Embrace The Dark (Her Elemental Dragons Book 5)(5)

I wondered what Lucas would think of me looking around his space, and then I realized he almost certainly had cameras everywhere. He likely already knew that I’d been poking around like a mouse when the cat was gone. Well, what did he expect? I couldn’t sit around the guest room all day staring at my nails, waiting for him to return. I snorted at the thought.

I walked out onto the huge balcony that wrapped around the entire penthouse, and marveled over the pool that seemed to flow right over the edge and into the sky. The sun was starting to set, and Las Vegas was waking up with all its noise and lights. Soon my first sinful night with Lucas would begin. With a tremor of fear running down my spine, plus a heavy dose of curiosity, I wondered what he had planned for me.

Back inside, I found another set of double doors and assumed they would be locked too, but to my surprise, they clicked open—and then I walked into a librarian’s own personal heaven. A vast room filled with hundreds of books stretched before me like something out of a movie. The bookshelves around me seemed impossibly high, and Belle would’ve been at home tucked into a corner here, waiting on her Beast. Old leather editions were housed with glossy modern volumes, and I longed to flip the pages just to inhale all the scents the paper released. Brandy would’ve chained herself to the ladder that provided access to the upper shelves.

In one corner of the room was a seating area with plush, dark chairs and large paintings on the wall behind them. On the other corner stood a massive desk with nothing on top of it, and a silver sword hanging on the wall behind it that seemed to glow with an inner light. The legs on the desk were exquisite carved wood, wrapped in tiny wraith-like figures that turned out to be horned demons and gothic angels on closer inspection. Every time I blinked, the carvings seemed to move, and I stepped back and shook my head. I’d never been a good sleeper, and it had only gotten worse since arriving in Vegas. The long nights must finally be catching up to me.

I turned in a circle, taking in the library with awe. I wasn’t sure what the next seven days and nights would hold, but this library might make it all worth it. Like Brandy, I was a total book nerd, which was how we’d met, after all. I’d strolled into the Vista Library looking for something to read during the boring shifts at work, and we’d been best friends ever since.

Dark wooden pedestals stood around the room, displaying ancient-looking vases and other pieces of art under spotlights, like in a museum. I had no doubt each one was priceless. An old Greek vase caught my eye, and I moved closer to inspect it. Intricate black figures depicted a scene on an orange background of a large man in a crown sitting on a throne, offering a plate of berries or seeds to a woman standing before him. A small placard on the pedestal read, Hades Tempts Persephone, c. 350 B.C. My mouth fell open as I studied it with reverence. I was a huge history and mythology buff, and this vase hit both of those notes.

I’d expected a lot of things from Lucas Ifer, but I hadn’t imagined him as a connoisseur of ancient art and old books somehow. I stared at the vase for far too long, and then turned to the bookshelves to get lost in them. Row after row, both fiction and nonfiction, covering so many genres and topics it made my heart sing. I soon got overwhelmed and grabbed a notepad and pen to make notes on which books I had to read during my time here. There was no way Lucas would be around twenty-four-seven, even within the bounds of our deal, not if he had a city to run. This was the perfect way to distract myself from worrying about Brandy all day.

“I see you found my library.” Lucas’s smooth voice interrupted me, and I turned toward him. He stood in the doorway in his impeccable suit, all brooding darkness and beguiling shadows.

“It’s incredible. I could stay here forever getting lost in these shelves.” I was halfway through the room and my list had already gotten longer than I could manage.

A wicked smile danced across his lips. “I can arrange that, you know.”

I stiffened, remembering why I was here and how he controlled everything in my life for the next few days. “On second thought, seven nights is plenty.”

He let out a low, dark chuckle, the sound so sexy it made my toes curl. “What do you like to read?”

“History and mythology mostly, but I also love romance. Historical, paranormal, fantasy romance… It’s my guilty pleasure, I guess you could say.” I clamped my mouth shut the second the words came out. I wasn’t sure why I’d confessed that to him, especially when men were often so derisive about romance novels.

“No reason to feel guilty when it comes to pleasure…or romance.” He sounded amused, but at least he wasn’t mocking me or putting down the genre. “Those are my favorite genres as well.”

