“When you get to the apartment, check the top drawer on the left nightstand in the bedroom.”
“Left nightstand. Got it.” Intrigued, Brynleigh followed Ryker to the front door.
He picked up a black bag from the floor, slinging it over his shoulder. She assumed it was the go-bag he told her he always kept here, just in case.
With one final longing glance, he murmured, “Goodbye, Brynleigh.”
He opened the door and stepped into the dusky twilight that had overtaken the sky. A tall, pale-skinned man dressed in black and silver army fatigues and combat boots stood on the porch. The soldier’s black gaze flicked to Brynleigh’s, and he dipped his head, pulling shadows from his palms.
Ryker clasped the vampire’s elbow, and then, they were gone.
Brynleigh’s lips were still tingling, the lingering memory of the kiss-that-wasn’t-a-kiss remaining as she pressed her fingers to her mouth. If she focused, she could still catch a hint of Ryker’s scent.
She stood there for several minutes before she, too, vanished into the shadows.
CHAPTER 15
As Dark as Her Maker’s Heart
“The Earth Elf died cleanly.” Brynleigh’s back was straight, her stance was wide, and her hands were clasped behind her. She was the perfect image of a dutiful progeny reporting to her Maker. “I dealt with him in The Rosewood, as requested.”
Jelisette sat in front of the chess board in the safe house’s living room, her hands clasped beneath her chin as she studied the game intently. Her silky maroon blouse covered her arms—and her Binding Mark, apparently.
Brynleigh still had trouble believing her Maker had hidden a Binding. She tried not to dwell on that because she feared that if she did, she might start asking questions that would land her in even more trouble.
Instead, she pinched her mouth shut and waited for Jelisette to look up.
She could be here for a while.
Once, Brynleigh’s sire had made her wait all night before acknowledging her. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case tonight. She was tired and wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
Jelisette didn’t even look up as she moved her rook forward. She spun the board around, humming to herself as she studied the game from another angle.
Minutes went by. Ten. Twenty. Forty-five.
Brynleigh was a statue. Moving would only incite her Maker’s ire.
Chess pieces slowly filtered off the board. Black was winning, but several paths to victory existed for both sides.
When nearly an hour had passed, Jelisette picked up a pawn and moved it forward two spaces.
“Very good.” She spoke as though she hadn’t just made Brynleigh wait an ungodly amount of time. “I sent the crew to clean up after you.”
She spun the board again and went back to studying the game.
Gods damn it. At this rate, Brynleigh would be here all night.
Her lips tingled, but she refused to think about Ryker. She couldn’t afford any distractions right now.
Forcing the handsome fae captain from her mind, her gaze moved studiously through the room. She drank in every detail, dedicating them to memory. She would sort through them later, searching for signs that Jelisette was working with the Black Night.
Eventually, the older vampire pushed back from the table. She stood, her movements fluid with immortal vampiric grace, and tilted her head.
“Come to my study.”
Jelisette stepped into the Void without waiting to see if her command had been heard. She didn’t need to. Brynleigh was her progeny, and she would obey her.
At least, that was how Maker bonds were meant to work.