Chapter 51
RAINE
It’s early. I’m quiet when I open my suite door, but I’m in no way surprised that my sister isn’t in bed. She’s never been one to sleep in. And with being a flight attendant, she’s learned how to keep strange hours and be fine with it.
I take a quick shower and hesitate for a minute over what clothes I should wear before putting on my casual business clothes that I use for when I’m working in the collection. I know what Roark said, that I should take a day off, but . . . I really can’t give up any more time.
In the bathroom, I find my watch, which leads me to my phone on the charger by the bedside, somewhere I definitely don’t remember placing it. But then, the bed’s made too. On my phone, Wren left me a message that she’s having the best breakfast of her life in the dining room.
I hustle downstairs and find her. “Hey,” I say ashamedly, out of breath. Wren is sitting in the seat I normally sit in. I sink into Evander’s chair across from her. “I should start exercising.”
“I don’t know, sis. It sounded like you were exercising this morning.”
I don’t need a mirror to know the heat on my face has turned me into a tomato. “You could hear me?”
“I’m pretty sure the mega villas around Lake Como in Italy could hear you. But there’s no need to be ashamed.”
“Right. No need.”
Leo steps into the room with my coffee and a plate of eggs made just the way I like, with multi-grain toast. “Miss Fischer. Can I get you anything else?”
“This is perfect as always, thank you.” The first sip of coffee hits my system like a harsh hug. Welcome, but jarring.
“Leopold had my rental car gassed up.”
“Wow, that’s so nice.”
“It is my honor.” Leo inclines his head. “When you’re ready to depart, I would like to say goodbye, Miss Fischer.”
“I’ll be sure to say goodbye.” Wren smiles as Leo goes back to the butler’s pantry.
“While I was eating, I was looking at that art news website you told me about. There was another major Monet sold on Tuesday last week. Anonymous buyer.” Wren wiggles her eyebrows at me over the top of her coffee cup.
“It’s just a coincidence. They would have put them in the collection, don’t you think?
Or told me. Why wouldn’t they tell me to prepare for them?
” True, I was drawn here under false pretenses, but I’m doing my job.
The one that’s listed on my contract. The one that’s going to get me another job when I head back to New York.
My stomach clenches. It’s easy to pretend that day’s not coming.
It’s easy to play house—or castle, as is the case now.
“Not if they’re trying to surprise you. What about my friend Anne? She didn’t want to be with a shifter, and he bought her a house. A whole bleepin’ house, a library full of books, and they got her father out of jail.”
“Wren, that’s Beauty and the Beast.”
“It’s not, but she said he was a beast in the bedroom.”
“You’re killing me. There’s no way they would just buy multi-million dollars’ worth of paintings because I went all gaga over one in his office.”
“You’re going to owe me dinner when those auctioned Monets show up at Cloud Rift.”
“Deal.” Because there’s no way.
“Have you read the latest articles?”
“No, have you?” My sister confuses the heck out of me sometimes.
“Yeah, it’s interesting. There’s a big debate over the ethics of it all, though.
With some people saying if you can afford the art, you should be able to have it.
Some say whoever is buying the art is trying to drive up the prices, and another group demands they be publicly displayed, even though at least three of them have been in private collections for decades. ”
“They’re not buying them.” It’s a statement.
“Fine, but you should bring it up with Kieren. Whom I never got to meet. Oh, and you totally are going to owe me dinner.”
“Yes, he’s busy. I’m pretty sure he’ll be home by Monday, though.” For the ceremony.
Wren’s packed up before we know it, and we walk shoulder-to-shoulder slowly down the hallway to the side driveway entrance.
Leo appears, holding a large bag with paper handles. “Chef has prepared you some snacks for the trip back to Zurich.”
“I . . . whoa, Leopold. How long do you think it takes to get to Zurich?”
“Well, you’ll be well supplied if you get lost. Don’t get lost,” I say.
“Oh, I won’t. Can you imagine how mad Mom would be if I got lost and didn’t make report time for my flight?”
