Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 4)

“You’ve got to rest,” he said.

“I want you.”

The tips of his fangs extended slightly, shining white in the dark where they indented his lower lip. His heart speed up under her palm, and his erection grew against her thigh.

“Not so soon,” he said. “We have to take a blood sample. I’ll send it to a doctor who knows dhampir morphology. This can never happen again.” His teeth receded, and his eyes grew hard. “Never again.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to put you through that.”

“You’re sorry? You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s me with all the regrets.”

Her gut squeezed as if it was in a vise. “You regret marking me?”

“I regret making you sick.”

She stilled. The implication of what had happened and how it would affect her mission only dawned on her then. Reality came back slowly, and she didn’t want to welcome it. For a blissful moment, only she and Tim had existed. Nothing else had mattered, but there was life to deal with. It now came back to hit her like a fist in the stomach.

For a desperate moment, she wished she had no other obligation than dealing with this crisis, with whatever was happening between Tim and her. Compared to the task ahead of her, this strange infection suddenly seemed like a walk in the park, nothing in the bigger scheme of things. If it were their only problem, she would’ve rejoiced, but there was Cain, the team, her oath to them, and Tim’s unlawful actions. Could she convince him to give up his criminal activities? How could she bring it up if she wasn’t supposed to know anything, if he was never going to confide in her? The hopelessness of the situation washed out whatever relief she felt at being herself again.

“What this means for now,” he said, pulling her from her dark thoughts, “is that I can’t leave you.”

He stared at her as he waited for the meaning of his words to sink in. The diving, her mission, she’d have to put it all on hold to follow him back to San José. It couldn’t be done. At his residence in the capital, she’d be completely cut off from Cain and the team. Joss would go ballistic. He’d never allow it.

“I can’t.”

His voice was sympathetic. “It’s temporary. Only until we know what happened and how to prevent it. I know how much your job means to you, but we’re talking about your life.” He paused. “And my sanity.”

There was nothing she could say to that. Her shoulders sagged in defeat.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, stroking her back. “Let’s get some clothes on you before I call Frida to take a blood sample.”

Pain reflected in his eyes when he backed her into the dimly lit room.

A few minutes later, Maya was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. Frida filled a vial with Maya’s blood while Tim changed the bedsheets. Cesar and Lee stood in the corner, watching warily.

“All done.” Frida sealed the vial, dropped it into an insulation bag, and handed it with a note to Lee. “Get this to Charles.”

“I’ll go,” Cesar said.

He took the bag and left the room.

As Tim straightened from his task of making the bed, he held Maya’s gaze over Frida’s head with a guarded expression.

“I’m making coffee,” Frida announced.

The room was growing lighter. It was nearly day.

Tim wiped a hand over his face. “Good idea. We’ll be downstairs shortly.”

Frida and Lee left the room, but instead of taking Maya in his arms and kissing her like she wanted, Tim moved to the door. “I have to make a few business calls. Have some breakfast. Frida will fix you anything you want.”

She watched him leave the room with narrowed eyes. There was no way in hell Frida was fixing her anything. Hurrying to the door, she was just in time to see Tim enter his study. He closed the door behind him.

It was a good thing she’d planted a listening device under the fabric of his chair. If this was about the arms, the watchdog software would pick up the target words and wave a red flag. The knowledge lodged an arrow in her heart. For how long could she carry on doing this? She had to find a way to sway Tim from his shady dealings.

After a quick shower, Maya went downstairs for breakfast. It felt good being her old self. Frida was upstairs with Tim, working in the study. Lee was on the veranda, smoking. She had to get to the dive center and check the transcripts, as well as inform Joss of the change of circumstances. She didn’t know when her next opportunity would arise. The way to tackle Joss was not to give him a choice and not to ask for permission. She’d simply tell him she’d be in San José until further notice.