Page 174 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

Kierse pressed the button that let the elevator drop down to street level. She gestured to the awaiting limo. “This is my ride.”

“You’re just going to go?” Lyra asked in confusion.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Kierse promised with a wink. “Unless you need a ride home?”

Lyra looked at the limo for the invitation it was. Kierse could see the moment she wavered. But she also knew Lyra’s backbone was strong and that she’d decline the help. Thinking that giving in to them too easily would lose her ground.

“No, thank you. I can get to the Barbizon on my own.”

Barbizon. Kierse filed that name away. She’d heard of the place. It used to be an all-women’s hotel where artists could feel safe in the city during the Roaring Twenties. It had been reopened recently for human and monster women to have a safe place of their own again. It made sense that someone like Lyra would be living there. And that she was definitely interested, if she gave Kierse that name sowillingly.

“Suit yourself,” Kierse said and reached for the door of the limo. She was about to pull it open when she acted like she’d just remembered something. “You’re going to be performing at the Monster Con, right?”

“Oh, yes, we were just given the date for that. Will you be there?”

“Well, my beau is speaking,” she said, gesturing to the interior of the limo. “But I don’t have an invite. So, not sure yet. Hopefully we’ll see you there.”

Kierse could already see the wheels turning in her head. A night off from the show run, a performance where they’d have a room in a five-star hotel, and Kierse needed a way in.

She’d let her come to the conclusion on her own.

Kierse stepped forward, kissing both of the girl’s cool cheeks. “See you tomorrow night.”

Then she ducked into the limo and forced herself not to look back.

“Well?” Graves asked.

“It worked.”

“She confirmed that she’ll get you in?”

“Not yet, but she will.” Kierse was certain of that.

A yawn escaped her as George pulled away. She’d been going to so many midnight showings and not sleeping long enough during the day.

“You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Kierse stifled another yawn. “I’m fine.”

“You’ve been burning the midnight oil.”

“I’m a creature of the night.” He shot her a look, and she grinned. “Just as much as you are.”

He held his arm out. “Come here, creature of the night.Your work is done. You can relax.”

Kierse shifted across the leather in the back of the limo and into his arms. He tucked her in close as she rested her head against his shoulder. Her eyes immediately felt heavy. As if the weight of the world dropped off her shoulders, and there was just Graves’s security.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the hallway.

Kierse glanced around, taking in the dirty drug den at the heart of Tribeca. She noticed the numbers on the doors. Her father’s anxiety flowed from him. A woman yelled out in Spanish.

But she clutched onto her mother’s hand and headed toward the middle of the hallway. She could see the door that they were trying to get to. She knew that something was waiting for them there. All she had to do was grasp the handle and push.

The world felt fuzzy at the edges as she reached for the door. She needed it. She needed to know what happened. 7020 wasright there.All of her answers were within her grasp.

At the first touch of cool brass, she was elsewhere. On the ground, staring up at the building. Her parents were gone. This didn’t feel right.

She took a step and was in the apartment. Her parents’ apartment. Tears in her eyes. A flashing light meant something…something important.

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