The Eldritch Conspiracy (26 page)

I stripped down to my underwear. Gilda looked me up and down. “You’ve lost weight again,” she scolded. “You need to eat more. And that”—she pointed to the scar in the middle of my chest—“is a new scar. I thought you promised me you’d be careful.”

“I am careful,” I protested. She was right about the scar, though. It wasn’t huge, but it was noticeable. But I’d been damned lucky not to be hurt worse when Jan had done his thing.

I wished fervently that the feds would catch him. So far though, they’d had no luck. Damn it, he was apparently as good at hiding as he was at magic.

“Hmpf.” She wasn’t happy, but she didn’t say anything else. She also didn’t suggest a “beauty enhancement spell.” Silly for that remark to still sting, after everything that had happened. But it did.

I unzipped the black canvas garment bag to reveal my dress.

It was beautiful. The color was a rich, deep purple, the color of flawless amethysts. On a separate hanger, the bolero-style jacket gleamed, thanks to the black silk embroidery on the front panels and the jet beads used as trim.

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was, and on such short notice. The Levys had outdone themselves, again.

At my reaction, Gilda gave me a smug little smile. I didn’t mind. She deserved to be smug. It was gorgeous. “Look in the compartment in the bottom of the bag,” she suggested.

I unzipped said compartment to find a black velvet jewelry case about the size of a hardback book. The velvet had browned a little with age and the brass lock was a little tarnished. With trembling fingers I twisted the little lever that locked the case and flipped open the lid.

I was speechless for the second time in a few moments.

Amethysts and diamonds, fitted in an intricate white gold necklace with matching earrings and hair combs. They were absolutely stunning.

“Oh my God! Gilda, they’re … gorgeous. I love white gold!”

She scoffed. “With diamonds? Heavens, no. That’s platinum. They’re our gift to you, dear.”

Holy crap! Platinum! The set must have cost a fortune! “But … I can’t … I mean—”

“Nonsense.” She rose to her feet so that we were standing toe-to-toe. “You can, and you will. We insist.” She took my hands in hers. “You’ve been loyal to us in good times and bad. You, personally, have brought us as much business as we can comfortably handle what with Miller & Creede and the new Serenity Secret Service account. And now you’ve given us the honor of having our work displayed in a royal wedding on the world stage for millions of people to see.” She reached up to pat me on the cheek with a callused but gentle hand. “You’re going to look beautiful, absolutely beautiful. We’re very proud of you, Isaac and I. I know that your relationship with your mother is not so good, and I am sorry for that. She is an idiot if she doesn’t realize what a gem she has in you. We do. Isaac and I both love you very much.”

My eyes filled with tears, making the room blurry.

“Now hurry up and get dressed.” She made a tsking noise and shook her head. “It needs to be taken in more than he expects.”

I was still too choked up to speak, so I just nodded and let her help me with the zipper and fasten the necklace in place so I could see it in the mirror.

It was beautiful.
I
was beautiful.

Cousin.
Adriana’s voice spoke clearly in my mind.
Would you mind wearing the jewels when you come out? Olga is being a nuisance, complaining about her dress. It’s very tiresome. I would do much more than keep her in the wedding to please my husband, but I must admit I do not like her.

That made two of us.

When I reentered the living room, all conversation stopped. Olga’s eyes got huge and Natasha simply blinked dumbly at me.

Adriana smiled. There was pride and honest joy in her reaction, along with a certain envy, which really surprised me. “Beautiful, cousin,” she said. “You look absolutely exquisite. You see, ladies, as I said before, with the right jewelry, these dresses are perfectly elegant and modest enough not to offend your countrymen.” She winked at me. “I am old enough to have a bit more experience in these matters than you do, after all. I only hope Dahlmar isn’t too upset about marrying a much older woman.”

So, Adriana had figured out how to bring it in without any help from me. But I’d help all the same. “Luckily, the siren genes mean that you don’t have wrinkles yet.”

“That,” she said with another conspiratorial wink, “and excellent moisturizer. Thankfully, this century has wonderful products available. Beauty mud in the nineteenth century really was
mud
.”

