“Then I’ll see you there.”
He nodded and winked out of existence. I reached for my phone and called Lucian.
“Hey,” he said, his vid-screen dark and voice brisk, almost edgy. I’d obviously caught him in the middle of something. Or someone.
“Hey, yourself,” I said. “You interested in meeting me at the hotel for a little key-finding strategy?”
Excitement swelled in his voice but didn’t really lift the edginess. “You’ve read the book?”
“Some of it. Unfortunately, we were attacked before I could read all of it.”
“Unfortunate, as you said.” He paused. “But afterward?”
“Afterward we were attacked by elementals and the book was incinerated.”
He snorted. “You’re not having a good run of luck, are you?”
“No, but we’ve got enough to at least find the first key. That’s a place to start.”
“I agree. Where would you like me to meet you?”
“I’m heading back to the hotel now.”
“Then I’ll see you there in twenty minutes.” He hung up, leaving me staring at the black screen, wondering why our short, sharp conversation had my senses tingling.
I frowned, but shoved the concern aside as I put my phone into my pocket. Holding it tight, I reached inside and unleashed the Aedh. Her energy didn’t rush through me—indeed, it was little more than a trickle, as if there was an inner awareness that I’d pushed my limits and was walking the edge of exhaustion.
The change swept over me gently, shifting me from one to the other. Even in Aedh form, I felt heavy, as if I was weighed down by more than my own flesh. And I guess I was, I thought, suddenly remembering Amaya. God, I had to hope that she didn’t become a part of me for real when I re-formed.
I headed back for Melbourne and the Langham. Neither Azriel nor Lucian was in the room when I arrived, and of that I was glad. I re-formed flesh, not only imagining the sword as a separate entity but, for the first time, imagining my wounds as fully healed. I hit the floor with a heavy splat that left me shuddering in pain and gasping for breath, my head spinning so badly I wavered between wanting to throw up and falling into unconsciousness.
“You are such a fool, Risa Jones.” The words seemed to come out of nowhere. I’d been so distressed that I hadn’t even felt the heat of Azriel’s presence.
Yeah, I wanted to reply, you’re not telling me anything I don’t know.
Hands touched me and energy flowed from them, bright and sharp and reviving. I wanted to jerk away from it—tell him I didn’t need his help—but the truth was, I did. If I wanted to see this craziness through to the end, then I had to at least be able to open my eyes and walk. Right now neither of those seemed a possibility.
The energy continued to flow, and my body grew warm again. I opened my eyes and met his. “Thank you, Azriel, but that’s enough.”
He raised an eyebrow, but did as I bid and took his hands from my side. “You are not yet at full strength.”
“No, but giving me strength more than likely drains you, and it’s more important that you’re whole than me. You’re a better fighter.”
“Having seen you fight, I’m not entirely certain that’s true.”
I snorted softly, and regretted the action almost immediately. “God,” I groaned, “whatever you do, don’t make me laugh. I think I’ll die.”
“I’m a reaper. I don’t do jokes.” I merely eyed him in disbelief, and he smiled. “Do you wish help to rise, or would you prefer to lie here until the Aedh arrives?”
“What I prefer is a shower. And that means getting up.”
“Would you like some help?”
“No, I can manage.”
He looked skeptical but didn’t actually say anything. I blew out a breath and slowly—carefully—pushed to my feet.
Azriel rose with me, one hand out, as if ready to grab me should I fall. I pushed the sweaty strands of hair out of my face and gave him a weak smile. “See? I told you I could manage.”