In the Dark. Jen Colly
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Название: In the Dark
Автор: Jen Colly
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: The Cities Below
isbn: 9781616505196
isbn:
She peeked out into the foyer. It was quiet. Nothing moved ahead of her. Slowly, she opened the door to the alcove where the guard had been posted. Nothing.
A sweet, cool breeze touched her heated face, adding to the surreal feeling of her escape. She took one step, two steps. When she wasn’t stopped, she ran again, the forest and her freedom getting closer.
* * * *
Soren shook his head. Navarre was the only lord he’d heard of who did not conceal his rooms in some obscure corner of his city. Oh, no. It was quite obvious the lord of the city lived here, by the royal blue colors covering this hall and the frequent visitors who came to his ever-open door. Were he a poor ruler, the blatant advertising would be a bodyguard’s nightmare.
Lord Navarre Casteel, however, was a great ruler. He saw Balinese as his child, nurturing her, watching her grow and prosper. Once the lord knew of the danger to Balinese, as any father would, he’d protect her fiercely.
He’d known Navarre for centuries, and they had the best kind of friendship. Informal. Soren closed the door behind him, not bothering to lock it. The captain of the Guardians had lectured Navarre dozens of times about the dangerous habit, and he had yet to listen. His confidence bordered on arrogance. Then again, that was part of what made him great.
Moving through the large foyer lined with white columns, Soren made his way to the next room. More often than not, Navarre could be found in his personal library. The walls on the left side of the room were lined with inset shelves holding hundreds of books, caged in by doors decorated with a golden crosshatch design. A desk and study table stood in the midst of the books, currently unused.
“Soren,” Navarre greeted him then dropped his gaze to his work, his overly long hair falling forward.
“My lord,” he replied, stepping into the library.
“What is it today? Rats in the wine cellar, problem with a student, or have you come for a game of chess?”
Navarre sat as usual beside the fireplace with a book in hand. It would never be leisurely reading, but something of vampire history. His friend was always studying his own people. Once, he’d caught Navarre searching for any loopholes in their judicial system. Even now, his lord remained glued to the oversized book.
“I fear this is a great deal more serious than rats.” Soren sat in the chair opposite and waited for him to finish reading.
Navarre looked up at him, brows knitted in thought, then put the book aside. “You don’t look well. Go above, find a soft woman to sink your teeth into,” he suggested firmly.
“That was the plan. But I encountered a bit of…difficulty.”
“Difficulty?” Concern stretched across his features. “That is not a word that should be in your vocabulary, Soren.”
“I wish very much that it wasn’t.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sucked in a deep breath. “I found two demons attacking a woman in the streets of Paris.”
Navarre simply sat in the same relaxed pose. Slouched, his knees spread and elbows on the arms of the royal blue chair, he remained still.
“Another attacked me as I made my way back. Three total,” Soren said.
Still Navarre did not move.
After a long moment, he finally spoke. “What does Gustav say?”
Soren hadn’t mentioned to anyone that he still spoke to Gustav. How much his lord knew about his city, his people, and the world above continued to amaze him. “Gustav hasn’t seen any demons in a full decade. He didn’t take their presence well. Needless to say, they are very dead.”
“Alert the Guardians and have several scouts sent to Paris.” His lord set aside his book.
“I’ll find Captain Savard immediately,” Soren said as he stood.
“The council will meet in one hour, and you will be there,” Navarre said, leaving him able to do nothing but nod.
Walking to the door, he forced his footsteps into a normal, even pace. He didn’t like this urgency he felt. The threat of demons must be setting him on edge. That, or Faith. He feared for her safety, but there was no reason to, not here. Yet he could not deny that he did.
Closing the door to Navarre’s rooms behind him, he looked down the hall. Bareth lounged on the pew. Alone.
“Where is she?” he asked, frantically looking around.
Bareth shrugged. “Running.”
“And you didn’t stop her?”
“That’s Steffen’s job.” He stood, stretching his arms over his head.
“You lazy, good-for-nothing…”
Soren sprinted down the hall, following the only path she would know to take.
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