Olga spluttered, “But you’re—”

“Well beyond ancient. I’m … what is the American term? Ah, yes, ‘robbing the cradle’ by taking Dahlmar as a husband.” Adriana’s smile was cheerfully wicked. “Sadly, I don’t have enough siren abilities to control my beloved psychically; and even if I did possess those abilities, his staff has ensured he has a protection charm. But I would like to think I am still well-kept enough to have
some
influence on him.”

Okay, so now I had no doubt she’d been listening to me and Gilda Levy the whole time. I was annoyed about it, too. I gave her a stern look.

I am fighting for my honor, my life, and the man I’ve discovered I actually
love
. If you think I’m not going to use every advantage I can, you are out of your mind.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t, really. I was pretty sure I’d do the same damned thing if our roles were reversed. And, hey, I had to give her props for using the information to her advantage. She’d worked it in pretty subtly, all things considered.

Olga and Natasha looked significantly at each other and Natasha gave the other woman an “I told you so” look before tipping her head down to acknowledge Isaac’s slight touch on her calf.

“All right, Natasha, you’re done,” he announced. “Gilda will help you choose jewelry.” He got to his feet and took a step back before extending his hand to help Natasha down from her perch. “Your turn, Celia.” He gestured toward the stool. I climbed up with his assistance, being extra careful of the hem and the high heels.

“You’ve lost weight again.” He scolded me exactly the way his wife had. “You need to eat more. Or drink more.”

“It’s been a rough few weeks.” I sounded defensive. I couldn’t seem to help it. Like my grandmother, the Levys know just how to make me feel guilty. But they treat me like family. And if I could add another set of grandparents to my life, Isaac and Gilda would be my first choice.

“Hmnpf.” He sounded so much like Gilda it made me laugh, which made him smile. “Good. I like to see you happy. Now hold still while I pin you.”

I held still.

“I understand you’ll be wearing a lavalava for the ceremony here on Serenity.” Isaac made it a question.

“Yes.”

“What will you do about the sunlight? The procession is over two miles long.”

“I’ll be wearing a hat and a jacket. But I’m a little worried about my hands and feet. Sunscreen doesn’t last all that long on me. Do you have any suggestions?”

He grinned impishly. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He rose a little creakily to his feet. “I’m done with the pinning. Why don’t you go get your outfit and we’ll see if my idea is going to work for you?”

I hurried back to the bathroom, anxious to get out of a dress made scratchy by straight pins. I felt a little pang of regret taking off the jewels. They were an amazing gift, not just because of the value, although that was not inconsiderable, but because they were an honest reflection of the affection Isaac, Gilda, and I have for one another.

My family might be a source of pain and frustration for me, but my friends? My friends are
excellent.

Adriana’s voice whispered in my head.
There is a safe hidden in the floor of your bedroom. I will give you the combination so that you may keep those jewels under lock and key when you’re not wearing them.

Thanks.

You are most welcome. And I am quite pleased. The dresses you chose are lovely. You can be fully armed without drawing attention to it, and Mr. Levy has agreed to check the tailoring and hem of my gown.

That would probably piss off the designer to no end.

Perhaps it will. But it is my gown, and my wedding. And I don’t want the ankle holster with the derringer to … show.

Wow. I guess my gun was going to be the “something borrowed.” Fair enough. When this was over, I might just give it to her. Politics is a very dicey business, particularly in Rusland. She’d probably need it.

Adriana soon left for a meeting with her priest. Olga left almost on her heels; only Natasha chose to stay while Isaac finished making adjustments to the lavalavas I’d be wearing to tonight’s state dinner and the wedding the day after tomorrow.

Natasha seemed very nervous. Isaac and Gilda sensed something was up and made some excuse to run out to their rental car for something, giving us a moment alone. The minute they were out of earshot, Natasha turned to me and spoke quickly and quietly. “You must not trust Olga. She is devious and determined. She does not believe the wedding should happen.” Her expression was so earnest it almost hurt to see it. I was glad that she’d come around. Adriana wasn’t perfect, but she did love Dahlmar, and she truly wanted to be a good queen for his people. I hoped that his people would eventually come to appreciate that, and her. That Natasha was coming around was a good sign.

