Ilianna studied me for a moment, then said, “Because you refused, didn’t you?”
“Well, yeah. Kinda.”
She snorted softly. “So he resorted to violence. And then, undoubtedly, threats.”
She was good, there was no doubt about that. “Against you and Tao, yes.”
“The man is a bastard,” Mirri muttered.
“Yes, except he’s not a man. He’s something far worse.”
“So we can’t do anything about him, right?” I nodded when she looked at me. “But why would you even consider undertaking a mission like that for the vampire council?”
“Because Hunter was a bitch and caught her in a moment of weakness, and now she can’t get out of the deal,” Ilianna commented tartly, then grimaced as she glanced at me. “And I suppose you’re going to this locker even though the last time you followed one of your father’s orders the Raziq used it as an opportunity to capture you?”
“I don’t have a choice, Ilianna.” Not about this, and not about helping Hunter. “And Azriel will be there.”
“He’d better be.” She glanced past me. “Hear that, reaper? Be there. Protect her.”
“Trust me, it’s in his best interests to keep me alive and functioning.”
“His version of functioning might well be different from ours, remember.”
Maybe, but in this case, at least, he needed me not only alive, but able to walk and talk. At least until I’d found the keys. “I’m heading there now. If I don’t call by one thirty, marshal the troops.”
She snorted. “Like that’s going to help.”
She was right—it probably wouldn’t. But if I didn’t at least have a backup plan, Aunt Riley would kick my ass. Although she was going to kick it anyway for going to the locker again after what had happened previously.
“Listen, have you heard of an Adeline Greenfield?”
Ilianna raised a pale eyebrow. “Sure. She’s a practitioner and is renowned for her protection spells. Why?”
“Because the vamp I just talked to had some of Adeline’s spells protecting her apartment, but something is getting past them.” I hesitated, then added, “And of course, this is all a secret. Hunter would be incandescent if this got out.”
“And Hunter is not someone I want to piss off,” she said. “Protection spells aren’t infallible. How well they work very much depends on how comprehensive the spell is.”
“Which is why I want to talk to Adeline. Do you know her well enough to get me in to see her?”
“I don’t, but I’m sure Mom does.”
I smiled. “Wouldn’t asking your mom involve finally being forced to meet your potential stallion mate?”
“You know, as far as stallions go, he’s not actually that bad,” Mirri commented. Both of us glanced at her in surprise, and heat crept into her cheeks. “What can I say? I was bored one weekend and he happened to be around. And it was before you and I were an item, just in case you were wondering.”
Ilianna smiled and squeezed Mirri’s arm gently. “I wasn’t. Although if Mom does insist on that dinner, then maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Introduce you, and get the rotten dinner date with Car-wyn over with.”
Mirri’s response was quick and joyous. She’d been angling to meet Ilianna’s parents for almost as long as they’d been an item, and while we both knew Ilianna wasn’t ready to come out of the closet, this would at least be a step in the right direction.
“That would me fabulous,” Mirri said, stepping forward and dropping a quick kiss on Ilianna’s cheek. “And as I said, Carwyn isn’t really that bad.”
“Maybe,” Ilianna said, her smile almost a grimace. “But if he starts coming on too strong, I expect you to run interference.”
“Your parents might not be too pleased …”
“He’s a stallion,” Ilianna said. “They wouldn’t give two hoots about you capturing his attention as long as I did as well.”
“True,” Mirri said with a laugh, then glanced at me. “Are you going to be home for dinner tonight? We’re making vegetarian lasagna, because Tao will be out with his new lady love.”