Darkness Splintered

Chapter 5

“What’s wrong?” Tao said. “You’re as white as a ghost.”

“Hunter has killed someone,” I said. “Do you want to ring Ilianna, and make sure both she and Mirri are okay?”

He swore vehemently. “I was just talking to her five minutes ago. Surely she couldn’t —”

“This is Hunter, so anything is possible.” My voice was harsher than necessary. God, what else could go wrong? “If Ilianna is still at the Brindle with Mirri, tell her to stay there until further notice.”

Surely even Hunter wasn’t crazy enough commit murder inside the ancestral home of the witches.

“I would not be too sure of that,” Azriel murmured.

“I’m not.” I glanced at my phone, said, “Aunt Riley,” and watched the psychedelic patterns swirl prettily across the screen. It seemed to take forever, but finally, Riley’s image popped onto the screen. I released the breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding. She was safe. Alive. Although even if Hunter was crazy enough to attack someone in the sanctity of Brindle’s halls, surely even she wouldn’t touch anyone in the Jenson pack. She might not fear Riley or her twin brother Rhoan, but surely even she wouldn’t want to draw the ire of Riley’s mate, Quinn. Not only was he a very old vampire, but he was also a former Cazador, and part Aedh.

“Risa,” she said, her warm, mellow tones echoing the relief I could see in her expression. “You’ve obviously resurfaced from your drinking binge.”

My smile felt tight. False. “Is everyone there okay?”

She frowned. “Yes, of course. Why?”

I hesitated. She had no idea I was working for Hunter, and that’s exactly how I wanted to keep it.

“I had a premonition that someone close to me was in danger,” I said, glad we were talking on the phone rather than in person. I might have the benefit of super-strong nano microcells – which were the successor of nanowires, and, like them, designed to shield the wearer from psychic intrusion – inserted into my earlobe and heel, but Aunt Riley was one of the strongest telepaths out there, and the microcells were never designed to fend off someone like her. Hell, even Hunter could catch the occasional thought – and usually at the wrong time, like when I was mentally cursing the bitch. “I just wanted to make sure you were all okay.”

“Well, it’s no one in my pack. You know I’d sense it if it were.”

I did know, but it was still a relief to hear it said. Riley wasn’t clairvoyant or anything like that, but besides being a very strong telepath, she was also a twin. She and Uncle Rhoan had a connection deeper and stronger than any psychic talent, and the two of them always knew when the other was in trouble. That bond, over the years, had extended to Liander, Rhoan’s mate. And Riley and Quinn were in constant telepathic contact. If any of them were in trouble, she’d certainly know.

She added, “Are you okay? You don’t look that great.”

“Drinking yourself under the table will do that.” I forced a smile. “It’s nothing a few decent-sized steaks won’t fix.”

“And the key hunt? How goes that?”

“It doesn’t.” Which wasn’t really a lie, because right now, it was going nowhere. “We’re finding nothing but dead ends.”

“Which is another reason for bringing Quinn and me in on the search. Maybe you need a fresh set of eyes on the evidence.”

Not a hope in hell. It was bad enough that I’d pulled Ilianna, Tao, and even Jak into the line of fire. There was no way I would endanger the two people I considered pseudo parents.

“Thanks,” I said. “But there’s actually no point because, as I said, we have no fucking clue where anything or anyone is.”

“But perhaps if we —”

“Aunt Riley,” I interrupted softly, “I love you to death, you know that, but right now —”

“I need to butt out,” she finished for me. Her voice was amused, but there was steel in her gray eyes. “You know that’s impossible for me to do.”

Tension ran through me. I couldn’t let her help me any more than she already had. I had lost my mom. I didn’t want to lose my other mom as well. “Look, I promise I’ll holler for help when I need it, but there’s really nothing you can do at the moment. Hell, there’s nothing for me to do.”

She considered me for a second, then said, “Is Azriel still helping you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll back off for the moment. But if you don’t holler, and go get yourself dead again, I will be madder than hell at you.”

I smiled, relief and amusement running through me in equal amounts. “I promise, on Mom’s soul, I will call in your help the moment I need it.”

She harrumphed. Meaning she undoubtedly caught the catch-22 in that statement – that I was never going to be desperate enough to call in her help on the key search – but all she said was, “Keep in contact regardless, Risa, or I will get involved, whether you like it or not.”