“I know,” I assured her, “and I don’t.”

She didn’t seem reassured. “I wish I knew what she was planning. I do not. If I had proof, I would go to Igor and the king. But I have no proof, only suspicion. Olga is the king’s niece, a member of the royal family. Without proof I can do nothing. But I know, in my heart, she is planning something.”

“I believe you.” I did. Natasha’s suspicions fit with what Gilda had told me and with my own observations. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on her.”

Natasha looked searchingly at me. After a long moment, she said, “I think, perhaps, she is planning on that, as well. Please, look where she would not expect.”

25

C
hecking the
schedule I saw that tonight was going to be a busy night for Adriana and, consequently, for me. First, in the early evening, there was the big rehearsal dinner for the Serenity portion of the ceremonies—a black-tie event for the men and “Serenity formal” for the women. Later, Adriana would attend the private bachelorette party hosted by her girlfriends. I was scheduled to be with her at both events. Since nobody was throwing a fuss about this, I suspected that one or more of the royal family’s clairvoyants had seen signs of trouble. It would’ve been nice if somebody had warned me about the threats—the when and where—but no one had, which probably meant no one knew. There are limits to what even the best seers can do. If there wasn’t, there’d be no crime. The police would head it off ahead of time.

In my business I’ve guarded a lot of celebrities, but until recently I hadn’t done much work with political figures, so I’d never actually been to a formal state event. It was an eye opener.

The dinner itself was in a ballroom decorated in teal, sea green, gold, and tan. Round tables were covered with elegant china, silver, and crystal. Each table had its own candelabra and floral arrangement.

I was seated at the head table, which was on a raised stage, between Adriana and Igor. I had done a personal check of the security arrangements that afternoon. I could tell that irritated Special Agent Albright, but it was my job to be Adriana’s last line of defense, and I wasn’t going to let anyone’s attitude get in the way.

Everything was perfectly normal, which made me nervous as hell, particularly since Rizzoli had e-mailed to let me know that Jan Mortensen had disappeared completely. Rizzoli’s friends in the CIA had information that he appeared to be hiding out “somewhere in Europe.” They also swore that he hadn’t gotten there by plane, train, or boat. Which left teleportation, probably via Okalani.

Thinking about Okalani brought back the memory of Hiwahiwa’s words. I prayed that she was wrong, that maybe the kid was okay, that her father was protecting her. But I didn’t really believe it. Just thinking about demons and torture made me nauseous. Having been on the wrong end of that particular equation, I don’t allow myself to think about it too closely. The memories were blunted, not erased, and they’d been coming closer and closer to the surface lately.

I’d need to talk about it all with Gwen, my shrink, and soon. But tonight I was working and needed to be on my game. So I forced thoughts of Mortensen and Okalani out of my mind and kept scanning the crowd for anything untoward or unusual.

Adriana and I were passing through the anteroom, greeting the guests and schmoozing. She was a vision in emerald and gold. The queen, home at last, was sitting on the sidelines, letting the crowd come to her. She looked lovely, but tired, and the scars she’d mentioned to me days before were angry red welts marring her porcelain skin.

Powerful people are just as vain and petty as the rest of us. The women all wanted to be the most beautiful and best dressed. This was a little trickier than usual since we were all wearing basically the same dress. Ah, the lavalava—equalizer of women. Of course, it really didn’t work that way. Beautiful women looked beautiful. Homely women looked … really well dressed. There were dresses in every conceivable fabric and pattern, with jewels in more colors than the rainbow. No expense had been spared as the attendees all tried to outshine one another.

All the men wore tuxedos, in a variety of classic styles that looked good on most men. Still, some wear them better than others. I saw John Creede and felt a wash of emotions. His tux fit so flawlessly and he looked so good in it that most people would never have guessed he was actually working security, protecting King Dahlmar’s brother, Arkady.

Greede gave me a cold nod, acknowledging me but making it strictly business. That stung, but not as much as I’d expected it too—probably because I was still angry with him. There were things I missed about him, but there were also plenty of things I didn’t.