disguise and attempt to locate those who were following her, or she could go to the zoo as herself. Either way, she would probably run into the couple who had been on the flight with her.
Once she was back in Cairo, Sophia had the taxi driver drop her off a couple of blocks down the street from the bed and breakfast. She had to walk past her hotel as well as a couple of others before she arrived at the small inn. Sophia wanted to get some fresh air before making her decision. As she passed one of the larger hotels, a chill ran up her spine. She did not quicken her pace, but she did casually look around the area. She didn’t recognize anyone, but then again, why would she? The couple probably had a team of spies keeping an eye on her. Since she was dressed as Clara, she shouldn’t be recognized. To be on the safe side, Sophia circled around behind the B&B and entered through the side door. The feeling passed, and she chalked it up to nerves.
It was closing in on supper time, and Sophia was getting hungry. If she changed disguises now, she would barely have time to take a ferry to the zoo before it closed. That might not be a bad option, but it would also have her returning after dark. Her growling stomach made her mind up for her. She would become Beatrice, join the others for supper, and visit the zoo the next day.
Chapter Six
Nikolas spent the rest of the day searching all over Cairo for traces of Sophia. When he failed to find her in any of the local hotels, he expanded his search to the neighboring cities. He also checked the airlines on the off chance she’d left. When he found nothing, he decided to get out of his hotel and walk around. It had been years since he had traveled outside of the States, and he’d never ventured to Egypt. There were several eateries and shops within walking distance of his hotel. He would find something for supper while enjoying the scenery.
As he walked along the sidewalk, a familiar scent floated on the air. He knew Sophia wasn’t the only one who wore honeysuckle, but his heart beat a little faster at the possibility of her being so near. As he got closer to the Nile Grand, the scent increased. He had checked the large hotel’s registry and found no listing for Sophia. It was entirely possible she was using an alias. It was what Tessa would have done, and they were cousins after all. Nikolas entered the hotel and headed to the bank of elevators. The scent was still in the air, so he decided to search the floors. He opted to take the stairs so he could stop on each floor without drawing too much attention to himself. He was still going to be picked up on hotel security cameras, but he would worry about that later.
When he reached the tenth floor, Nik got lucky. The fourth door he came to was strong with the honeysuckle fragrance. He reached out with his shifter hearing before knocking on the door. If someone was in the room, they were asleep, because there was no movement at all coming from inside. Right as he was about to walk away, arguing sounded from the room next door.
“I’m telling you, Princess, it’s like the woman has disappeared.”
“And I’m telling you, Drago, to find her!” A glass shattered, and an inner door slammed. Before Nikolas could escape, the door opened, and a large man exited. If Nik hadn’t been paying attention, he’d have been plowed down. He pressed his back to the door he had been interested in, and the man sneered his way. Nik was pretty sure the man was a Gargoyle. His inner beast riled up when the man looked at him in a less than friendly manner. Thankfully, the stranger headed in the opposite direction of the stairs. Nik didn’t hesitate to make a hasty retreat. He didn’t want someone complaining to security that a man was spying on doors or eavesdropping on private conversations, no matter how interesting they were.
Nikolas made his way down the ten flights of stairs and exited through a side door. He wanted to get back to
Once she was back in Cairo, Sophia had the taxi driver drop her off a couple of blocks down the street from the bed and breakfast. She had to walk past her hotel as well as a couple of others before she arrived at the small inn. Sophia wanted to get some fresh air before making her decision. As she passed one of the larger hotels, a chill ran up her spine. She did not quicken her pace, but she did casually look around the area. She didn’t recognize anyone, but then again, why would she? The couple probably had a team of spies keeping an eye on her. Since she was dressed as Clara, she shouldn’t be recognized. To be on the safe side, Sophia circled around behind the B&B and entered through the side door. The feeling passed, and she chalked it up to nerves.
It was closing in on supper time, and Sophia was getting hungry. If she changed disguises now, she would barely have time to take a ferry to the zoo before it closed. That might not be a bad option, but it would also have her returning after dark. Her growling stomach made her mind up for her. She would become Beatrice, join the others for supper, and visit the zoo the next day.
Chapter Six
Nikolas spent the rest of the day searching all over Cairo for traces of Sophia. When he failed to find her in any of the local hotels, he expanded his search to the neighboring cities. He also checked the airlines on the off chance she’d left. When he found nothing, he decided to get out of his hotel and walk around. It had been years since he had traveled outside of the States, and he’d never ventured to Egypt. There were several eateries and shops within walking distance of his hotel. He would find something for supper while enjoying the scenery.
As he walked along the sidewalk, a familiar scent floated on the air. He knew Sophia wasn’t the only one who wore honeysuckle, but his heart beat a little faster at the possibility of her being so near. As he got closer to the Nile Grand, the scent increased. He had checked the large hotel’s registry and found no listing for Sophia. It was entirely possible she was using an alias. It was what Tessa would have done, and they were cousins after all. Nikolas entered the hotel and headed to the bank of elevators. The scent was still in the air, so he decided to search the floors. He opted to take the stairs so he could stop on each floor without drawing too much attention to himself. He was still going to be picked up on hotel security cameras, but he would worry about that later.
When he reached the tenth floor, Nik got lucky. The fourth door he came to was strong with the honeysuckle fragrance. He reached out with his shifter hearing before knocking on the door. If someone was in the room, they were asleep, because there was no movement at all coming from inside. Right as he was about to walk away, arguing sounded from the room next door.
“I’m telling you, Princess, it’s like the woman has disappeared.”
“And I’m telling you, Drago, to find her!” A glass shattered, and an inner door slammed. Before Nikolas could escape, the door opened, and a large man exited. If Nik hadn’t been paying attention, he’d have been plowed down. He pressed his back to the door he had been interested in, and the man sneered his way. Nik was pretty sure the man was a Gargoyle. His inner beast riled up when the man looked at him in a less than friendly manner. Thankfully, the stranger headed in the opposite direction of the stairs. Nik didn’t hesitate to make a hasty retreat. He didn’t want someone complaining to security that a man was spying on doors or eavesdropping on private conversations, no matter how interesting they were.
Nikolas made his way down the ten flights of stairs and exited through a side door. He wanted to get back to
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