The Den of Shadows Quartet - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes [136]
Lord Daryl stalked out, fury written in every movement.
“You can just order him around like that?” Turquoise asked, before she could bite her tongue to stop herself.
“Supposedly, everyone in this building is under my command.”
“Why supposedly?”
“There are always exceptions,” Jaguar answered dryly.
Jeshickah, Turquoise guessed. And maybe Gabriel.
“Go find something to entertain yourself with, Audra,” Jaguar sighed. “I should speak to Jeshickah before Daryl goes whining to her.”
Jaguar preceded her into the hallway, which Turquoise entered only with great trepidation. Lord Daryl had barely acknowledged her in Jaguar’s presence, but he had recognized her. If he caught her alone she imagined no leniency.
Turquoise halted in the hallway and watched Jaguar leave, leaning back against the wall as if a bit faint, until she could focus and plan her next move.
Lord Daryl was an unexpected danger she would have to cope with. She had her own agenda, to accomplish with or without him in the way.
Right now, she wanted to see the courtyard. She could check the door to the south wing, but she imagined it would be inaccessible at this time, as too many people would be within sight. She would never be able to pick the lock and get inside without being seen.
As she stepped into the hallway on her way to the south wing, Turquoise bit back a curse. Ravyn. Whatever she was doing here, it wasn’t in line with their plan to lay low until they understood what was going on.
Ravyn didn’t seem to be in trouble yet, but she looked pretty near. Gabriel was leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and regarding Ravyn with skepticism as she spoke.
Huffily Ravyn turned away and started toward the south wing; her vampiric companion grabbed her arm, pulling her back. Turquoise started to approach, but Ravyn caught her eye and shook her head minutely. She did not look distressed, so Turquoise would let her handle this on her own.
Turquoise returned to her room and paced, waiting for Ravyn. Her energy was ferocious behind the docile front she had to display; she wanted to fight something. She was anxious to complete their mission and leave; she was doubly anxious to know what trouble Ravyn had gotten them into.
Jeshickah couldn’t be that difficult a target. Jaguar detested her so Turquoise doubted he would protect her. All Turquoise needed was a knife and a moment of opportunity.
Of course, if she misjudged and Jaguar did get in the way, he would probably have to go, too.
Finally the door opened, and Ravyn sauntered in. The girl looked a bit pale, tired, but pleased as punch.
“What was that?” Turquoise immediately snapped.
Ravyn just stretched, yawned, and without bothering with pajamas climbed up to her bed. “It’s almost sunrise, Turquoise. Get some sleep.”
Sleep? Strangling Ravyn seemed once again like a very good idea.
“Ravyn —”
“I am tired,” Ravyn responded. “And incidentally I have a plan. Let me sleep, and I’ll tell it to you. Later.” She pulled the pillow over her head.
Damn that girl.
Sunrise. Most of the vamps would be bedding down to sleep. They weren’t comatose under the sun, but a sleeping vampire was still an easier target than a fully conscious one. Sunrise would have been a perfect time to execute whatever Ravyn’s plan was.
Turquoise stalked out of the room. The kitchen was full of people eating dinner. She joined them, and lingered until the kitchen closed, at which point most people retreated to their rooms to sleep.
She spent an hour in the exercise room, and then took a quick shower and changed, by which time it was late morning and the wing was almost empty. She remembered Eric mentioning that not enough people were awake to make a noontime meal worthwhile, so midday seemed to be the best time to make an attempt at the courtyard.
Turquoise had snatched a large safety pin and a pen from Katie’s office earlier. Unbending the pin and pulling