“Noted,” I said, and hung up. The phone rang almost immediately, and the tone told me it was Jak. I hit the vid-phone’s Answer button, and Jak’s image popped up on the screen. “Jak,” I said, voice a mix of relief and confusion. If everyone I cared about was safe, who the hell had Hunter gone after? “Are you okay?”

He frowned. “Of course I’m okay. I’m ringing you, aren’t I?”

“Well, yeah.” I hesitated. “Where are you?”

“At the office, like I said I would be.” His frown increased. “Are you okay? I mean, you look a little pale —”

That’s because death is reaching her sharp little claws toward one of my friends. I swallowed back bile and said, “Look, I’m fine, but I want you to go home right now. And don’t open the door to anyone but me.”

“Why, if I didn’t know better,” he said, amused, “I’d say you were worried about my safety.”

“I am, asshole. I mean, if anyone is going to kill you, I want it to be me. Now, cut the crap and just get moving.”

He chuckled, and airily waved a hand – a movement I only half saw on the small screen. “No one can get into the office, Ris. Not only is there security downstairs, but the entry into this area is thumb-coded. I’m actually safer here than at home.”

“Security doesn’t worry vampires,” I told him. “All they have to do is take over the mind of the guard and they’re in.”

Or, in the case of thumb-print security, cut off said thumb.

His grin faded. “And that’s what you think is after me? A vampire? Why?”

I took a deep breath, and released it slowly. “I’m not sure you’re the actual target,” I said, honestly enough. “But a vampire has threatened to kill someone I know, and I’m just warning everyone.”

“Warning heeded.” His voice was somber. “And I’ll be careful, I promise. Now, do you want to hear what I found?”

I did, but I wanted him safe, too, and I couldn’t escape the notion that he wasn’t, no matter what he thought. Hunter hadn’t made that threat idly. But maybe part of the torture was the waiting, the ever-tightening fist of fear, and the knowledge that sooner or later, one of my friends would be dead. The bitch would no doubt enjoy toying with me like that.

“I’ll listen, as long as you promise me you’ll go home, lock the door, and stay there until further notice.”

“Sounds a bit extreme,” he said, with a frown.

“Trust me, the bitch who made the threat is extreme.”

He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “I’ve seen too much lately to ignore such a warning. The minute I hang up, I’ll leave. That okay?”

“Okay.” I’d rather he hung up and left straightaway, but I was realistic enough to know that was never going to happen when he had news to share. Why he couldn’t leave and talk I had no idea – other than the fact it wasn’t legal to drive while on the phone.

Not that legalities had ever stopped him from doing something before.

“Right then,” he continued. “I went through public records, and discovered the company that owns that particular warehouse is a mob called Pénombre Manufacturing.”

I frowned. The name rang a distant bell – I’d seen or heard that name somewhere before. Where, though? “What do they manufacture?”

“I have no idea, because I can’t uncover much information about them or what they actually do. I suspect they might be a shelf company, except for the fact that they own that warehouse.”

“Can’t shelf companies own assets?”

“I wouldn’t have thought so, given they were initially designed for people wanting to start a new company without the hassle of all the paperwork required to create one.”

“When did they buy the warehouse? There has to be some records of that.”

“There is.” He glanced down, and I heard the clicking of a keyboard. Jak was the old-fashioned type – none of these fancy light screens and keyboards for him. Hell, he still jotted down most of his notes in an actual notebook, rather than using his smartphone. “It was purchased twenty-eight years ago.”

I frowned. I’d been born twenty-eight years ago. Which didn’t actually mean anything, beyond the suspicion that it wasn’t actually coincidental. “Who by?”

“A bloke by the name of Michael Greenfield is the registered owner of the company. Problem is, the only Michael Greenfield I can find is in the matches and dispatches database – he apparently died forty-odd years ago.”

I wondered if he was any relation to Adeline Greenfield, the witch who’d taught me to astral travel. “Meaning someone is either using his name, or the Michael Greenfield registered as the owner of that building was born overseas, not here.”

“Yep. I’ve just sent a request to an English mate to search the databases there, but I don’t know anyone in the U.S. or in Europe who could help us.”

“You could always join ancestry.com,” I said, only half joking.

He snorted. “That wouldn’t help us if he’s changed his name.”

True. And knowing our luck, there’d be thousands of Michael Greenfields out there in the wider world. “I’ll get Stane on it, too.”

