Riddle Of The Diamond Dove (The Arkana Archaeology Mystery Series Book 4) Read online

  “You think this is funny? How could you let that French fashionista paw you? We were in the middle of a business meeting, dude! Talk about unprofessional. And by the way, ‘Fifi’ isn’t a name for a grown woman. It’s a name for a poodle.”

  Erik shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t expect it either. We had a thing in Paris a couple of years ago and I guess she never got over it.”

  The elevator doors swung open and the trio emerged into the hall. Their rooms were all on the same floor.

  “You guess she didn’t get over it?” Cassie flared. “It was pretty obvious to everybody in the room, except you, that she was planning the sequel to your ‘thing in Paris’!” Her fingers made air quotes around the last three words.

  Erik took a beeline for his room in an effort to terminate the conversation. He fumbled in his pocket for his key card with Cassie hot on his heels still hurling accusations.

  Griffin backed away from the fray. “Perhaps someone should report our progress to Maddie, don’t you think? Make travel arrangements for tomorrow?” He looked nervously from one to the other.

  Erik was muttering to himself and jamming the wrong end of his card into the door.

  Cassie glanced briefly at the Scrivener, barely registering his words. ”Yeah, whatever.”

  “Right then.” Griffin nodded and scuttled toward his own room. “Leave it to me.”

  By now Erik had opened the door and tried to duck inside. Before he could lock himself in, Cassie wedged her foot through the doorway.

  “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not finished.” She slid into the room.

  “Fine.” Erik threw the key on the entry table in disgust.

  “As if it wasn’t enough that Fifi draped herself around you like a cheap Pashmina knock-off, she was totally rude to me through the whole meeting. ‘Zee leetle girl’.” Cassie seethed. “You didn’t hear me calling her ‘zee beeg cougar’!”

  “She’s not really old enough to be a cougar,” Erik objected. “More like a cougar-in-training. Maybe a cougarette?” He chuckled hopefully.

  “Don’t even try to joke your way out of this! You should have shot her down the minute she started batting those mascara-caked eyelashes at you.”

  Erik paced the room irritably. “I don’t get why this is bothering you so much. Sure, she was insulting to you. I can see why you’re mad about that. But why the hell should you care who I date? Or when? It’s not like there’s anything between you and me.”

  He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to stare at her in silence for several seconds. “Or is there?” He appeared temporarily dazed by the revelation hidden in his own question.

  Cassie felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her. She was too shocked to do more than gape at him.

  He advanced a few paces, his eyes narrowing. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it? You’re jealous.” A slow smile spread over his face.

  His smugness made Cassie’s blood boil. “Jealous?” she squeaked. Her voice rose an entire octave. “You sure have a high opinion of yourself.”

  The grin never left his face. Advancing even closer, he said, “It is what it is, toots.”

  “Jealous of you?” she repeated.

  By now they were standing face to face, almost nose to nose.

  “You can date the Loch Ness Monster for all I care! In fact, you can...”

  With one swift movement, Erik took her in his arms and kissed her.

  Before she could stop herself, Cassie’s arms were around his shoulders and she was kissing him back. She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted but when their lips finally parted, she was dizzy from lack of breath. Her eyes flew open wide in alarm. “What the hell was that for?”

  Erik’s arms remained wrapped around her waist. “It was the only way I could think of to shut you up,” he murmured.

  Cassie gave a skeptical half-smile. “A martial arts expert like you? Right off the top of my head, I can think of at least six other ways you might have shut me up.”

  He drew her close to his chest and whispered into her hair. “Yeah, but I don’t think either one of us would have enjoyed them as much.”

  Cassie didn’t push him away. She sighed unexpectedly. “I guess we’ve been dancing around this moment for a long time. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself.”

  Erik drew back and regarded her with amusement. “Some psychic you are. You couldn’t read the vibe between us?”

