BOUND: Blood and Desire

-

lighting and sterile stillness made the space feel like a set piece from a horror film. She stepped out gingerly, hee

be scary," she whisp

her muttered plea, a v

w may I h

eeply etched scowl stared at her over the rim of thick glas

work," she said. "I'm here to pic

be rather eccentric. Rochelle mentally bookmar

ral grunt and looked her u

n. Mr. Tolland'

he turned on his heel and di

ty to pull out her phone and shoot

veryone here gives me th

ply came wit

basis? Spill! What's hap

chelle's lips just as the clerk retur

working here at Tolland Inc

om?! she wondered, startle

what I'm used to," she replied, reco

sk in front of her. "Inside are Mr. Tolla

ochelle

eautifully preserved dagger with intricate carv

. Miles Corbin. Circa 2100 B

ned. "Really? From

h a flat stare. "Do I

with new reverence, then place

ld up a glossy, i

ient Egypt. Around 1400 BC.

"Fro

or real. Pay atte

jaw had dropped. She refocused as he retrieved the fin

h gravity. "Requested by Mr. Tolland

ing the names and matching items unde

d, carefully placing the dagger, s

on't mes

Okay, s

both hands. Once inside, she tucked the box under one arm, pulled out he

murmured as the res

into her coat pocket just as the e

e hope to expand our influ

ead of a polished mahogany table. To his right sat a sharply dressed man in his fifties with a sly sm

mien said warmly. "Sera, Miles, t

h, almost musical. Her eyes locked onto Rochelle's with uncanny precision, and in an instan

too much enthusiasm, his eyes raking over her in a wa

chelle s

warned sharply, "keep

e now, I'm only ad

tly, and from a re

m Seraphine Voss. But please, call me Sera." Sh

contact, unless absolutely neces

" Rochelle said wi

at do you have for

ing the box on the table. She pulled

g the relic. "A lovely addition to

u're welc

esented the dagger to M

ign me up any day." He examined the weapon, noddin

ve a curt nod.

to Rochelle. "Thank

desk, Rochelle s

n's associates are jus

all in that getaway car? I st

a little late. He's still in his meeting, and I don'

ep out for a snack? I'll

You're a godsend.

weren't waiting f

stood nearby, his tone unexpectedly warm. Something about

.. in case you n

good for ton

"O

utting down her sy

ou tomorrow,

e safe,

to find Lila curled up on the couch. As soon

, spill!" s

ve a tired laugh.

ll! I need

ped her bag by the door and collapsed be

ket, something clinked in her po

ally forgot to give him

nd, Rochelle was back in her

be back soon

le flagged a cab. "To

nodded and pull

office with Olivia, his longtime associate. She was cl

rview earlier," he said. "But... something drew m

with a soft smile. "You wouldn't have

ready for ton

es. Abso

vial. She made her way to the elevator and punched the button for the executive f

r, high-gloss hallway. She passed her empty desk

, I forgot to

he stop

t. Time seemed to freeze as her eye

met Rochelle's, and they were glowing. Blood streaked down his lips. His mouth was la

elle's wor

"Oh. M