“She’d lose her flight benefits.” I clasp my hand to my chest.
“Flying for free’s no joke until you don’t have it anymore.” Wren laughs.
“I guess she would.” Mom and Dad are on Wren’s benefits. She’d put me on, but then she’d have to take off her childhood bestie who’s been flying out west to see her sick grandmother.
“Thank you, Leopold. I’ll share it with the rest of the crew.
” Wren gives him a hug, and his shoulders tense up, but then he smiles before heading back into the house.
Wren hops in the car. “Tell your bosses I said goodbye. And text me when Evander comes home . . . Also, if you can get it out of him, would you find out if those other dragons, the red ones, are okay?”
“Wren?”
“Yeah, sorry. Never mind.” She shakes it off and pulls the driver’s door shut, her package of food secured tightly on the passenger seat next to her.
She peeks into it and pulls out a bag of oatmeal raisin cookies.
“My favorite,” she squeals. “And they’re still warm.
Right, I should go. I’m going to miss you.
Keep me up to date. And remember, you’re amazing. ”
I hug her through the window. “I’ll miss you,” I say.
“I’ll see you at Christmas.”
I shake my head.
“What? You’re not coming home for Christmas?”
“I won’t have time. And I don’t want to spend money on a flight.”
“I’ll give you a buddy pass.”
“You always say those are the worst to travel on and to never use them at Christmas or spring break.”
“I do say that, don’t I? I’ll come see you. We’ll work it out. Things always work out in the end. Love you.” She waves out the window.
“Happy birthday,” I yell.
She honks twice and slowly pulls down the driveway.
I sit on the bench, the same one I sat on yesterday waiting for her to come. And I can’t believe she’s gone already. Time is just spinning away. I need to get to the collection.
I let out a sigh and walk to the door, then stop. If I go inside this way, I’ll have to walk right by their den, and the chances of me not being distracted by Roark are slightly above zero.
Instead, I walk around back, my intention being to circle the castle to the south wing and enter through the other patio door. Which has to be possible, right? I’ve had my lunch outside at the end of the hall. I’ve seen the maze from there. I can see the maze from here.
I head around the side, following a crushed stone path.
What I didn’t count on was the building jutting out.
There’s a massive amount of square footage I’ve never seen.
I pick out the kitchen, a larger dining room, and what appears to be other bedrooms as I get closer and closer to the maze.
It’s not somewhere I’ve wanted to go again.
Which really . . . is a shame. How can I live on the grounds of a maze and not spend time wandering around in it?
Probably because it scares the living daylights out of me now.
Around the side of the castle, there’s an Eisstock court, which to me is like a curling bocce, and a whole lot of fun. Wren and I didn’t really learn the rules at Mary’s pub. We tried, though. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much.
“There you are,” Roark says, jogging up behind me. “Leopold told me your sister had left. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
“She asked me to say goodbye for her.”
He nods. “Taking a walk?”
“I . . . No, I was heading to the collection.”
“I see,” he says in a low growl.
“Do you play?” I point to the court.
“I’ve been known to play somewhat.” Roark saunters to a short shed that leans against the castle and fetches the stones that we’ll need to play.
It’s cooler than it’s been in a while, but still sweat’s pouring off me. I pitch the stone, and it’s closer than Roark’s is to the daube. “I win!” I jump up. “Wait, I did win, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Duchess, you won.” He picks me up and swings me around. “Have you had enough, or do you want to play the best out of ten?”
“I think you already have that locked up, mathematically speaking, since you’ve won six games.”
“Indeed.”
Leo comes out the side door with two other staff members who are carrying a table and chairs. “Sir, Miss Fischer, lunch.”
“Oh, that’s perfect timing.” I clap. “Thank you so much. You didn’t have to bring all this out here for us.”
“It is a pleasure to serve.”
“Thank you, Leopold,” Roark says.
Leo gets a strange smile on his face. “I will bring another chair and Mr. Slate’s robe.” Leo inclines his head and hustles out.
“Evander?” I gaze upward. A small dot on the horizon is growing larger.