Rare Vigilance (Whitethorn Agency)

“Let’s get you to your room,” Atlas told Cristian.

“Oh?”

“To rest,” Atlas clarified. Cristian heaved a dramatic sigh, but let Atlas lead him. Once he was sure no one was in the hall to overhear them, Atlas dared to add, “Once you’re better, we’ll see what happens.”

“Tease,” Cristian said through a sleepy smile. “I’m holding you to that. If I remember any of this once I wake up.”

Atlas smiled. “I’d expect nothing less.”

Decebal hadn’t wasted time meeting Atlas’s request. Helias met him at Cristian’s room. He waited until Atlas had Cristian settled in to open the next door over and gesture Atlas inside.

“The family’s wings are less formal, but more comfortable. You could stay in one of the rooms in the guest wing, but I thought it might be best if you were near to Mr. Slava,” Helias said, stepping delicately around the subject. When Atlas nodded, he relaxed. “There are bath supplies stocked and Dinu found some clothes he believed would fit you, if you wish to change.” The consilier made himself scarce shortly afterward, leaving Atlas to his own devices.

The space was almost the size of his living room and kitchen at his apartment, and that wasn’t even counting the en suite bathroom, with its dimmable lighting and a stone shower that left him drooling. Unlike Cristian’s room, this one was fairly open, with a sleek, wooden bedroom set that left plenty of open floor space. A TV hung on the wall beside several landscape paintings. The lights overhead were warm and could also be dimmed from a main switch. The room was also littered with candles. Curious, Atlas picked up one and gave it a tentative sniff. Beeswax, but no perfume. Everything seemed designed to offer comfort and a respite from sensory overload.

He sat on the edge of the bed, trying to take it all in. He had more in common with these vampires than he did most people. Perhaps he should have taken Decebal up on his offer of employee housing sooner. If you’re allowed to stay, he worried. Who knew what secrets Helias would get from Andrei before Decebal exacted his final punishment? Maybe Atlas’s secrets would come out whether he wanted them to or not.

No one came to confront him though. He stayed in the room next to Cristian’s for the next four days, only going home once at Cristian’s request to get some clothes and to check on Snafu. He slept fitfully, as he’d expected from being in a new place, but it worked in his favor. Under his attention, Cristian fed on more bags and napped regularly, despite his muttered protests. The forced recuperation did the trick. A checkup with the doctor on the fourth night confirmed Cristian’s blood work was free and clear of the last traces of

the small amount of poison.

“Good,” Atlas said when Cristian shared the news. “Just in time for your meeting tomorrow night.”

“What meeting?”

“Helias was able to reschedule most of your other responsibilities, but he couldn’t manage this one.”

Cristian scowled. “Which is it?”

“Walk through of the warehouses on the riverfront near the hospital,” Atlas said. “I guess you were the one to meet with the architect about them?”

“Damn it. That is a big one.” Cristian tugged at his hair with a hand. “Do you think it’s safe to go?”

“Helias and your father said it was,” Atlas hedged.

Technically the discussion he’d had with them centered around Cristian’s increased safety in light of Andrei’s death. Helias had confirmed Andrei’s ties to the Wharrams, despite the man’s protests. With their mole out of the picture, Decebal was comfortable allowing Cristian to return to his duties, as long as Atlas accompanied him.

“I suppose that’s a relief,” Cristian mumbled.

“It means your life will be able to get back to normal,” Atlas told him. “No more kidnappings or attempted assassinations to worry about.”

“Nothing but murderous creatures and honest conversations left to fear,” Cristian said. He gave Atlas a sideways glance. “We will be talking, right?”

A question this time, not a statement. He hadn’t forgotten Atlas’s promise.

“We’ll talk,” Atlas promised. With Andrei dead and the Wharrams in retreat, it was time to put the past away for good. He just hoped Cristian would still want him after the truth came out.

* * *

The next night, Cristian rapped on Atlas’s door earlier than they’d agreed to leave. “Hurry up,” he said, checking his belt and the tuck of his shirt into his slacks. “I’ve got a stop to make first.”

Atlas nodded and reached for the tie he’d set out, but Cristian beat him to it.

“Nope,” he said, stealing it out from under Atlas’s fingers. “Not tonight.”

“It’s part of the uniform,” Atlas protested.

Cristian held the tie behind his back and shook his head. “Afraid it’s not tonight, Mr. Kinkaid. Only one of us gets to be painfully formal and that’s me.” He tossed the tie on the bed and stepped in closer, reaching out so his fingers brushed the buttoned collar of Atlas’s dress shirt. “May I?” he asked.