That’s if Stane hadn’t had enough of my near constant requests for help.

“Between us, we might be able to find something,” he said. “I’ll send you through what I’ve found, and I’ve asked Jason – the English mate – to copy you on any replies he makes. If you could do the same with Stane, I’d appreciate it.”

“Will do.” I hesitated, then added, “Now go home and be safe.”

“I really think you’re overreacting but —” He paused, frowning as he glanced at something offscreen. “That’s strange.”

“What?” I said, my heart leaping as fear surged through me.

“The lights in the foyer just went out.”

“Jak, get out of there. Use the stairs or something —” I stopped as the lights over his head went out, plunging him into darkness. “Jak? Move!”

“Moving as ordered,” he said, confusion and perhaps a touch of fear in his voice.

“Hide if you can. I’ll be there in a minute.” But if it was a vampire – if it was Hunter – then he didn’t even have a minute.

Which meant I had to get there now. And the quickest way to do that was to have Azriel take me. Changing into Aedh form might be fast for me nowadays, but travel wasn’t instantaneous. It was with Azriel.

“Problem?” Tao said.

I grabbed a jacket from the back of one of the chairs as I jumped off the table. It was sodden, but right then I didn’t care. My handbag was in my bedroom, and I needed a pocket to shove my phone into… the thought barely crossed my mind when Azriel appeared in front of me, holding out my handbag.

Thank you. I glanced at Tao as I swung the bag over my shoulder. “Jak’s in trouble. Can you ring the cops and the ambulance, and get them to his building ASAP?”

As Tao nodded and reached for his phone, Azriel caught my free hand and pulled me close. I had a brief moment to enjoy the press of his body against mine, to feel the warmth and strength of him, before his energy ripped through us both. He transported us through the gray fields so fast that the reapers’ ethereal, unworldly homes were little more than a bright blur. We re-formed into darkness. A darkness ripe with the metallic scent of blood.

Oh god…

Azriel? Can you see anything? I swung around, my nostrils flaring, trying to catch the source and location of the blood. Trying to discover if Jak was here.

Whether his attacker still was.

The vampire is to your left. He runs for the foyer doors. Azriel hesitated. Remember, reaper rules mean I cannot interfere unless he attacks you.

I didn’t care about his rules. Or being attacked. All I cared about was Jak – and he’d obviously never made it to the stairs.

No, Azriel said, mind voice soft. He dies, Risa.

If we get him to a hospital straightaway —

It will not make a difference. He would not survive being transported, anyway. He has not the strength left.

Grief swept through me, but it was twisted with fury. At Hunter, for doing this, and at myself, for involving Jak in our goddamn quest.

I drew Amaya. The flames that flickered down her side were fierce and angry. What did they do to him?

He has been gutted. And no reaper waits, as it is not his time.

Gutted him, not drained him. A deliberate choice on Hunter’s part, meant to kill with as much pain as possible. And if he died when there was no reaper here to guide his soul onward, then he would become one of the lost ones – a ghost forever trapped on the astral planes, never to move on and be reborn. Tears stung my eyes even as fury rolled through me. Damn it, no! Jak shouldn’t have to pay such a price for helping me. None of my friends should. It wasn’t fucking fair when I was doing the best that I could to find the damn keys.

I drew in a shuddery breath. Anger and grief could wait. There was a killer to hunt first.

Help Jak, I said. Don’t let him die without a soul guide, Azriel.

You know I cannot interfere…

I don’t care who you have to contact or what favors you have to pull in, I cut in fiercely. Please don’t let him become one of the lost ones.

I ran for the foyer. The light burning down Amaya’s sides made it easier to see the various cubicles, desks, and chairs, but it did little to rip the shadows away from the vampire. Nor could I detect his scent.

Burn brighter, I told Amaya. I need to see the bastard.

Fire erupted from her sides, filling the large room with her fierce light. On the opposite side of the room, far closer to the foyer doors than I was, a shadow found form. The vampire was long and lean, with dark hair and pale skin. Not someone I knew, I thought with relief. Not Markel Sanchez, who was one of the Cazadors assigned to follow me astrally. I’d only met him a couple of times, but I had a suspicion that – as far as Cazadors went – he was probably one of the more ethical ones. Not that being ethical would have prevented him from killing Jak had Hunter ordered it. From the little he’d said, even the Cazadors feared incurring Hunter’s wrath.

