Page 14 of Sleep With Us

I clasped my hands around my whiskey glass and peered into its depths. “It’s . . . personal.”

“Ah.”

“I want to do the right thing, but the right thing might hurt someone I care about . . . but also, save him. He thinks I can’t, because I’m me, which is to say . . . Never mind. It’s complicated, and you don’t want to know my problems.”

“If I didn’t, I would not have asked.” He set his teacup down in the saucer with a stern clack. “Allow me to be clear. I am in your debt. Until we deal with a certain sorcerer, I am yours.”

He was mine? I had sort of, technically, claimed him in front of the vampire royal family. We were definitely more than hotelier and guest. And sometimes, when I looked at him, I got the impression he really did want to help.

I pinched my lips together, trapping everything inside. Maybe . . . just a little . . . mention? “Sebastien killed one of Zee’s friends and demanded I let Zee go, but Zee doesn’t know, so he’s gone back to find her, but he won’t ever find her, because I buried her in the flowerbeds, and Sebastien threatened to kill me if I ever went back, but I know I can free Zee, and maybe the others too, if I can just get a look at his contract.” I breathed in. Okay. Wow. That had all just fallen right out of me.

“Sebastien threatened you?” Reynard repeated in monotone. “How exactly?”

“Oh, it was nothing. Just a little choking against a wall until I almost blacked out. But I’m fine now.”

Reynard’s eyes widened. His top lip thinned, pulled tight over fangs. “That is far from nothing.”

“What he did to me doesn’t matter. It’s what he’s doing to Zee that’s wrong.”

“And what is he doing to Zodiac, Adam?” I should have stopped, should have heard the warning in his voice. Or perhaps I did hear it, and knew exactly what it would mean if I told him. Because I needed his help.

“Sebastien uses him, treats him as though he’s nothing. Like Zee’s his property. He treats them all like that. Like they’re nothing. They’re not nothing, Victor. They’re special, each one of them. They think I want to save them, but it’s not that. It’s not that at all. I want them to be free to choose. That is what I want. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. For everyone to be free to choose.”

Oh dear. I’d said too much. It had rushed out of me again, and now it was out there.

Reynard sat very still, absorbing my words. “He abuses Zodiac?” he repeated.

Oh dear. “I shouldn’t have said anything. If Zee finds out I’ve told you, he’ll be mad.”

Reynard called Tom over. “A Bloody Bitch, please Tom.”

“Coming right up.” Tom Collins mixed the drink, tossing stainless-steel mixers like a maestro directing his orchestra.

“Does Zodiac wish to be free of Sebastien?” Reynard asked, stuck in the same, monotone voice.

“He does.”

“He raised a sword in my time of need. The least I can do is help him spread his wings.”

My heart missed a beat. Reynard was going to help me help Zee? Oh, Zee would hate this, but also my chances of success had just doubled. Why did helping people always have to be so complicated? “It’s probably best we don’t tell him you’re involved, and . . . also he doesn’t know his friend is dead. So we should probably keep that from him too. If he knew about Sebastien’s threats, he’d go back to him forever, to stop him from hurting anyone else. And I’ll lose him.”

Reynard considered everything I’d said so far, cleared his throat, and turned to face me. Those darkly lined eyes with their silvery accents looked through me, touching my soul. “There are many lessons I’ve learned and relearned throughout my many years, but a few things remained consistent during the centuries.”

By the stars, he was old. I peered at him, sensing more was coming. I was ready for some ancient vampire wisdom. Ready to learn.

“Choosing truth is always the better path.”

“Hm . . . Yes. But also, sometimes, lies are good too.”

“Experience has taught me, truth eventually leads to the better outcome.”

I disagreed, and sat back. “Not always.”

“Which one of us has survived the ages?”

“Yeah, but . . .” I shrugged. He was wrong. Truth could be twisted. Truth could be wielded like a weapon. “I’m not telling him.”

“Is it not Zodiac’s choice to make, Adam?”