Page 113 of You Only Love Twice
"Rumor tells me Malloryn's called a Council meeting in the Tower tomorrow. Which means he's taken the bait. He's about to introduce our unwitting Chameleon to the queen. What was it Obsidian said? Something about how we couldn't get inside the Tower.... Well, it inspired a certain train of thought.Wecan't. But nobody said anything about the Company of Rogues."
"You're going to activate the Wraith."
Silas watched as Ghost toppled the ivory queen in the middle of the chessboard.
"It seems like poetic justice: Malloryn is going to do the one thing we never could. He's going to hand deliver our assassin to the queen."
"You cannot expect they'll take him to the Queen," he blurted. "Why the hell would Malloryn trust Obsidian? This is the barmiest idea you've ever had."
Ghost merely smiled. "Trust me, Silas. I've been putting this into motion for days now. I cannot fail."
Tomorrow, the queen would be dead, and they could initiate Phase Three.
But what would the cost be?
Damn it, he'd warned Obsidian not to lose his bloody head.
* * *
A sleek panelin the walls opened up, and a slim figure dressed strictly in black stepped into the room.
"Where have you been?" Ghost murmured as he sipped his blood and stared at the closed door through which Silas had vanished.
Couldn't trust a damned soul these days. He'd seen the secrets in hisbrother'seyes. He didn't know what Silas hid from him, but he didn't like it. First Obsidian. Now this.
"Here and there. Making sure the final pieces slot into place. You didn't tell him the truth?" the figure whispered, trailing her fingertips across the back of his shoulders.
"He is fond of Obsidian. And matters have a bad habit of getting out of late. With Obsidian joining Malloryn's forces, I cannot afford any further leaks." Ghost turned to capture her wrist. He kissed her hand, "Ah, Dido. I've missed you."
She shot him a dangerous smile as she swung her leg across his hips to straddle him. "I couldn't have stayed away for the world. Balfour wants a direct report on how matters advance. Are you ready for mayhem, my love?"
His cock hardened as he wrapped his arms around her. "Let's watch London burn together."
Chapter 23
Obsidian carried her all the way up the stairs to Malloryn's safe house.
Gemma rested her head against his shoulder, listening to the beat of his heart. "I can walk," she pointed out. "I did just escape adhampiragent and blow up a munitions factory."
"I know."
He didn't release her.
Byrnes held the door open as Obsidian strode through, shooting her a particularly arch look that said,I hope you know what you're doing.
Not a bloody clue. But she clung to Obsidian's neck, feeling strangely whole in his arms.
She hadn't asked him whether he'd made a decision yet, but his presence here seemed to argue for it.
It was both a relief and a sudden fear. Because if anyone had seen them today... it might already be too late.
Malloryn stood at the top of the stairs, watching as they entered. Gemma felt a little self-conscious. As nice as it was to be in Obsidian's arms, she couldn't help noticing the way Malloryn's gaze slid over them, as if cataloguing every inch of their body language.
And Obsidian had told her of the duke's offer.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Malloryn. But she knew the way his mind worked.
Adhampirturncoat?
