get you changed. Alora gave me access to her closet, and she hardly wears pants as it is. She may as well give all her clothes to me.” She links elbows with me and wanders down the hallway, taking the stairs up to the wardrobe Alora presented to us earlier.
“Is it safe going out there at night?” I ask.
Juniper chokes on a laugh as she opens the closet. “Much safer than Blackwater, I assure you.” She reaches for clothes, taking down black pants that match hers, and a silky blue shirt with gold moon and star designs. “This should work.” She brings it to me. “Get dressed. And hurry. I don’t want Caz to see us leaving.”
“Why not?” I ask, changing out of my clothes. I’m not opposed to this. From what I’ve seen, Vanora is beautiful, and I’m curious about the city, what it’s like, and if it’s anything like Blackwater. Hopefully it’s better.
“Because he’ll send Killian with us, and Killian ruins all the fun.”
I slide into the trousers as Juniper taps her chin while looking at the accessories. She plucks a gold belt from a rack, and then a set of gold, dangly earrings. After she places them on a velvet stool, she moves to the necklaces, taking down way too many.
“There are two sides to Vanora,” she goes on, studying the jewelry she’s selected. “There’s Gold Class, which is where all the richer Vanorians live. They’re the classy type, very boring, really, with their fancy parties and silk gloves.” She picks up two necklaces and carries them to me as I slide into the shirt. “Then there’s Iron Class. They still have riches, but they don’t really live by the rules. They know how to have fun, make a good drink, and party.”
“And let me guess…Iron Class is where we’re going?” I watch as she walks around me to clasp the necklace on.
“Damn right.”
“Is it not dangerous?”
“Sure, it is…well, it can be. But I have a gun.”
“I thought you had to give your guns to Alora’s guards?”
“Yeah, but I have one in the SUV they don’t know about.” She walks around me, takes a thorough look at my clothes, and, satisfied with what she’s put together, she smiles and looks me in the eyes. “You’re so beautiful. No wonder Caz can’t stop looking at you.” Her words fly right through me. I’m not sure how to digest them, and I’m glad when she leads the way out of the room, shuts the lights off, and says, “Let’s go get your boots,” over my shoulder.
When I slip into my boots, we walk down the stairs and through the spacious corridors of the palace to get to the front door. I almost think we’re in the clear as the door opens and we step into the coolness of the night, but as Juniper opens the back door of the SUV and reaches under the seat, someone clears their throat.
I turn and look back, and Caz moves out of the shadows by the pillars, a bloom pinched between his lips, the tip lit in fiery embers. He pulls it away with a gloved hand, releases a cloud of smoke, and says, “Where the hell are you two going?”