Wilde Card: Immortal Vegas, Book 2 by Jenn Stark

“This place has cleaned up a lot since the last time I was in here. I’m thinking my credit isn’t going to be up to snuff.”
    Kreios’s smile teased at his lips. “Most of the items on the display are less than a thousand dollars. If there is something in particular you crave, I’m sure we could work it out.”
    As Nikki attempted a strangled response, Kreios shifted his gaze to me. “I’ll have a car sent to the Palazzo tomorrow evening for you.” His gaze flicked over my outfit. “And clothes.”
    “Hey—”
    “Good.” Nikki had recovered herself. “Clothes for what?”
    Apparently, discretion wasn’t in Kreios’s job description. Then again, he was also a big believer in honesty in all things. He favored Nikki with another appreciative glance. “Sara is going to accompany me to the Rarity gala, unless she manages to steal the items we need first.”
    “Steal?” Nikki’s brows went up. “From the Rarity? Their security is Techzilla, Inc. Totally top-shelf.”
    “Borrow,” I interjected. “Armaeus told me he wants to review at the items and assess their value. If he decides to acquire them after all, I’m sure he’d be willing to pay for them.”
    “Willing, yes. Except the Council requires anonymity. An anonymity that Jarvis Fuggeren might not want to grant.” He shifted his gaze to me. “Which brings me to your purpose here. I would like to outfit you in suitable jewelry for the event, but I need to see how your body will react to the various base metals.”
    “Be still my heart.” Nikki was back to sounding strangled. “I’ll be over here. Watching.”
    “Not at all.” Kreios waved his hand, and a tall, heavily-muscled man appeared in the doorway behind the counter. “There is an extensive collection in the back that you might find interesting, if you will allow Stefan to guide you.”
    Nikki’s throat worked as she took in the bald body builder in a sleek black tee shirt and jeans that were slung low on his hips. Even at this distance, I could see her pupils dilate. “That’s for me?” she whimpered.
    Kreios waved the man forward, and he stepped up to Nikki, taking her hand like she might break. Nikki dropped her shopping bags to the floor, then blinked at me. “I don’t—”
    “Please, take your time,” Kreios said. “Stefan has a habit of tying guests up for a while. We’ll wait.”
    Nikki’s eyes might have rolled back ever so slightly into her head, but she went.
    “That’s you, isn’t it?” I asked Kreios when they had cleared the doorway. “You’re doing that Dr. Manhattan thing again, like when I’d first met you. Except…” I glanced over to the doorway. “I didn’t realize you could change your appearance multiple times when you manifested a new incarnation. That’s sort of cheating.”
    Kreios laughed. “If you prefer to think that, it’s your choice. I consider it more an opportunity to multitask.”
    “Yeah, well, how many illusions can you keep going at once?”
    “When I am strong? I have maintained five simultaneously.”
    “Five.” I shook my head. “That gives a whole new meaning to being a team player.”
    “That number of incarnations becomes more of an effort.” He shrugged. “When it ceases to be pleasurable, I no longer see the value. As you might suspect, simply winking out of existence tends to be a bit alarming for people.”
    “I can only imagine.” I considered the shop cases again. “So, jewelry? Really?”
    Kreios smiled. “A harmless subterfuge. Nikki would not have allowed herself to become distracted otherwise, and I need to discuss the particulars of this afternoon’s assignment.” He flexed his fingers. “It’s good that the Council is getting in the game again.”
    Oh? “You haven’t been for a while?”
    “Armaeus has held activity to a minimum for decades—rightfully so, I suspect. But he can no longer keep us completely apart from the affairs of man. The affairs of man have a way of prevailing in the