“Of course you did. I have it in my bag.” Ryan slipped her suede backpack off her shoulders and unzipped it. She handed Ridley a slick black envelope sealed with red wax.
The wax had been stamped with the letter S, only the S was a serpent. “ ‘Ridley Duchannes and Wesley Lincoln request the pleasure of your company at a private concert benefiting the Sirensong Foundation. Come join us in celebrating the opening of the club Sirene. R.S.V.P. & H.T.V.T.’ ” Ridley looked up. “What the hell? Is this some kind of a joke?”
“H.T.V.T.?” Link looked blank.
“Hold to Virtually Teleport. It’s a Rip letter. All Ryan had to do was go anywhere in the Tunnels with this thing in her hand and she Ripped right here.”
Ryan’s eyes were still glowing. “It was like riding in a Ferrari.”
Ridley shook her head. “Not an easy Cast, more of a status thing. You know, big party, transportation provided. Check it out.” Ridley held the letter out to Link.
He raised his hands. “No way. I’m not touchin’ that thing. I have a bad enough time Rippin’ as it is.” Link looked as worried as she felt.
She knew they shouldn’t have come here. But then, if we hadn’t, who would be taking care of Ryan right now?
Ryan’s face clouded over. “If you didn’t invite me, Rid, then who did?”
“I did.” The words sounded like they came from the sky, both above and behind her. But Ridley knew better.
Not the sky—the balcony. Ridley recognized the voice immediately, though she hadn’t heard it in weeks now. It still made her shiver.
The one who looked as hot as he acted cold.
The one she owed not one but two markers.
One that could ruin her relationship, and one that could ruin her life.
He was the reason they were here tonight, and the reason she was in New York at all.
Ridley had finally met her match, and his name was Lennox Gates. Ryan was his move. It was a challenge, head to head. Siren versus whatever the hell kind of Dark Caster he was.
Forget Liar’s Trade. The real game was only now beginning.
This might be Link’s audition, but it was her game.
Her fist clenched in the sudden green light of her Binding Ring.
It’s on.
The moment she turned to look at him, the club went quiet.
Not quiet—utterly and completely silent, because there was no one left inside. Every single person had disappeared, and now it was just the two of them. Ridley could hear her own heart pounding.
Lennox Gates was there, standing at the railing of a raised industrial platform. His eyes were as intense—and as gold-flecked—as she remembered. Something about them reminded her of what Dark Fire looked like.
Pure power.
Ridley couldn’t see past what he wore under the leather jacket, but it was clear that whatever it was concealing included a compact, athletic build. His golden hair fell around his face and almost curled in places, especially near his neck. He looks like ambition, she thought.
He looks like danger.
Ridley didn’t take her eyes off his face. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he had impressed her with his little magic show.
Anyone could—what? Evaporate a room full of heavily Charmed and powerfully protected Supernaturals? Throw down a Temporal Distortion like that? Not really.
No one could, except maybe Lena. Even then, it wouldn’t be easy.
Ridley had to admit that. Her heart was pounding, and she wondered if he could hear it, which only made it pound harder.
Get it together, Rid.
She spoke first. Not broke first, she thought. Keep playing the long game. Focus on how you will destroy this person. “You must be really proud of yourself for pulling that one off.”
His eyes didn’t waver from her face. “I’m almost never proud. They say it goes before a fall, and I’m not planning on falling.”
“That’s funny, since I’m not planning on caring. Now what did you do with the nice people in the club, Mr. Gates?”
He waved a hand dismissively. “They’re still there. Having the night of their lives. Or so they think.”
Condescending jerk. “You’re talking about my sister and my boyfriend,” Ridley said. “Put them back or you’ll wish you never met me.”
“How do you know I don’t wish that already?” Now he was smiling.
“What’s it to me, either way?” Ridley smiled back. “Whatever your problem is with me, I guarantee you it’s about to get a thousand times worse. Ask around. I’m sort of famous for that.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” He snapped his fingers and the noise, the chaos, the wild adrenaline of the club instantly returned. He raised his voice over the noise. “Who said I had a problem with you? I’ve missed you since our little encounter at Suffer.”
He snapped his fingers again, and the people disappeared for a second time.
“See? Everyone’s happy as a soft-shell clam.” He gestured toward her. “But this is me time. You and me time. What’s that in your hand?”
Ridley looked down at the black envelope Ryan had given her. It only took a moment before the room around it went even blacker.
CHAPTER 17
Runnin’ with the Devil
Ridley’s head was spinning. Then the darkness gave way to light. But it was no better, because the lights were too bright for her to see. Slowly, as the room began to solidify around her, she realized she was staring into a candle.