Page 8 of The Demon's Sinful Serenade
Too many trees created blind spots. The gravel driveway announced visitors, but the slightly overgrown grass masked footsteps once someone left their vehicle. One road in, same road out. If someone wanted to trap you here, they'd have an easy time of it.
River shifted in the passenger seat, her scent filling the enclosed space. Rain and citrus. Earth and ozone. The same intoxicating combination that had kept me awake half the night on that uncomfortable lobby couch, my body humming with awareness while my brain ran scenarios of everything that could go wrong.
Your flames will burn brightest in the shadow of death.
I'd replayed that night in Prague a hundred times, searching for clues I might have missed. Was I supposed to protect River from this threat, or was I somehow part of it? Was finding her a blessing or a curse?
"We going in, or are you planning to stare at trees all day?" she asked.
I turned to find her watching me, one eyebrow arched. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, but her voice held steady. Tough. I liked that.
"Just assessing the security situation," I said, killing the engine. "This isn't one of the typical tourist rentals."
River blinked. "How would you know that?"
"Too far from town. No neighboring properties. Private road." I nodded toward the cottage. "Your place?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Areyoustalking me now?"
I snorted. "River Rathbone, thirty-five, from Silvermist Falls originally. Left at eighteen to pursue music, returned sporadically for holidays until about five years ago. Career highlights include three increasingly successful albums with River & Rath, a single that charted for six weeks, a sold-out regional tour, and performances at eight major festivals."
Her eyes widened. "How?—"
"I did some research after you went to sleep." I shrugged, checking the mirrors again. "Just be glad you bulliedmeinto protection. I'm much more comfortable punching the problem than snooping. Malak would know all your dirty digital secrets in ten minutes."
She stared at me, expression caught between impressed and disturbed. "Ten minutes, huh?"
"Five if he's particularly motivated."
That earned me a small smile. She gestured vaguely toward the center of town. "I grew up about ten minutes from here. My parents moved to Arizona three years ago. This place belongs to Poppy's aunt. She rents it out to visitors, but Poppy arranged it for me while I'm in town for the festival."
I nodded, scanning the surroundings one more time. Nothing moved except the branches in the breeze. Still, myinstincts hummed with tension, that same hyperawareness I'd felt since she'd walked into the compound.
"Stay here," I said, reaching for the door handle. "I'll check the perimeter."
"I'm not sitting in the car while you play commando," River protested, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "It's my rental."
"And my job is to keep you alive." I held out my hand. "Keys."
She crossed her arms. "I'm not giving you my?—"
I plucked the keys from her jacket pocket while she was mid-sentence. Her mouth fell open in indignation.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." I pocketed the keys and stepped out of the car. "Lock the doors behind me."
The exasperated huff that followed me out of the vehicle was oddly satisfying. I heard the click of the locks as I made my way toward the cottage, every sense on high alert. The gravel crunched, and the grass softened the sound of my steps, as expected. Birds called from the surrounding trees, their normal patterns undisturbed.
I circled the property twice, checking for signs of surveillance or tampering. Nothing seemed immediately out of place, but that meant little. If someone was determined enough to follow River across the country, they wouldn't leave obvious traces.
The cottage door opened easily with the key. Inside, the space was cozy but sparse—clearly a rental property with just enough personality to feel homey without being cluttered. I moved through each room methodically, checking closets, under furniture, behind shower curtains.
After fifteen minutes of thorough inspection, I returned to the car. River had her head tipped back against the headrest, eyes closed, fingers tapping out a rhythm on her thigh. The morning light caught in her blue curls, turning them almost silver at the edges. Something in my chest twisted painfully.
I rapped my knuckles against the window. She jumped, then glared at me before unlocking the doors.
"All clear," I said as she stepped out. "But we need to secure a few vulnerable points."
