Craved by Rebecca Rivard

Author:Rebecca Rivard [Rivard, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Hearts Press

17

ZOE

Philippe’s lair was beneath a mansion on a quiet, very exclusive street off the Boulevard Saint-Germain. Like him, the mansion was constructed on lean, classic lines. The formal garden had precisely clipped bushes and symmetrical flower beds. Old-fashioned streetlights gilded the mansion’s limestone blocks a muted gold; and a pair of bronze griffins, the Paris Syndicate’s emblem, flanked the tall blue door.

My steps slowed as I approached the wrought iron gate. Doubts crowded in.

Leaving Montreal had been for me.

Coming to Paris with Rafe had been for us both.

But this was the point of no return, the point where I committed myself to helping Rafe and the Krals. The point where my loyalty to the Tremblay Syndicate was at war with my desire to uncover the truth.

My stomach balled up tight. I came to a halt.

What if Rafe was right? What if my mother had broken the truce and was working with Slayers, Inc. to bring down Karoly Kral?

Behind me, Rafe had stopped, too. Energy emanated from him. He was pumped up, ready to rescue his brother.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said without looking at him.

“I’ll be right there with you. Any problems, and Philippe is going down.”

That made me turn my head.

“No. You promised. We’re going in there to search for Zaquiel—that’s it. If we don’t find him, we leave. If we do find him, you help him escape. Nobody gets hurt. Nobody even knows it’s you with me.”

Rafe looked back at me with Jean-Michel’s face, right down to the old vampire’s world-weary expression. It was the perfect disguise—no one would question my longtime bodyguard’s silent presence. He’d even made himself appear shorter, a slim sword of a man in the Tremblay uniform.

But something in me recognized him. Heart to heart, soul to soul.

Realization slammed me in the chest. I’d fallen in love with him. A Kral.

I was so fucked.

It was bad enough I was helping Rafe. But falling in love with him? Victorine would disown me.

“Karoly Kral staked your father. Remember that when you yearn for his so-charming spawn.”

Rafe scowled. “What about your mother? We don’t know for sure she hasn’t contacted him. What if Philippe tries to keep you here? I’m not going to stand by and let him take you prisoner.”

“Yes, you are. That’s between me and Victorine. I can handle her.”

I hoped.

The iron gate swung open. “No interference,” I hissed. “If you can’t promise that, then tell me now. Or I’ll leave you out here.”

A muscle in his jaw worked, but he gave a curt nod. “You have my promise. I’m just here for my brother.”

“If he’s here,” I muttered.

“He is. Or he was.” Rafe eyed the three-story mansion. “I can feel it.”

My heart sank. “You can’t know that.”

He shrugged.

I took a deep breath. “Okay.” I turned up the brick walk.

Rafe touched my lower back, quick and light. “You’ve got this.”

And I tumbled a little deeper.

Because he was doing this with me.

Because he trusted my judgment, had worked with me to hash out a plan, and then agreed I should take the lead because it made more sense.

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