Xander's Chance

Gerry snorted. "I've got three women, one Jessi and two Jessica's, in their mid-twenties. Two are mated to Guardians, one in South America and the second in New York. The third is a newly discovered low-level healer in Detroit. So, negative on our end. Are you certain Jessi is her real name?"

"Fairly certain."

"Let me search talents. One sec." Gerry cleared the screen then began a broader search while Xander watched. Five minutes later, he shook his head. "I got nada, even in historical data. If we can't sense people like her, we can't track her. What a pain in the ass. Makes me wonder how many like her we've missed."

"Interesting. You didn't send her. Which leaves Jonny," Xander mused. "How did he find her if you all didn't?"

"Too coincidental to be an accident."

"Someone or something tipped him off." Something like the Others, whose magic might give them insight into things Xander couldn't see.

"Would you object to me checking her out?"

Yes. Xander's initial instinct was that he wanted no one around the strange human he discovered. She didn't belong in his world, but she intrigued him. Until he was bored with her, she was his.

"Just to catalog. I won't interfere," Gerry added. "Unless you do something stupid like try to vamp her."

"Not my intention," Xander said. "You still working the Hollywood circuit?"

"Alas, my ambition to be a movie star has faded," Gerry said with a wry smile.

"Come by tomorrow at ten. I've got a photo shoot. I'll make sure your new boss thinks you've been working for her for awhile."

Gerry was still wary, and Xander understood why. The Guardians had no reason to trust the forefather of all vamps. To his credit, he had yet to break the agreement he made with them about vamping girls and had returned all but one trainee alive. The trainee months ago made a horrible mistake by choosing to target Ingrid, and Xander didn't think twice about lopping off his head.

"Alright," Gerry said grudgingly. "I gotta tell Dusty, though."

"Go for it. I'm off to hunt."

Gerry grimaced. Xander rose, more restless than usual. He Traveled to the same club he visited the night before, hungry.