My eyebrows pulled together when I pulled out a black, square card. It looked like a paint chip, but was so thick it would’ve taken an actual effort to bend it. “I don’t . . .” I trailed off when I turned it over and saw the writing.
“The second auction of the year always immediately follows the celebration. I had to buy a ticket for appearances.”
I already knew what he was telling me, but that didn’t explain what I was holding in my hand. “What is this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It doesn’t look like much, but that card you’re holding is worth ten thousand dollars . . .” he began.
My stomach rolled, and I had to swallow back my hatred and disgust for the men who lived in this world—who spent this kind of money just to sit in on an auction.
“. . . and the chip inside it is how we get into the auctions. It was delivered to me today.” Lucas tapped a finger on the silver-written note and growled, “That was already there.”
I didn’t need to ask who the message was from. The writing was exactly like I’d seen on the cards from the men who’d come to kill me.
Time to start over . . .
“I figured we wouldn’t hear from William because he’d failed at both attempts to take you, and he would be recovering. I had no idea he’d plan something for the celebration.”
I read the words over and over again, not realizing that my free hand had gone to my stomach at some point. But Lucas didn’t say anything. If he noticed, he probably guessed it was due to my fear.
“Maybe he means the two of you . . .”
“You know he doesn’t,” Lucas said as frustration seeped from him. “William doesn’t do anything without thinking it through. He could have called or put the message on the invitation to the celebration. He chose this—he’s sending a message. He’s knocking in the rhythm of a heartbeat, Briar.”
“Let him.” I dropped what I was holding and crawled onto his lap so I could cradle his face the way he had done mine earlier. His face blurred, so I shut my eyes and pressed my forehead to his, whispering, “Only a man who wants to die would knock on the Reaper’s door.”
Chapter 44
Day 182 with Blackbird
Lucas
I stood in the doorway of the bedroom and time seemed to get lost around me. It felt like days and seconds all at once as I watched my blackbird sleep, unaware of the war that raged inside me.
I wanted to scoop her into my arms, press my mouth to hers, and beg her to let me take her away.
I wanted to wake her so I could spend one last hour worshipping her body, committing it to memory. I wanted to run before she woke so she couldn’t try to talk me out of what I knew I had to do.
She’d asked me to finish this—and that’s what I was going to do. But there was no way to win.
There had been times in my life I was sure I was going to die, but in that moment, I felt it in my bones. This was an end I was walking toward. My luck—as Briar had called it—had run out.
Because whether or not I physically lived, I wouldn’t be alive after tonight. Not without her.
I pushed away from the frame, and let every emotion overwhelm me as I approached the bed I’d loved and cherished her in during these last months with her, and I pressed my mouth to hers.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips. “Forever. Forgive me.”
An ache so profound it nearly brought me to my knees tore through me, but I forced myself away and somehow made it out of the room and downstairs where the driver was coming in with breakfast.
“I need you to do something for me. Do not question me, and do not alert anyone—especially Briar.”
His worry was blatant as he looked quickly from me to the stairs. “Anything, Mr. Holt.”
“You know her life will be in danger tonight. If something happens, do everything to get Briar out of there alive. Force her to leave,” I said, my voice sounding strained.
He didn’t move from his spot, and for once, his stare didn’t waver from mine. “Mr. Holt?”
“Do everything to get Briar out of there alive, and force her to leave,” I repeated in a low tone. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed the folded paper and shoved it in his direction. “This man will find you. Make sure she goes with him.”