  She disengaged herself and walked over to the bed. Sitting down, she looked up at him sheepishly. “It’s a lot easier reading an ancient artifact than a living, breathing guy. Besides, I never thought I was your type.”

  “So I’ve got a type now?”

  Cassie rolled her eyes. “Dude, everybody knows a person never dates outside of their number.”

  “Huh?”

  She ducked her head, not wanting to meet his gaze. “You register as a solid ten on the Attracto-Meter. So that means you’re only gonna date other tens. A girl would have to be a drop-dead-gorgeous hottie to be your type.” She peeked up at him shyly.

  “Then I guess that makes you my type,” Erik said softly, his eyes never leaving her face.

  Flustered by the unexpected compliment, Cassie felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her yet again. When she could finally form a sentence, she said in a tiny voice, “Tens are usually six feet tall and anorexic. That’s not me.”

  The Paladin chuckled. “If big and bony is all it takes to be a ten, then I’d be dating giraffes. There’s more to it than that.”

  Cassie changed the subject even though she was secretly pleased by his reply. “So why is this all on me, Mr. Ladykiller? How come you never made a move?”

  He shrugged and came to sit next to her. “You’re not easy to read. I kept looking for signals but you never gave me the green light.”

  Cassie hesitated before replying. “I learned a long time ago to keep my feelings to myself. It was safer that way. Jerks stop trying to hurt you when they can’t get a rise out of you. It takes all the fun out of it for them.”

  “That’s bleak.”

  “You know my story. Like you said before, it is what it is.” Defensively she added, “You might have just asked.”

  “Your poker face wasn’t the only thing that stopped me,” he demurred. “In the beginning when you started working for the Arkana, you were just a kid. No offense, but you were nineteen going on twelve.”

  Cassie winced slightly at the observation but didn’t contradict him. “Yeah, I know I came across as the worst case of arrested development ever. A lot of my attitude was sheer spite. Sybil had always treated me like an idiot child and I worked hard to live down to her expectations.” She gave a short, bitter laugh. “I mean, she was footing the bill for my schooling and upkeep. I wanted her to get her money’s worth.”

  Erik cocked a dubious eyebrow.

  She continued. “Before you say anything, I know it wasn’t really her fault. It was mine. I kept looking for a reason to grow up but I never found one. All of that changed when I crossed paths with the Arkana and struck the mother lode of reasons to get over myself. So I did.”

  Erik nodded in agreement. “I know this job forced you to morph into an adult almost overnight but, as far as me coming on to you, I just didn’t think...” He paused, searching for the right word. “I just didn’t think you were ready yet.”

  She frowned. “Dude, I turned twenty last month. Do I look like an eight minute egg to you?”

  He looked down at the floor and smiled. “No, but I mean this is probably your first time.”

  “As if!” Cassie snorted.

  “Really?” Erik asked in shocked disbelief. “What about all those years of being an outsider with a chip on your shoulder? You told me you didn’t have any friends. You said you were a loner your whole life.”

  “First off, I said I was a loner, not a nun,” she protested in exasperation. “And second, you don’t have to be friends with somebody to sleep with them.”

/>   “It helps,” Erik retorted.

  “It’s optional.”

  “So I wouldn’t be your first?” Erik persisted cautiously. “Because honestly, I don’t think I could take the pressure. Most chicks want their first time to be special.”

  “No worries there. My first time wasn’t,” she said derisively. “In fact, the bar still isn’t set too high.”

  He turned to face her, regarding her with keen interest. “So you’ve been around.”

  She blushed. “It’s not like I’m the kind of girl who cuts notches in her headboard but, yeah, I’ve been around the block a couple of times.”

  Erik moved a few inches closer. He slipped his arm around her waist. “So what do you think we should do about this situation?”

  She darted a sideways glance in his direction followed by a mischievous smile. “You should start by hanging a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door.”

  She didn’t protest when he bent his head down toward hers and kissed her lightly. In a small voice she added, “After that, we can make it up as we go along.”

