Iris~~

We left for Paris before the sun rose, taking Andrew's car Basile had switched out the license plate on. Being the only one who's not currently wanted, Basile went out last night and brought back a long black wig for me, a black wig as well for Erik and a blond one for Bently. Erik had to help us put them on.

All I will say is that the two of them don't pull off those colors.

As Bently holds open the door of the bookstore he found online last night, I pull the black hair of my wig forward and walk past him into the shop. No smell of old books hits me. All the books are new and displayed on clear shelves against light brown walls.

Before Erik can follow us inside, Bently lets the door swing shut in his face.

Erik and I aren't convinced how a bookstore is going to help with anything, but Bently insisted and got into the driver's seat before Erik could.

Erik pulls open the door, jabbing Bently in the side with his elbow before disappearing to somewhere in the back of the shop.

I follow Bently down one of the aisles. There are other guests browsing throughout the store, but they pay us no attention. I wonder how often Bently gets ignored.

I make out a few words on the spines. I have no idea what I'm looking for though.

Bently pulls a blue and yellow paperback off the shelf, turning it over and running his hand over it.

"This is one of my favorites."

"What's it about?"

"A man stranded in the desert and what he's willing to sacrifice to survive." Does he eat his arm?

I trail my finger over the spines. "Can I ask you something?"

"Haven't you already been doing that?"

"Something personal."

He tenses.

"Not about Abella."

"Let's hear it then."

"You always say your mother wasn't around, but she was still at the Estate. Why didn't you go down and see her?"

He swallows and hands me the book. "I used to be scared of going down below our Estates. With the dark stone and candelabras, it was the epitome of Dracula's castle. The Amoris terrified me—even my own mother. It's not that way now, and if my mother really wanted to, she could have come up to see me."

"This is probably completely over stepping, so please don't feel like you have to answer, but are your parents not together anymore?"

He shakes his head, turning back to the bookshelf. "My father was running out of time to have an heir who would be in the Order. My mother had an opportunity to have a child in the Order. So they married, and after I was born they didn't need each other anymore." Scanning the bookshelf, he shrugs. "I'm the Digamma so everyone got what they wanted." He faces me, his eyes narrowed. "And what I want right now is to find that Amoris."

I hold up the book he handed me. "What am I supposed to do with his?"

"What kind of prey is the easiest to catch?"

I raise my eyebrows and lower the book. "What?"

"The distracted kind."

I still have no idea why we came here.

******

Bently and Erik set me loose to wander the streets of Paris. I don't feel as adventurous as I did the first time I explored the city.

Especially not when I'm bait.

I'm used to the whole being chased and hunted ordeal, but purposefully trying to lure the enemy to me . . . not quite used to that.

Though Bently and Erik said they were leaving me to my own devices, I'm certain they're tailing me. I mean, they wouldn't really leave me alone for this, right?

Who am I kidding? They definitely left me.

In my wanderings, I avoid the Eiffel Tower. I don't need to give the Amoris a chance to push me off of a gigantic structure.

I stick to park benches and shops, pretending to read through the book Bently bought. Which apparently was the extent of his plan. Me looking distracted while reading but not actually reading since my French is nowhere at that level. He could have grabbed a book at Andrew's, but I think someone just wanted to explore a bookstore.

Five o'clock. finds me in the café from my first day in Paris. Exhausted from trying to sleep under the same roof as Andrew, I order a latte with rose syrup—it sounded intriguing—I take a seat toward the back of the café and open the book. I think I've been doing a good job looking like I'm engrossed in it throughout the day. I was trained to go undercover. That part is easy. The hard part is trying to be bait while also trying to hide from the DGSE.

I turn the page, still wanting to hunt out the words I do know, but if I do that, I'll be too distracted.

What about this book makes it his favorite? What in the words speak to him?

An itch spreads over my Mark like a scab that's infected.

I don't let my hold on the book waver but lift my gaze just over the top of the page. Holding a tray, a girl walks my way. Her eyes are either blue or green but not purple. Not the Amoris.

She sets my latte on the table, and after asking if I need anything else, she leaves.

The words on the page blend together as my Mark grows hot.

After blowing on the latte, I take a hesitant sip. The calming effect of the rose is lost on me.

I do a quick scan of the café. Erik and Bently aren't here—I haven't spotted them once since the left me—and I don't see the Amoris.

The pain in my arm flares like I've laid it directly upon a stove. The book slips from my grasp, hitting the tables edge and toppling to the floor. The cup on its ceramic blue plate rattles, drops of coffee spilling over the edge.

"Hello."

I jump in my chair. Seated at the table beside me is a young woman with pale white skin and black hair pulled back into a loose bun. She smiles at me, her light pink lips pulling back to reveal straight white teeth.

Her purple eyes twinkle.

My chest tightens. It's the Amoris from the alley.

"I've been looking for you," she says. "Did you get my message?"

As she speaks, I can see the bodies draped over the rafters in the barn, forming the Amorian word for Expired. "Your message was in Amorian. What made you think I could read it?"

"You are the Preeminence's bride, are you not?" she asks in Amorian. She raises her cup of steaming tea to her lips.

"Ol." Yes.

She smiles again; this time behind her teacup.

"Did you enjoy the process of leaving that message?"

She reaches out her hand and gathers up a portion of my wig's black hair. She draws it through her fingers. I yank myself back, the hair falling from her hand, and while my wig stays in place, the pins holding it in place dig into my scalp and hair. I wince.

"Were you trying to hide from me?" The Amoris tilts her head, and I take a long drink from latte. "To answer your question, I did enjoy it." She tuts. "Don't judge me too harshly, Raggioet. They were only human."

"You forget whose company you are in."

She sighs as if she's just returned from the most beautiful day dream. "Yes. You're far more interesting than other humans."

I lean back in my seat, swallowing a yawn. "Are you planning to kill me?" I keep my tone casual.

"No. Not yet. I want to know how you lived."

"And I want to know why you're killing people and Marking them. Will we both get what we want?"

She leans across the space between our troubles. "I also want France. Do you think the Preeminence will help when he knows I have his one true love?"

My forehead creases, and my vision blurs. I blink as what feels like a weight settles over my mind.

The Amoris pushes back her chair and stands with perfect poise. She looks down at me as if I were a lost little sheep. She runs her hand down my cheek, her skin cold. I jerk my head to the side. Something's wrong.

I sweep my hand across the table, sending my cup smashing to the ground. A hush falls over the café, and I start to stand, but the Amoris places her hands on my shoulders pushing me back down into the wooden chair.

"Shh . . ."

A wave of fatigue crashes against me, and I can no longer keep my eyes open.

"There there. Such a pretty little thing. Raggioet." Her hand brushes my arm. "Raggioet." Another brush. "Raggioet."

I make one last attempt to rise but fall out of my chair. Someone shouts before my head hits the wood floor, and I'm pulled under. 

Check out this artwork of Vienna and Colton I've been in love with from rebeliq. If you want to check out more of her artwork, her Instagram is grac3draws.