The other bad thing about becoming A
edh was its effect on my clothes. They disintegrated just fine, but re-forming them was trickier, as the magic didn’t always delineate bits of me from the other particles. Which meant I often ended up with a dust-like sheen covering my skin rather than fully formed pieces of clothing. Thankfully, my jeans had come out of the change almost intact, showing only a small patch just under my right knee. My underwear and bra hadn’t fared as well, hanging on in barely there strips that tickled my skin. My leather jacket, like my jeans, had a patch missing from the right elbow and was a little tatty around the bottom hem, but otherwise had come through in one piece for a change.
It was probably just as well that I’d left Azriel with the book. And that I hadn’t attempted to shift shape with him in tow.
I climbed carefully to my feet. The pain remained, constant yet bearable. The bullet wound had finally stopped bleeding, so I unwound the bloodstained bandage and tossed the scraps into the corner. Thankfully, my jeans were dark, so the blood wasn’t really noticeable.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. Metal and plastic weren’t affected by the shift into—or back out of—particle form, but unless they were touching skin, they wouldn’t actually change. Which is why I’d wrapped my hand around my phone and keys before I’d shifted. I knew from experience that there was nothing worse than metal and plastic stuck in the middle of your particle form.
“Hunter,” I said into the phone. The voice recognition swirled into action, its screen flaring with a vivid mosaic of color as I limped toward the elevators.
Her face appeared on the screen and she did not look happy. “This is not what I call immediately.”
Well, suck it up princess, I wanted to snap, because it’s the best I could do. I wisely didn’t say it, though, and was grateful she wasn’t here in person. Pissing her off wouldn’t be the wisest move right now, given she was all that stood between me and an extermination order.
I simply said, “Sorry, but something important came up,” then updated her on what had happened at Alston’s house, as well as what Azriel had said about both the creature and Alston.
“So,” Hunter responded, her voice a purr that was pure satisfaction. “Catherine is slated to die regardless of what we do. And in a manner that most becomes the bitch.”
“Yeah, she loves you, too,” I said.
Hunter laughed. It was not a pleasant sound, sending chills down my flesh. “I’m sure she does. Did you ask her to write up a list?”
“Yes. She said she’d get one of her thralls to deliver it.”
“Good. It will be interesting to see if there are any similarities to my own.”
“And if there are? Do you want me to pursue those leads or will you?”
“That will depend on which names we agree on,” she said, leaving me a little up in the air as to how to proceed. “What do you plan next?”
“I’m going to talk to Adeline Greenfield. She apparently set the protection wards Alston has in her home.”
“And you think the wards are faulty?”
“No. I’m just covering bases.”
“Excellent.” She paused, and darkness seemed to creep into her eyes. “It’s in your best interest to remember what you risk with the task, Risa. Keep me updated, or pay the price.”
I resisted the urge to gulp and said, “I will.”
The phone went blank. I blew out a breath, a little relieved to have gotten off so lightly, and said, “Tao.” Once again the phone sprang into action.
“Hey,” Tao said, as he came online. I could hear pots clanging in the background, which meant he was either at work or cooking up a storm at home. I was betting on the former. “What’s happening?”
“I wanted to ask you not to go home tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning to, but why? What’s happened?”
“Azriel and I stole the Dušan book back. I suspect the Raziq just might be a little aggravated about it.”
“Oh yeah, I imagine they would be,” he said drily. “I’m gathering everything went okay? You didn’t get hurt?”
“I’m fine,” I said, hoping he’d ignore the fact my voice ached with tiredness. And I was really glad he couldn’t see the state I was in.
“Ilianna’s here at the restaurant, so I’ll warn her as well. She can stay at Mirri’s until you give us the all clear.”
“It’ll probably be just for tonight.” Once the Raziq discovered the book wasn’t at our apartment, we’d be good to return home—I hoped. “How come you’re at the café tonight?”