  Chapter 26—Rude Awakening

  Cassie picked up her shoes and tiptoed toward the door. It was a little past seven and Erik was still sound asleep. She wanted to leave before he woke up. Going to bed with a guy was all well and good but waking up next to him without benefit of a comb or toothbrush wasn’t how she wanted to be remembered. First nights should be special.

  Opening the door noiselessly, she backed out into the hall. Smiling briefly at the “Do Not Disturb” sign still hanging on the knob, she removed it and placed it on the inside handle. Then she slid the door closed from outside as quietly as possible.

  Turning around toward her room, she collided with Griffin. He must have been walking head down texting a message because he practically tripped over her, dropping his phone in the process.

  Diving to retrieve it, he said, “Good morning. I was going to wake Erik to let him know our flight doesn’t leave until eleven.” Straightening up to look at her, he apparently realized that Cassie had just emerged from Erik’s room. Noticing that she still wore yesterday’s outfit and was carrying her shoes, he went dead pale as the implication struck him.

  “Um...” Cassie trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

  “Yes, well, um...” Griffin echoed. He glanced around wildly as if trying to figure out a way to disappear into the wallpaper.

  “Well, this is embarrassing.” Cassie offered lamely, hopping on one foot as she slipped her shoes back on.

  “Not at all. Not at all.” The Scrivener hastened to reassure her though there was an expression on his face that she couldn’t quite read. He looked lost and a little sad. “It’s none of my business how you spend your off-hours.”

  “No, let me explain.” She reached out to grasp his arm. “We didn’t plan for this to happen. It just sort of...” She hesitated. “Sort of happened.”

  Griffin gave a deep sigh and patted her hand reassuringly. “Cassie, you don’t need to defend your behavior to me.”

  “But I don’t want things to get weird between us.”

  “Weird?” he echoed.

  “I mean, if Erik and I are involved, I don’t want you to feel left out.”

  “What are you suggesting?” His voice sounded alarmed.

  “Oh, good goddess, I didn’t mean that!” Cassie exclaimed. “I just meant to say, we’re still a team, right?”

  “Oh, I see.” He laughed faintly with relief. “Of course we are.” Then he peered at her face earnestly. “Just answer me one question. Being with Erik—does that make you happy?”

  She smiled up at him. “Absolutely.”

  That unreadable expression flitted across his face for a second time then it was gone, replaced by a forced smile. “That’s all that matters,” he said, trying to sound cheerful. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  Impulsively, she threw her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. “Griffin, you’ll always be my friend. I want you to know that.”

  She couldn’t see his face but there seemed to be a catch in his voice when he replied, “And I yours. As long as I draw breath, I shall always be your friend.”

  Chapter 27—Polygamous Perversity

  Daniel paced nervously around the study room in the compound. It was the Nephilim version of a library in name only. There were bookcases lining the walls and those cases were clogged with books but the room was hardly devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. All the volumes were tracts preaching the doctrine of the brotherhood. He was the only person who ever came here because everyone preferred to get their sermons straight from the Diviner’s mouth rather than in written form. He eyed his current surroundings dubiously. He had hoped that meeting here would give him some kind of psychological advantage. The butterflies in his stomach told him it hadn’t. This conversation was going to be unpleasant and nothing would change that. Still this venue was better than any other alternative. Meeting in private chambers could lead to physical intimacy which he wanted to avoid at all costs.

  The door opened noiselessly and a pale face poked around the corner. “May I come in, Daniel?”

  The Scion cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. Come in, Annabeth.”

  Daniel’s third wife shut the door behind her and came to stand dutifully in front of her husband. He noticed that she had tied her white apron unnecessarily tight around her middle in an effort to accentuate her pregnant belly. It was a source of unending pride to her because the delivery of a second child would mean she had produced more offspring than the Scion’s other wives. According to the rules of the Nephilim, she would become his principal wife with dominion over her sister-wives.

  She blinked her colorless eyes a few times. “You wanted to see me?”