“Stop,” I shouted, “or you’re fucking dead.”

He made a short, sharp noise that sounded a hell of a lot like a laugh – even if a derisive one – and did the exact opposite, crashing through the doors and out into the foyer. I swore and sprinted after him. I hit the half-closed doors a second later, thrusting them back with such force that the top hinges tore free. Glass shattered, glittering with lilac fire as it fell all around me.

The vamp hadn’t stopped to call the elevators, but was instead racing for the fire exit. I had a bad feeling that if he made it there, he’d escape. And that meant I had one option, and very little time.

Don’t kill him, Amaya. I drew her back and threw her, as hard as I could. She flew like an arrow – albeit a flaming one – and thudded into the vampire’s back, her dark blade disappearing into his body, until only her hilt protruded from his flesh. The vampire made a gargled sound, then his legs went out from underneath him and he fell face-first onto the carpet.

I slowed and approached him cautiously. Lilac fire burned where shadowed steel met flesh, but blood crept out from underneath the flames, an ever-growing pool that stained his pristine white shirt. His face, which had borne the brunt of his fall, was also bloody, although I couldn’t see just how badly he’d been smashed up given he was still lying facedown. And I wasn’t about to go closer or move him, even if he did look dead. Looking dead was something vampires could do extremely well.

Dead not, Amaya said. Arrange can.

We need to question him first. I hesitated. Can he move, or do you have him pinned?

Move not.

Good. Keep it that way. I paused. Azriel, how is Jak?

He only has a few minutes left, Risa. Hurry if you wish to say good-bye.

I scrubbed a hand across stinging eyes, then spun and raced back into the main room. Blue flame flickered in the darkness, Azriel’s sword providing enough light to guide me through the office maze, just as Amaya had.

It wasn’t until I was near that I realized Azriel wasn’t alone. Standing several feet away from Jak’s prone body was a white-haired, white-winged female figure. A reaper waiting for Jak’s soul to rise. But her form surprised me. Reapers tended to wear the image of someone the soul was most likely to trust, as it made the transition easier. That this reaper had taken on the appearance of an angel meant either Jak was more of a traditionalist than I’d ever figured or that he simply didn’t have anyone in his life he ultimately trusted. And that was, in very many ways, sad.

I dropped to my knees beside him. Jak’s dark features were pale and etched with pain, his body shuddering and bleeding and… bile rose as my gaze stopped at his stomach. Blood, intestines, and god-knows what else spilled from his stomach, despite his best efforts to stop them.

I briefly closed my eyes, fighting for the strength to remain calm. To not storm back to that vampire and rip his fucking heart out.

I placed one hand over Jak’s, and tried to ignore the warm blood that oozed over my fingertips. “Jak? Can you hear me?”

His eyes fluttered open. In the dark depths of his gaze, the awareness of death gleamed.

“Risa,” he said, voice so soft and hoarse I had to lean close to hear him. “I think you were right about that vampire.”

I brushed the sweaty hair from his forehead. “In what way?”

“Security didn’t stop the bastard.”

“No.” I swallowed heavily as tears tracked unchecked down my cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Jak. This is my fault —”

“No, it’s not. I wanted to be here, I wanted the story. My decision, not yours. I could have walked away.”

Yes, he could have. But I’d known that he wouldn’t, not once he had the scent of a good story in his nostrils.

He reached up and caught one of the tears on his fingertips. “You’ve cried enough tears over me, Risa. I don’t deserve these any more than I deserved your love —” He hesitated, his face twisting, his breath becoming little more than short, shuddering gasps for air.

A sob tore up my throat. I bit my lip, and somehow held it back. “The ambulance is coming, Jak. Just hold on.”

It would be too late. I knew it, he knew it, but I didn’t know what else to say. So I squeezed his hand lightly, watching as his breath became more and more labored, and his life poured over our twined fingers to soak into the carpet underneath him.

“God,” he somehow croaked, “this is a bitch. The story of a lifetime in my grasp and I’ll never —”

The rest of his words were cut off by a gasp. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and his breathing stopped.

The sob tore free. “Good-bye, Jak.” I kissed his warm lips gently. “I hope both love and the story of the century find you in your next life.”

My tears splashed across his face as I sat back and, just for a moment, it looked like he was also crying. Gossamer tendrils began to rise from his body. His soul, ascending. The winged reaper reached out one hand. Jak’s soul moved toward her, and together they moved on.

