Page 83 of Gilded Curses

Sheree had gotten everything she deserved; her child hadn’t.

Alda waved a hand at the blood he’d left on her arm. “I should clean up.”

“So should I.”

He followed her into the bathroom, and they both washed the blood from them before turning off the water. Orin grinned as he used the stark white towels to wipe away the rest of Sheree’s blood. When he finished removing as much of the blood as he could, he tossed the towels on the floor and smiled. He’d bet dirty towels were a big no-no for Sheree.

Alda left the bathroom first and went to stand near the bedroom doorway, but he kept an eye on her before emerging.

“We can go now,” Alda said.

Orin wrapped the shadows around him again and glided soundlessly across the floor to her. “If you do anything to reveal I’m with you, I’ll kill you first.”

She jumped a little when his words came from beside her; she hadn’t known he’d moved so close, and that was how he liked it. If she was afraid for her life and aware he could be anywhere, she’d be less likely to turn against him.

“I’ll get you safely out of here,” she vowed.

With that, she led the way out of the bedroom, across the blood-soaked sitting area, and onto the main door. When her hand fell on the knob, he knew this would go one of two ways… she’d get them out of here and into Desmond’s suite, or she’d reveal he was with her, and he’d kill her before they captured him.

Orin braced himself for either option as she opened the door.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

The first time Sahira put one of the puzzle pieces in the wrong place, the floor creaked and cracked open. Pip released a tiny squeak, and her hands bit into Sahira’s shoulders, but she didn’t suggest going to wait on the other side.

The second time, she put one of the pieces in wrong, the floor cracked open further, and she had to lean forward to keep from sliding back across the rocks. She could still get off the precarious stage but refused to do so.

The third time she got one wrong, it opened enough to reveal the vicious spikes below. They stood at least three feet off the ground, and while no bones jutted from the lethal projectiles, she could easily picture hers rotting away down there.

Her protective spell couldn’t keep her safe from impalement; they’d easily pierce through it. And there was no getting safely away from this place anymore. She either got the rest of the pieces right or ended up a watering can.

Gulping, she dug the fingers of her left hand into the rocks as she tried to keep her balance on the floor. It was becoming increasingly difficult to stay on the small stage they stood on.

“You should go,” she said to Pip.

“No, I shouldn’t.”

“If I fall onto the spikes, you can get help.”

“I can avoid the spikes. I’m a lot smaller than you.”

That was most likely true, but Sahira would prefer it if the brownie got herself to safety now. But, like her, Pip was stubborn and not going anywhere.

With her fingers digging securely into the wall so she could hold on, Sahira studied what she’d put together and the remaining shapes. Hair, eyes, and a mouth were starting to take on the form of a face.

Examining the remaining colors and puzzle shapes, she moved another one into place. She breathed a sigh of relief when it clicked and she didn’t drop onto the spikes below.

She moved through more of the pieces, but when she got another one wrong, the floor tilted at such a precarious angle, that if she hadn’t been holding onto the rocks, she would have plunged onto the spikes, as nothing of the floor remained below her.

With her feet dangling beneath her, Sahira remained calm as she dug her toes into the rocks. The stones bit into her hand and dug beneath what remained of her nails.

That one should have sent her spiraling onto the spikes. Resting her forehead against the stones, she took a deep breath as she tried to control the riotous beat of her heart.

Her arms and legs protested her precarious position, but after climbing the mountains to get to this place, she was used to clinging to rocks. She could get through this.

Blinking away the sweat coating her lashes, Sahira tried to clear her blurry vision. She didn’t dare take the time to wipe it off so she could see better or move in any way that wasn’t necessary.

She had to do this fast, but fast might be what got her killed. With her lashes still coated in sweat, Sahira studied the puzzle as best she could. All she needed was a few more pieces to fit in, and she could fly through the rest.