“Would that explain why he has no features on the plane? Because he’s never actually seen his face?” I asked.
She frowned. “Not really, because while he may not see it, he can feel it. He would know the shape of his nose, mouth, and face, at the very least.”
“Then why are his features missing on the field? I thought your soul wouldn’t allow such deception.”
“Normally, it doesn’t. However, he may not be concealing it. What he may be doing is changing your perception of what you’re seeing.”
“Which means we’re dealing with a very powerful individual indeed.” Rhoan thrust to his feet. “Damn it, Ris, I like that you’re involved in this even less.”
“And you think I’m any happier?” I shook my head. “Trust me, if I could go home and leave you to it, I would.”
“I know. It’s just frustration speaking.” He made a sharp motion with his hand. “Until we get our phone call, there’s not much more we can do. I suggest you go home and catch some rest while you can.”
I wished I could, but I still had a meeting with Jak to get to. I downed the rest of the Coke, then said, “He wanted me to chase the leads, not you.”
“He can’t get into this place, not even astrally, so he’s not going to know who is doing what straightaway. And if he’s as clever as I think he is, he’ll know we’ll be beside you every step of the way, regardless of what he orders. He simply doesn’t think the Directorate is a threat. That’s evident enough from his taunting phone calls.”
I finished the last of the protein bars, then licked the chocolate off my fingers and got slowly to my feet. The room did a slow turn, so I pressed my fingers against the wall and said, “Have all his victims so far been women?”
Rhoan nodded. “Different ages, but all women.”
“And they’ve nothing in common?”
“Other than the fact that they’re all vampires, no.”
“What about their makers?”
“Again nothing in common.”
Meaning Stane’s search for information on Dorothy’s maker would be fruitless, because he wasn’t the connection. Which, in turn, meant there was nothing to even remotely suggest who his next victim might be. Frustrating, to say the least. I pulled off the monitors and got dressed. “You’ll ring me the minute the phone call comes?”
“I’ll ring the minute we uncover anything useful. You, in the meantime, will get some rest. Promise?”
I nodded. He grunted, then swung around and offered me his arm. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
He escorted me back upstairs, then dropped a kiss on my cheek, reminded me to ring Riley, and left. I glanced at Azriel as I made my way out to Spencer Street. Though he walked beside me, he kept a careful distance between us. It didn’t erase the awareness that stirred within, or the flow of heat that caressed my skin.
“How can the Directorate stop someone from entering that building astrally, and yet none of their devices even reacted to you?”
“Because I am not human. All the devices and magic are aimed at catching abnormalities in or on flesh-based rather than energy beings.”
I frowned. “So it should have reacted to you.”
“No, because this body is not real.”
“It damn well feels real when I touch you.” And it had certainly felt real when we’d made love. “Besides, you said you can find death in this form, so how can it not be real?”
“I bleed, and I can die in this form, true, but my being is energy, not flesh and blood.” He hesitated, frowning a little. “That place would not react to you, either, if you were in Aedh form. Neither their technology nor their magic is attuned to what you and I are.”
I frowned. “They’re obviously aware of both reapers and Aedh, so why wouldn’t they have some line of defense against either of you?”
“Because reapers interact with humans only on a soul-collecting basis, and why would anyone want to stop that?”
“But Aedh—”
“Have a long history of ignoring humanity, except when it comes to their own needs—procreation, for instance,” he said. “There is no major need for the Directorate to protect themselves against us, and they are well aware of that fact.”
Which meant Lucian could have followed us into the building, if he’d wished. Though why that particular thought occurred to me I have no idea. And it wasn’t like he could lurk in Aedh form anywhere nearby without Azriel being aware of him.
“So what if this person we’re chasing is also not flesh-based?”
“He cannot be energy, as that would make him either Aedh or reaper. And no reaper can interact with those on the astral plane.”“That still leaves the possibility of another Aedh.”
“Aedh have no need to use magic to transport themselves to and from locations. This killer did.”
I grunted. I’d forgotten about that. “So what we need to do is uncover who in Melbourne sells powerful transport charms. It’s something either the Brindle or Jak will know or can find out.”