I briefly closed my eyes and swiped at the tears with my nonbloody hand. While I wanted to do nothing more than bawl like a baby, now was not the time. I took a deep, shuddery breath, and said, “Who was the reaper?”

“My sister.” Azriel’s voice was without emotion, but his surprise echoed through me. Surprise, and something else. Something that was close to regret. “I did not think anyone would answer – especially not someone from my family.”

“Why not?” My gaze met his. “It is you who caused the estrangement, not them.”

“It was mutual, Risa. My decision to seek revenge for my friend’s death brought shame on them.” He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter, even though – from the little he’d told me – families were a big part of a reaper’s life. And yet I knew he didn’t regret either his decision or his subsequent actions. But it was those actions that had made him Mijai – it was his punishment for breaking reaper rules and taking a life before its time.

And now, because he’d shared his life force with me, he would remain a Mijai for all eternity, until death overtook him.

“My relationship with my family is not something we should be discussing now,” he continued softly. “The police are near. We should go.”

Even as he said that, the distant wail of sirens began to cut across the steady murmur of traffic moving past the building. I sighed and pushed to my feet. “No. I want to question the vampire first.”

He frowned. “I can pull whatever information you need from his mind.”

“But that won’t give us a record of confession, and I want to start protecting my ass against Hunter.”

That’s if he could incriminate her. She was a powerful telepath, and could easily have placed a block around the vampire’s thoughts, preventing him from ever mentioning her part in Jak’s death.

I glanced one more time at Jak’s motionless body, whispered a final good-bye, then dug out my phone and hit the Record button as I walked back to the foyer.

She has not placed a block on his thoughts, Azriel said, appearing by my side again. I can feel none of her taint in his mind.

I glanced at him. Which is odd. I know Hunter is head of the Directorate and therefore able to squash any investigation, but surely even she wouldn’t want the questions her involvement in Jak’s death would raise.

You accord her human thought processes, and that is something she long ago abandoned. Azriel’s mind voice was thick with contempt. Besides, she would not think us capable of catching her killer. He is not a Cazador, but he is very skilled in killing. Do not step too close or give him the opportunity to attack.

I wasn’t planning to. I took several photos of the vampire – noticing in the process that Amaya didn’t show up in any of them – then tucked my phone into the purse’s front pocket, out of sight, but still close enough to record everything said.

“Okay, mystery man,” I said, “unless you want some serious damage done to your back, you’d better stop faking unconsciousness and start talking.”

There was no response, which wasn’t really surprising. Hunter wouldn’t have sent a fool to do her dirty work.

Amaya, twist a little closer to his spine.

Her chuckle – which could be described only as both gleeful and bloodthirsty – ran across the back of my thoughts as her blade did a slow circle in his flesh. Blood spurted, and the vampire hissed – a venomous sound if I’d ever heard one. He looked at me, face bloody and eyes narrowed. There was no pain in those black depths, no fear. Just fury. And the promise of death should I make one careless move.

“One last chance to start answering my questions, then I’ll sever your damn spine.” My voice was cold and flat. One look at his expression – or lack thereof – was enough to tell me I could not show any sort of emotion to this man. He was the sort to take it as weakness.

“What do you want?” His voice was controlled, even. One tough vampire, obviously.

“Everything.” I crossed my arms. “Your name, and the name of the person who sent you here to kill Jak.”

“I wasn’t sent here to kill —”

He cut the rest of the sentence off as Amaya did a half turn. Sweat dotted his face, but his expression remained unchanged. Uncaring. Deadly.

“You’re lying and we both know it.” To Azriel, I said, What’s his name?

He hesitated, then said, Trent Fagan. He is a killer for hire. The Directorate had a death order on him, but Hunter had it removed on the proviso he work for her.

Why would she do that, when she has the Cazadors at her beck and call?

They do not work for her, but the council as a whole. Kill orders must be cleared through the council before they can be enforced. He studied me. She is gathering her own personal hit squad; you are one of them, Risa.

But I don’t —

Not yet, he agreed. But it is what she wants, nevertheless. You – and the remaining keys – would give her the ultimate command over not just the council, but the world.

I blinked. Even she’s not that crazy —

Oh, but she is. His mind tone was grim. She wants power. Hungers for it. And she will never be satisfied until all who live bow at her feet.

