Wild Hunt - Kali Argent Page 0,45
see a lot more. She needed to stop being so damn sensitive about it.
“That’s going to be a big fire.” She rested her hands on her hips and tried to think like her mate. “It’ll draw a lot of attention.”
Cade nodded. “We’ll be long gone from here before anyone notices.”
“You plan to drive all the way back to Colorado tonight?”
It had taken them eight hours of driving through winding mountain passes to make it to Cuna Mundo. They both needed rest before they made the return trip, especially Cade.
She wouldn’t say so out loud, but he looked bad. His clothes had been shredded to little more than rags, and there was so much blood. She didn’t know how he was even still upright. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he needed a doctor, and one a hell of a lot closer than Denver.
He shrugged. “Unless you have a better idea.”
“We could stay here for the night,” she suggested. “Burn the bodies in the morning.”
Cade started shaking his head before she’d even finished. “It’s too exposed. That’s the second pack of Ravagers we’ve seen today. More could come during the night.”
“Okay, yeah, good point.” They did have another option, but she hesitated, instinctively knowing he wouldn’t like it. Unfortunately, she really didn’t see that they had another choice. “So, I have an idea…”
~
“I don’t like this.”
“It’s going to be fine.” She spoke with a lot more confidence than she felt, but she still stood by the plan. “Just keep your head down and follow my lead.”
Pulling up to the valet check-in at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, she killed the engine and exited the driver door. Cade followed more reluctantly, his posture tense and defensive. Luckily, the valet attendant was too distracted by the broken passenger window to notice.
“Miss?” he asked, his eyes moving between her and Cade. “Is everything okay?”
“No, I’m afraid it’s not.” She pitched her voice carefully, injecting just the right amount of emotion into it. “I was attacked by Raiders on my way into the city.”
The shifter—an older gentleman with big, brown eyes and thin lips—nodded knowingly. “They’re becoming bolder, I’m afraid. You’re lucky to have escaped.” His attention drifted to Cade again. “I’m terribly sorry for your trouble. That must have been quite the ordeal.”
“It was,” Mackenna agreed.
She hadn’t known about the Raider problem beforehand, but it certainly played to her favor. She had debated telling the truth, but she worried claiming a Ravager attack would require a deeper explanation. Plus, she had suspected any Gemini would be more sympathetic if she claimed to have been ambushed by humans. It seemed like she might have been right about that.
“I was hoping to spend the weekend in the city with my pet,” she continued, “but if there’s a problem with Raiders, maybe I should just return home.”
“Your pet,” the attendant repeated, suddenly becoming much warmer toward Cade. “Let me assure you the Raiders do not venture into the city. The Coalition patrols twenty-four hours a day to keep our guests safe.”
“Oh, that does make me feel a lot better.” She chewed her bottom lip and glanced back at the SUV for effect. “The Raiders took everything, though.”
In reality, they were wearing the only extra clothes they’d brought, and they’d stashed their gear and weapons in a rock outcropping about six miles outside of the city. After stacking the Ravager bodies and lighting the barn on fire, they’d cleaned and bandaged Cade’s wounds as best they could.
Unfortunately, wet patches still showed through on his black sweater, and he absolutely reeked of blood.
“That won’t be a problem, miss. The hotel staff will be happy to help you obtain whatever you need.” He studied Cade for a long time. “Are you sure your pet is okay?”
She wanted to say no, to demand the shifter get them a medic. Cade would never go for it. “He was hurt trying to protect me.” Technically, that was true. “He’s such a good boy.” Her stomach rolled, but she kept her simpering smile in place. “What do you say, pet?” she cooed to her mate, stroking her knuckles up and down his arm. “Shall we stay? At least for one night?”
Cade gave her a smile so fake, yet so utterly adoring, it was a wonder it didn’t crack his face. “If that will make you happy, mistress.”
Mistress? Mackenna suppressed a shudder. To each their own, and if some people enjoyed being called by an unearned honorific, cool.