‘No!’ Cassie gaped, drawn in despite herself. ‘I wondered where she’d got to …’
‘And now you know. Which means you owe me. Come on, seriously. Spill.’
She watched him, biting the inside of her lip. This felt like the other half of that conversation they’d started yesterday morning at Mount Kenya: the one about him always being there when she needed him. And she did trust him.
‘Richard, I’m in trouble.’
‘That much I guessed. Do you need a feeding source? I can always offer Perry again, he does have some uses after all …’
‘Well, now that you mention it, yes. But it’s not for me,’ she began.
‘Who else would it be for?’ Richard’s eyes narrowed suspiciously – Cassie wondered if there might even be a hint of jealousy there too. ‘You’d better start from the beginning.’
‘Well,’ Cassie sighed. ‘I think it might be easier if I just showed you …’
‘Cassie, what the hell … ?’
Richard had grown more and more impatient and curious as Cassie led him towards Ranjit’s room, glancing furtively over her shoulder to make sure nobody saw them. She couldn’t help being reminded of the night Sir Alric had made his own big reveal.
‘Where are you taking me?’ Richard said again. ‘I mean, I can’t pretend I’m not hoping you’re finding a secluded spot to have your way with me.’
‘Richard …’
‘You’re not an axe murderer, are you? I knew there was something about you – I thought it was a great personality and stunning good looks, but maybe, just maybe, it’s that you’re a psychopath and—’
‘Richard! Shhh. We’re here, OK?’
They were standing once more outside the ornately carved door. Richard let out a low whistle, clearly intrigued. Cassie cleared her throat nervously, but just as she reached out to turn the door handle, they heard a groan come from inside. Gasping, Cassie wrenched the door wide and rushed inside. The bread roll and cheese tumbled free of the napkin as she dropped it and flew to Ranjit’s side.
‘Ranjit!’
She was aware of Richard standing beside her, struck dumb, but all she could do was hold Ranjit’s face, stroking it with her thumbs, kissing his forehead. ‘Ranjit, wake up! Ranjit!’
‘Jesus, Cassie,’ breathed Richard. ‘Where the hell did you find him?’
‘Well, I’m not surprised you were in trouble with Sir Alric.’
Richard was pacing the room, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You are one crazy chick, Cassie Bell. You might as well have handed a loaded gun to Katerina. How did you get away?’
‘They were so preoccupied with the artefacts, managed to distract them for long enough for us to get out of there.’ In a shamed murmur she added, ‘I guess once Brigitte and Katerina had those, they didn’t need us any more.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ he consoled her. ‘What were you supposed to do?’
‘Needless to say that’s not how Sir Alric sees it.’ Cassie rubbed her face with both hands. ‘Oh, Richard. What a bloody mess.’
‘Not entirely. You’ve got Sleeping Beauty back, haven’t you?’
True. She turned and gazed at Ranjit again, when he opened his eyes and emitted another low groan. She leaned over him, almost afraid to touch him, watching him closely. She reached down gripping his hand, and was relieved to feel his fingers tighten around hers. It seemed he was finally coming around properly.
‘Cassie … ?’
‘Oh my God,’ she whispered. ‘You’re all right.’ She flung her arms around Ranjit, and without thinking her lips found his. He returned her kiss urgently, and in the same instant she felt her spirit leap to life, flaming passionately, burning for him—
‘Ahem.’
Coming to her senses, Cassie pulled away, flushing with embarrassment as she heard Richard pointedly clear his throat. Looking back towards Ranjit, she noticed he looked as shocked as she did, and she could see his pulse still thrashing in his throat. He put his hands to his head, shaking it slowly.
‘I’m— What happened?’
His eyes were roaming the room, perplexed and still a little dazed, but showing a dawning horror. Ranjit must suspect, she thought, that she’d brought him to the very place he didn’t want to be. And as he suddenly caught sight of the boy behind Cassie, his gaze focused and his eyes widened with certainty.
‘Richard?’ he whispered. With Cassie’s help he pulled himself half up. ‘What are you—’
Richard had taken an involuntary step back, his expression nervous, but Ranjit only looked at him, bleary and confused. Then his shoulders sagged.
‘I’m at the Academy, aren’t I?’ he asked, looking up at Cassie. She nodded silently.
Ranjit sighed, and turned back to Richard. ‘And you’re …’ he began hoarsely, then swallowed. ‘You’re OK.’
‘Not for want of you trying,’ Richard replied wryly, remembering the events in Istanbul. Ranjit was still blinking, struggling to get the words out.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—’
‘No, you didn’t,’ Cassie told him firmly. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’
Ranjit slumped back. There was despair in his expression. ‘That isn’t true.’
‘It is.’ She wanted to shake him. ‘It was because of the Pendant. Don’t you understand? It was cursed. Anyone who touched it first would have done what you did.’