Page 57 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood
“Hedidask for more.” He’d wanted Aury and Ruby for nearly five fucking months.
Axel’s gaze sharpened. Face resolute. “You willneverbe a bargaining chip.”
* * * *
Aury woke in her bed at Ruby’s apartment late the next morning, and looked outside to clear skies. It’d rained a little on the drive back to Ruby’s the night before, as if Mother Nature herself was crying.
She smelled bacon and realized what’d woke her — Ruby was cooking.
Bathroom first, then she brushed her teeth, moved her hair from bun to ponytail, and went out to help with breakfast.
“Please tell me last night was a nightmare that didn’t actually happen?”
“You know it wasn’t,” Ruby said, “but speaking of nightmares, have you had any since your vampire showed up?”
Aury froze. “Fuck. I haven’t. Why didn’t I realize they’d stopped?”
“You notice what happens, not what stops happening.” She worked with the bacon, turning it. “Word got back to my parents that you and I were present last night.” She rolled her eyes. “We’ve been summoned.”
“Oh, wow. Is your dad pissed?”
A sigh. “He isn’t happy, but mom’s the one truly pissed. Mostly, they want to talk to you, verify the oath, all of that.”
“I love your parents. They’ve always done right by me, I mean, except for making you hide this bigthingfrom me.”
Aury stopped beating the eggs. “Wait, their house. On the ridge. Because they’re eagles?”
“Yeah. We like being high. It’s why I’m on the top floor here.”
It made sense. “When are we supposed to be there?”
“Dad will be home by three, and he expects us to be there and have smoothed things over with Mom by the time he arrives.”
Aury blew out a breath. “We have to go shopping. What gift is appropriate for, “I’m sorry I dragged your daughter to a big vampire fight and whipping?”
Ruby laughed, and that made Aury smile. The whole thing was just too ridiculous, and yet, this was apparently her life now.
“I’m not banking on finding an appropriate card,” Aury said, “but maybe a spa day for the three of us. What’s the one in North Georgia she likes?”
“A friend took her to one in Nashville, something like One Hotel Nashville? See what that pulls up. She said it was beyond luxe.”
Aury found it, rattled off the spa name, and Ruby nodded. “Yes, that’s it.”
She wasn’t happy with the packages listed on the website, so she called and talked to someone, figured out how to put together what she wanted, and didn’t let the woman off the phone until her confirmation email arrived.
“Mom will appreciate a day with the two of us more than the spa stuff,” Ruby said. “Honestly, if we just promised to hang out with her all day, and set a date on all our calendars, she’d be happy.” She pulled the bacon off the eye, forked it on a plate. “But while we’re sucking up, the spa part can’t hurt. I’ll transfer half the cost over while we eat.”
“No. You were there to support me. You shouldn’t have to pay for being my friend. It’s all good.” She paused, tilting her head. “Do you like blackberry preserves because of the eagle thing?”
“No. I mean, my grandparents have a big blackberry patch that rabbits lived in, and as eagles, we eat the rabbits. As humans, we pick the blackberries and then Gran turns them into preserves.”
Aury could only stare at her friend while her mind recategorizedeverything. Her friend killed and ate raw rabbits. As an eagle. Talons digging into it. Beak tearing it apart.
She had to blank her mind before her stomach revolted.
“Okay. That’s… completely normal for an eagle.”
“You’re freaked.”