  Daniel tried to stand up straight and look authoritative. How would his father act if he were faced with a situation such as this? In an intentionally brusque voice, Daniel said, “Sit down, Annabeth. I need to speak to you about something important.”

  She lowered herself awkwardly into a chair, all the while keeping her eyes fastened on her husband’s face. “What’s wrong? Have I done something wrong?”

  Daniel didn’t answer immediately. He drew up a chair and sat down opposite her, trying to mold his face into a stern expression. He couldn’t quite carry it off and imagined he must appear mildly dyspeptic. “Your sister-wives are concerned about your behavior toward them.” He paused, waiting to see what defense she would present.

  “Me? What could I possibly have done to upset them?” Her face was the very portrait of injured innocence.

  “They say you no longer treat them as equals. That you want them to give way to you in all things.”

  Annabeth’s mouth drew itself up into a tense little line. She gripped the arms of the chair until her knuckles were white. “So they go behind my back to tattle to you?”

  Daniel patted one of her hands awkwardly. “It’s nothing to be upset about. They were right to come to me. We’re all one family, Annabeth. They aren’t your servants.”

  She glared at him with ill-concealed irritation. “And I’m not theirs anymore either!”

  The Scion was taken aback by her words. “What are you saying? That they’ve treated you badly in the past?”

  His wife gave a short bark of a laugh. “Why else would I hate them so? I can still hear their taunts echoing in my head. Silly little Annabeth. Nervous little Annabeth. Timid little Annabeth.” Her voice grew shriller with each sentence. “I’ve been forced to listen to their gibes for years.”

  “Why didn’t you come to me?” Daniel asked, now finding himself on the defensive.

  For once in her life, Annabeth didn’t back down. “Because they would have denied it, that’s why! Would you have believed me? Of course not! Your father never believes me, why should you? Nobody ever takes my side.” Annabeth gave a petulant sigh. “I knew there was only one sure way to silence them. And now I’ve succeeded.” She patted her swollen abdomen with an air of
satisfaction. “Even you can’t take their side now. I know the laws of the brotherhood. The principal wife must receive her due from her sister-wives.”

  “Respect is one thing,” Daniel shot back, somewhat flustered by her unexpected defiance. “You’re taking advantage of the situation.”

  At those words of disapproval, her expression changed. The glint of spite in her eyes melted into a puddle of tears. “Daniel, don’t be angry with me,” she pleaded. She raised her apron to her face and dabbed pathetically at the rivulets trickling down her cheeks.

  Daniel felt guilty and completely out of his depth as to how to deal with her. “There, there, Annabeth.” He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to sound so severe.”

  “You must speak to them, Daniel. You have to explain to them that I will have my due. I’m not only your principal wife, but the principal wife of the Scion. I carry the offspring of the future Diviner. Just as you have been elevated in the hierarchy, so have I. I must have my due.”

  The Scion didn’t answer her. He was mentally weighing which confrontation would be worse. The one he was having now or the one yet to come with his other two wives. He found himself inwardly cursing the fool who first invented polygamy. He deserved to be burning in hell at this very moment. To a man of Daniel’s temperament, one wife was bad enough. Three was a number which no husband should be forced to endure.

  He transferred his attention back to his weeping wife. “There’s no need for you to carry on so,” he wheedled.

  She looked at him and sniffed pitiably. “You shouldn’t make me so upset, Daniel. It’s not good for the baby if I get upset—especially if it’s a boy. Your father wouldn’t like it.”

  He winced at her transparent manipulation but felt compelled to humor it. “I’ll speak to your sister-wives. I’ll tell them they must be more patient while you’re in this condition.”

  She gave a fleeting smile. Daniel imagined he saw a flash of triumphant malice in it.

  He helped her to her feet and assisted her to the door. After she was gone he sat back down, sank his head into his hands and groaned. He prayed Chris would help him solve the next riddle soon because Annabeth had just given him one more reason to wish himself gone from this place.