Page 104 of Dawn Caravan
Farkas with a vampire.
Was everyone scheming behind everyone else’s back?
Click, click, click.
“I know what’s bugging me. I know what’s not right.” He spun toward her. “I really do think faster now; Beatrice wasn’t lying.”
“Of course she wasn’t. What is going on?”
He walked to the board. He took down Fynn, René, Darius, Tenzin, and Tatyana’s pictures.
“What are you doing? I’m not a suspect anymore?”
Was she disappointed? Ben tossed the pictures over his shoulder and stared at the three portraits Tenzin had drawn. “I know what’s been bugging me about this whole job.”
“The fact that it’s too cozy?”
“No, the tension.” He spun around. “Can’t youfeelit?”
She rolled her eyes. “And you used to accuse me of being obtuse.”
“No, not between us.” He snapped his fingers and felt the air snapping back at him. “That rippling… something. It’s just under the surface. The humans are tense and wary. Kezia and Radu are constantly poking at each other. The guard—Vano—is slinking around.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It’s Puerto Rico,” Ben said. “It’s Naples.”
The light went on behind her eyes. “You think there is some rebellion in the works?”
“I think one has to be. All the signs are there.” Ben turned back to the three pictures remaining on the board. Radu, Kezia, and Vano. “This isn’t a theft; this is a coup.”
Tenzin rose and stood next to him, staring at the pictures. “So these are the trailers we need to break into? Radu is not going to like that.”
* * *
“You must be joking.”Radu was unamused. He glared sideways at Tenzin before he leveled his dark eyes on Ben. “I told you that you would need to be impartial.”
Tenzin leaned forward. “What motive would I have to steal the goblet?”
“It’s a beautiful and valuable one-of-a-kind treasure,” Radu said.
“Point taken.” Tenzin leaned back. “He’s right—if I got a chance to steal it, I probably would.”
Radu snorted. “Surprisingly self-aware.”
Tenzin spread her arms wide and smiled with fangs in full view. “I’m evolving.”
Something about her expression made the idea of Tenzin evolving absolutely terrifying. Judging by the expression on Radu’s face, he felt the same.
Ben reached out and took her hand. “Tiny, I don’t think Radu actually thinks you took the goblet.” He looked at Radu. “Admitting that one of your own family members may have it out for you is difficult.”
“My brother and sister had nothing to do with this.” Radu wore a tense smile. “But just to prove that to you, I will create an amusement tomorrow night, something involving all the guests. I will instruct the Hazar to allow you passage through the camp without harm.”
“Thank you,” Ben said. “I promise we’ll—”
“There will be nowe.” Radu cut him off. “Youmay search the trailers if you can get past the safeguards,” he said. “You alone. Tenzin will stay with me.” Radu’s mouth was set in a firm line. “Because I still think she is the one who took it.”
Tenzin and Ben exchanged a look, and Tenzin nodded. “I will stay with Radu.”