Wow. Just… wow. And yet it certainly made more sense than the council wanting the keys so they could use hell as their own private jail. Not that I’d ever really believed that particular statement – or, at the very least, I’d always suspected there was something more. I had no doubt that if Hunter did get the keys, then she would use hell. It would amuse her greatly to cast those who annoyed her into that place.

I returned my attention to the vampire. “Look, I know your name is Trent Fagan, and I know you’re a contract killer for hire. Tell me the truth about what happened here today, and I might just let you live.”

Surprise flickered briefly through his eyes, but he remained mute.

I sighed. “Fine. But consider this, the Directorate are on their way, and we both know they had a kill order out on you. It might have been rescinded, but do you honestly think you’ll be given such a chance a second time?”

He contemplated me for a moment, very obviously weighing options. “Living probably isn’t in my future, given capture was never part of the plan.”

“And what was the plan?”

Something flickered in his eyes. Annoyance or acceptance, I couldn’t tell which. But after a brief hesitation, he said, “To kill Jak Talbott.”

“Why gut him? Why not just drain him?”

“Because gutting is the more painful death.”

I clenched my fists. God, what I wouldn’t give for Amaya to be buried in Hunter’s flesh right now. “And who sent you here?”

Again he contemplated me. “What makes you think someone sent me here? That reporter has stepped on more than a few toes in his time.”

“He certainly has, but you’re not one of them. Besides, you don’t work for free, even on kills you desire.”

That last part was a guess, but I was betting it was a correct one.

A slight smile touched his lips. “If you know so much about me, then likely you’ll also know who sent me.”

“I suspect I do, but I nevertheless want it confirmed.”

“And if I tell you that, you’ll let me run?”

“If you can still run, then yes.” Even if he escaped the arriving police, he’d still have to face Hunter. She’d know in an instant I’d questioned her killer, but what she wouldn’t expect was me recording it. “But only if you’re honest with me. And I will know, trust me on that.”

He smiled, but it held little amusement. “The truth will do you no good, because my employer is beyond anyone’s reach. Even the Directorate’s.”

“She may be beyond the Directorate’s reach, but no one is beyond the reach of death.”

“Madeline Hunter is.”

He’d finally named her, but I felt no elation. I’d need a whole lot more than this confession alone to protect me from her. But it might go a ways toward convincing both her brother and the Directorate that there were extenuating circumstances if – god forbid – she and I ever came to blows and I managed to survive the encounter and she did not.

If you and Hunter came to blows, Azriel said, voice grim, she would not survive. And no one – not the Directorate, and certainly not her brother – would ever know of her death. Valdis would consume body and soul. There would be nothing left to find, and nothing left to move on.

Good. Even hell was too nice a place for the bitch. I once again returned my attention to the vampire. “Madeline Hunter? The woman in charge of the Directorate?”

“The same one.” He coughed. Bloody spittle lined his lips.

“Did she say why?”

“No. And I didn’t ask. I’m paid to do a job, end of story.”

It was the end, all right, for Jak and for him. Hunter wouldn’t let him live, and we both knew it. Amaya, I said, and reached out a hand.

She didn’t want to leave without a kill, and she hissed noisily, the sound rebounding through my brain. But she nevertheless withdrew, her hilt hitting my palm with a heavy thump. Letting me know she was unhappy by action as well as voice, I thought, amused.

I sheathed her, then said, “As much as I’d love to avenge Jak’s death with yours, I think the fate that awaits you is far worse, vampire. Enjoy what is left of your life.”

With that, Azriel took me in his arms and swept us out of there. It was only when I was home that I finally allowed myself to grieve for the man I’d once loved.

Hunter’s phone call came as no surprise, but it took all my willpower not to hit the Answer button and call her every name under the sun.

That would not only be a stupid move, but dangerous to those I loved.

“What?” is all I said. My voice was tight, and my hands clenched. It was a wonder I didn’t crack the phone, so tight was my grip.

“Did you get my message?” she all but purred. A cat enjoying playing with her mouse.

And the mouse had no option but to take it. At least for the moment.

“Yes.”

Her eyes gleamed with maliciousness. “And did the message get through?”

“Yes.” It came out as little more than a spit of angry air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and added, “But why Jak? He wasn’t doing anyone any harm —”

“Which made him the perfect specimen for my little demonstration,” she cut in. “I would have chosen Rhoan, even though his death would have annoyed my brother greatly, but that would also take out Riley. I have no wish to come to blows with Quinn just yet.”

