Natalie's heart gave a sharp jolt. She coughed once to steady herself. "It's freezing. Why leave the car door wide open?" Cassian leaned back, his chin tilted as his lips curved. "I was waiting for you." Natalie turned her head, refusing to meet his eyes. This man is getting way too full of himself. He'd figured out she had a thing for handsome faces, and he was milking it for all it was worth. If it weren't this cold, she knew he'd be strutting around in that robe again, pretending it just slipped open by accident. They'd been together long enough for her to read him like a book. When Cassian moved to stand, Natalie lifted her hand. "Don't. Stay put. I'm taking Lucky out." "What? Where?" Cassian froze mid-motion. Natalie rubbed Lucky's head. "To check the room they were so desperate for us to take." Cassian got up. "Then I'm going too." Natalie shook her head. "No. You shouldn't show your face for a few days." Cassian frowned. "Why not?" Natalie told him what she'd learned and laid out her theory. "Those bugs hit men harder. From the way that woman's acting, it probably needs a trigger. A meeting. Something face-to-face." A small smirk tugged at her mouth. "So stay hidden. I'm going to drive her crazy with curiosity."Cassian's lips curved into a grin. "Fine." Whatever she planned, he was all in. He picked up his book again. "Be careful. Come back soon." Then he looked at Lucky. "If trouble starts, you know what to do." Lucky stood tall and barked once, her tail wagging with pride. She was ready to defend her master, no matter what. Cash and Baron, lounging nearby, stirred when they saw Lucky following Natalie. Natalie glanced back. "Stay put." Cash glared at Lucky, flapping his wings twice like he was picking a fight. Natalie laughed softly. "Relax. We're just checking the room. You'll get your turn when it's time to hunt bugs." Cash turned around, tail flicking in mock defiance, copying Lucky's stance. Natalie snorted and gave him a playful nudge with her boot. "You never learn the good stuff, do you?" The innkeepers lived in the far west room on the third floor. Natalie and her group were on the far east side. She walked the long hall. As she passed the stairwell, muffled voices drifted up from the four people downstairs. Something clicked in her mind. The room would now have to wait. She paused and motioned to Lucky. "Check the place. See if there's anyone else hiding here." Lucky sniffed the air, circling slowly. The result stunned her. Nothing. Anthony was really gone. Natalie frowned, then headed toward the room the innkeeper's wife had been pushing so hard.She thought she'd need to Blink in, but the door was already open. She pushed it gently and stepped inside. It was huge, the biggest room in the inn. Sheer curtains floated around the bed, and the furniture was old-fashioned but beautifully crafted. The bed was carved solid wood, detailed and regal. It was nothing like her small, cramped room. That one barely covered two hundred thirty square feet. Once the RV was parked, there was almost no space left. This room, though, was twice as big. A large tea table sat in the corner, dark and polished. If not for the creepy owners, she and Cassian would've taken this place without a second thought. The wardrobe doors were wide open, completely empty. The blankets were gone too. Looked like the innkeeper had taken them earlier and forgot to close the door. Natalie checked the room carefully. When she felt it was safe, she began a full inspection. She told Lucky, "If you find one of those bugs from yesterday, stay away." Lucky barked once, nose pressed to the ground as she searched every inch. Natalie went through everything. Hidden cameras—none. Recorders—none. Weird bugs—none. Weapons or traps—none. Everything seemed normal. Too normal. She frowned. If the couple wanted them in this room so badly, there had to be a reason.No way it was just about eavesdropping. Then she noticed the huge rug stretched across most of the floor. It was enormous, covering almost two-thirds of the room. But the design stood out—its foreign pattern clashed with the rest of the antique decor. Natalie crouched down, grabbed one corner, and flipped it up. Her stomach turned. The wood beneath was soaked with dark stains. Blood. Some were black and old, some still brown-red. The shades were too different to belong to one person. Her instincts had been right. Something awful had happened here.