“What of Ilianna? And do you not think the Directorate would be already chasing that possibility?”
“I’ve involved Ilianna in enough dangerous shit already. She doesn’t need this as well.” I shrugged. “And the Directorate probably have investigated such an angle, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the Brindle witches.”
“Then why even bother with Jak?”
“Because I’ve got to meet him anyway, so it won’t hurt.” I eyed Azriel for a moment. “Has Jak suddenly become a problem for you?”
“No. I just think you risk his well-being needlessly.”
“He’s only going to ask around about charms, Azriel. I’d hardly call that dangerous.”
He didn’t say anything immediately, but then, he didn’t need to. His disapproval stung the air. “And after this meeting, you will rest?”
“Yes.” If nothing else came up, that was.
“Good. Because if you do not, I will be forced to make you.”
“Try it, and I really will get nasty—” But I was speaking to air. He’d disappeared again.
* * *
Even though the bar was crowded with lunchtime patrons, Jak Talbott was easy enough to spot. It wasn’t that he towered above everyone else, because at five ten, he was pretty much the average height for male werewolves. It was more that he exuded a raw masculinity that drew the eye. Or maybe it just seemed that way to me because I still wasn’t entirely over the damn man, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise.
He actually wasn’t what I’d call handsome, but his rough-hewn features were easy on the eye and his body was well toned without being too muscular. His hair, like his skin, was a rich black, although there was a lot more silver glinting in the shaggy thickness of it these days. It gave him a genteel edge, which was something Jak would never be able to claim otherwise.
He leaned back in the chair as I approached, but his smile of greeting faded as his gaze swept me. “Damn it, Ris, you look worse every time I see you.”
“Thanks.” My voice was dry as I pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him. “You’re looking swell, too.”
He laughed. It was a warm, carefree sound, and the deep-down part of me that wouldn’t entirely let go of the past, and this man, sighed wistfully.
“Yeah, lack of sleep does that to me,” he said, a little too cheerfully. He obviously had news of some kind that he was excited about. “What’s your excuse?”
“Same. What have you uncovered?”
His expression was one of resignation, but there was a twinkle in his dark eyes that had my pulse suddenly skipping. Once upon a time that twinkle had signified a sexual onslaught—one I’d always been willingly swept away by. “I thought we’d moved past this whole ‘business only’ deal with our rather erotic dance and kiss.”
That rather erotic dance and kiss had actually been shared with Azriel, who’d taken Jak temporarily out of the picture—and taken on his form—to protect him. But because so many people had seen somebody they thought was Jak with me, I’d asked Azriel to supply him with memories of the evening. I just hadn’t expected said memories to be so complete.
“Then you thought wrong, Jak. As I told you on that night, there’s nothing left between us and there will be no repeat.”
“Nothing left, huh?” His hand whipped out and snared mine. His grin was devilish as I tried—without success—to pull away. “So the racing pulse, and the desire that stirs the air, is nothing more than my imagination?”
“Nothing more,” I said, and wished it was. Wished the past would just leave me the hell alone. But then, I’d invited it—and him—back into my life, so I had only myself to blame.
“And if I leaned across the table and kissed you,” he said, in a voice so intimate it felt like a caress, “you would feel nothing more than the press of lips against lips?”
My gaze dropped to the lips I’d once known so well, and then I closed my eyes, drew back a foot, and kicked him. Hard. He yelped and released me, and I shifted out of immediate reach.
“Well, it’s safe to say that was not the response I was hoping for.” His grin was somewhat rueful as he rubbed his shin. “But do not think me defeated. If I breached your defenses once, I can do it again.”
“Jak, give it up and just concentrate on business.”
“I can’t. I love a good challenge.”
“Yeah, almost as much as you love a good story, and that’s what wrecked our relationship in the first place.”
“That is undeniably true.” He caught the attention of a passing waitress and ordered a couple of beers. “So, business. I’ve been asking around about the murders of Frank Logan, his ex, and his secretary, and I’m afraid I’m getting nowhere fast. No one is talking.”