Meaning a confrontation with Quinn was in her cards sometime in the future?

More than likely, Azriel commented. Your uncle is not the type to sit back and let Hunter’s plans proceed unheeded. She would need him gone to openly make her move for domination of all.

The bitch wasn’t only certifiable, she was a glimpse of our future if we didn’t stop hell’s gates from being opened.

Because she sure as fuck had to be one of hell’s finest.

“But do not doubt,” she continued, in that same soft but deadly tone, “I will take out Rhoan, Riley, and even Quinn if you do not find me those keys.”

“I’m doing my best.”

Her expression was amused, but the specter of death shimmered in the depths of her eyes. “Your best is not enough, dear Risa. Try harder.”

And with that, she hung up. I swore and raised the phone to throw it at the nearest wall, only to have it plucked from my hands by Azriel.

“Taking your anger out on defenseless electronics is a waste of money and electronics,” he commented. “May I suggest this instead?”

He offered me a melted glob of metal – all that remained of one of the dining room chairs – and I couldn’t help laughing. As he’d no doubt intended. “Thanks, but it won’t shatter and therefore won’t ease the frustration in quite the same way.”

“Ah. Shame.” He placed both the phone and the globule on the glass table.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “How the hell am I ever going to get free of her, Azriel?”

“I do not know,” he said. “But we can always hope she personally threatens you. At that point, she is dead.”

“And you don’t think she’ll have found some way to counteract your presence?” After all, he had become a Mijai after coming to Earth to track down – and kill – the person responsible for the murder of several reapers, one of whom had been his friend.

“Possibly —”

“Then we don’t attack her,” I cut in. “Not unless we have an army behind us.”

“Harry Stanford has opened that possibility.”

Harry Stanford was the manager of a nightclub known as Hallowed Ground, and an archrival of Hunter’s. He was plotting to bring her down – for the good of the council, or so he claimed – and he’d already tried to enlist my help. I’d refused. It wasn’t as if I needed to get any more involved in vampire politics than I already was.

“No, he hasn’t, because he wants me to confront Hunter without his intervention. There was never any mention of a goddamn army.” I sighed. “I’m going for a shower.”

Though I doubted it would do much to wash the stain that was Hunter’s ever-tightening grip from my skin.

A half hour later – freshly showered and wearing a dress that didn’t remind me of Jak – I sat on the end of the bed and said, “So where the hell do we go from here?”

Azriel shrugged. He’d resumed what had become a normal position for him in my bedroom – when he wasn’t actually in my bed, that is – by my window, and the pale moonlight gave his warm skin a cool, silver sheen. “The one clear lead we have is Lauren Macintyre. Perhaps it is time we talked to her.”

“She’s not likely to give us anything —”

“She doesn’t have to,” he cut in. “It is key related, so I can force her to talk.”

“That’s presuming we can find her.” I pushed to my feet, walked over to the wardrobe, and slipped on a pair of red leather flats. Not my shoe of choice normally, but I had no idea how long I was going to be on my feet, so heels weren’t really practical. “Lauren seemed to have most of her possessions at her place on the Gold Coast, so why don’t we head there first?”

He nodded and held out a hand. I placed mine in his, and let him tug me close, smiling as I stared into the mismatched blue of his eyes. “Do you really have to hold me this close when you transport me? Or does it stem more from desire?”

Amusement touched his lips – lips I really wanted to be kissing right now. Only a huge amount of self-control, and the knowledge that time was ticking away for Mirri, stopped me from doing so. That, and the fact that one kiss was never going to be enough.

“I had to be with you, follow you, twenty-four hours a day, and yet every rule said I could not touch you. Not in the way I wanted.” His energy began to surge around us. “Holding you like this stopped me going crazy, without breaking the rules.”

Which he ended up breaking anyway. Not that I was complaining. “No wonder you were so against me becoming Aedh. It wasn’t concern for my strength at all.”

“It certainly was,” he refuted, voice offended but his smile growing. “It just wasn’t the entire reason.”

I laughed just as he swept us into energy. But the sound quickly died as we reappeared in Lauren Macintyre’s pristine white living room.

Because I found myself staring directly into a pair of bloodshot blue eyes.

And they didn’t belong to anything human.