I gestured at the Greek vase. “I guessed that from the art. Very impressive.”

He followed my gaze with a mysterious smile. “I find history so…fascinating, don’t you? Especially how it can be depicted so differently from what truly happened.”

“But how would you know what truly happened?”

His smile grew wider and became downright devilish. “That is the question, isn’t it?”

“Excuse me.” A voice interrupted us just as I was about to lose myself in Lucas’s dark gaze. I shook myself and turned toward the door, where another far-too-attractive man stood. He wore a suit like Lucas, but didn’t pull it off quite as well, even with his broad shoulders. The tips of his sandy blond hair touched eyelashes of the same color, and big blue eyes looked out at me from a face that could have belonged to any boy next door. Only this place didn’t have a next door, so where was this guy from? Where were any of these people from?

“Yes, Gadreel?” Lucas asked.

“I’ve brought her things from the motel, as you asked.” Gadreel’s eyes landed on me and lingered, like he was intrigued by my presence. I wondered if Lucas made these sorts of deals with women regularly, or if I was the first one to become the devil’s plaything for seven nights.

Lucas idly waved a hand. “Put them in the guest room.”

“Of course, my lord.” Gadreel gave a quick bow before exiting the room. Did Lucas really demand such old-fashioned obedience from his people?

Lucas’s intense gaze turned back to me. “If you’re wondering about our deal, I assure you my best people are looking into your friend’s disappearance and should have some leads soon. I expect we’ll know a lot more tomorrow.”

I swallowed, feeling a tiny trickle of hope and relief. “Thank you.”

“I always fulfill my end of the bargain.” His emerald eyes drew me in, and I was powerless to look away. “Now, it’s time for you to fulfill yours.”





4





Hannah





A long black limo drew up at the curb outside the front of The Celestial. I was pretty sure we got in at the back while the front was arriving at our destination. The spectacle was even more eye-opening than my low-cut black silk dress, which Lucas had delivered after he’d discovered I’d brought nothing formal to wear to Las Vegas. Or more accurately, that I didn’t own anything formal. Nothing that would live up to his standards anyway.

I’d never been in a limo, as far as I could remember. It was leather-everything with windows tinted so dark they seemed to be part of the interior walls rather than actual windows. My gaze kept drifting to the sunroof and the Vegas lights that played through the glass like some kind of neon kaleidoscope. I pictured myself hanging out of it and waving at passing cars like in a movie, but I refrained. This wasn’t a joyride, or a date even—this was part of a deal with a dangerous man to find my missing friend. I couldn’t forget that, no matter how glamorous it all was.

Or how gorgeous my captor was.

Lucas was the epitome of cool, calm, and collected as he sat back in his seat and straightened his tuxedo cuffs. Yes, he wore an actual tuxedo. Even in my new dress, which probably cost more than my monthly salary, I felt completely out of place at his side.

“I’ve decided each of our seven nights will represent one of the Deadly Sins,” he said, with a roguish smile that made my knees weak.

My breath caught as I imagined what those sins were. Wrath, envy, lust. “And tonight is…?”

His mischievous green eyes danced with amusement, as though he knew exactly which sin I was thinking about. “Tonight is gluttony. I hope you’re hungry.”

A silent sigh of relief left me. Gluttony I could handle. “Starving, actually. I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

Lucas tutted. “I did tell you to order room service.”

My hands twisted in my lap. “I’ve been too worried about my friend to eat much. Do you have any leads on what happened to her?”

“Not yet, but my people are combing the hotel’s security footage now.” He looked me right in the eye with complete confidence and seriousness. “I promised you I would find her, and I will. Do not doubt that.”

I nodded slowly and looked away before I lost myself in his dark, burning gaze. Worry for Brandy still stifled me, but I tried to push it aside. There was nothing more I could do at this point, except have faith that Lucas could find her.

The limo stopped outside the Bellagio, a massive hotel that looked like some kind of fairytale castle framing the huge lake of water and gorgeous fountains. The window slid smoothly down in front of me and music floated on the night air, while the fountains moved in time to it and lights splashed across the water.