Page 147 of Devotion

I’m just dragging myself to my feet when I hear her.

“Ciro!” Vanya’s scream echoes down, I glance up through the atrium, see her pointing. To a lone, dark figure standing on the upper balcony. Light glows from the ballroom, illuminating his face.

Ero looks frazzled. A little bloody.

But his hand works just fine as he raises his gun, aiming down at Pyotr.

29

VANYA

Keeping track of Ero is like chasing smoke.

The name Ghost does him justice.

On the second level he takes a corner, seeming to vanish for a moment, until I take a step into the hallway. He lashes out, his blade aiming for my face.

It is good he chose knives. Guns would draw too much attention. And it is good for me too.

I am an expert with knives.

Pinch. Twist.

His hand spasms, dropping the blade into my hand. Not that I don’t have several of my own hidden all over my outfit.

The numbness in his fingers barely fazes him. With razor-like precision, he chops two fingers through my guard, tapping my shoulder at the joint.

My arm goes limp and I lunge back out of reach.

“I see why he loves you.”

And then he’s gone, taking a turn I couldn’t see, up another flight of steps.

The chase continues as feeling returns to my arm. He’s always just out of view, I catch his foot, his hand, his hair. Just before he vanishes again.

I should not let it get to me.

He wants me to get angry. Wants me to pursue him. To what end, I do not know. Our cat and mouse continues to the top level.

The fifth floor is vacant. A large stretch of open halls, the dividing walls pulled back and pillars dotting the room every dozen or so steps.

He could be waiting behind any one of them.

Tension rises as I creep through the silent expanse. Only faint noise echoes from the gathering below, far off toward the front of the building where all the floors overlook the atrium and ballroom.

Taking a few loud steps, I reverse course, slipping behind a pillar. I dart to another.

A flicker of movement. I shift.

“Huntress,” his voice reverberates around the chamber. He does not give away his position, but it tells me so much more.

Now we are even. Neither of us knows where the other is. And he is nervous.

“Prey…” I reply, moving again.

“Hardly. I led you here.”

“You lead nothing. Not even your own life.”

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