“Well,” Jak said, once we were clear of the house and walking back to our cars, “that was intense.”
“Yep. And he was deadly serious about throwing us in jail.”
“I gathered that, so keep the man updated, for Christ’s sake.”
I flashed him a grin. “What? You don’t fancy cooling your heels in jail with me?”
“Sorry, no. I’ve been in jail once when I ignored a judge’s ‘no-print’ order.” He shuddered briefly. “I don’t care to repeat the experience—even with you.”
I snorted softly. “Do you think you can use your wily press ways to uncover where the secretary lives?”
“That isn’t even a challenge for a reporter as good as me.”
I rolled my eyes and leaned my butt against the side of his car while he made several phone calls. Eventually he turned and said, “Okay, she lives in a town house in Doncaster—you want to come with me?”
I shook my head. “It’ll save you driving me back here.”
“I wouldn’t mind—”
“I would. You and me trapped in a small car is not a good idea.”
“You don’t trust me? I’m mortified.”
“A statement that would be more believable if you didn’t have that smirk on your face.” I pushed away from the car. “Just give me the address and I’ll meet you there.”
He did. “Better not be late—I just might start questioning her without you.”
“Better not. I’m all that’s standing between you and jail, remember.”
He snorted. “The way things are going, you’ll be the reason I’m thrown in jail.”
I grinned, but couldn’t deny it. As I headed for my car, my phone rang. I dug it out of my purse and hit the ANSWER button. “Hello?”
“Well, hello,” a familiar voice said. “Are we over our snit yet?”
I ignored the jibe. “What can I do for you, Lucian?”
“Oh, I can think of lots of things, but I’ll settle for a simple dinner date.”
There was nothing simple about dinner dates with him—that I knew from long experience. “I’m afraid the snit lingers on, so the answer is no.”
He sighed. “Risa, we both know that you could have stopped me anytime you wanted. You simply didn’t want.”
That was possibly true—if I’d had Amaya on me and had forced him back at sword point. I doubted I’d have had the strength—or rather, the willpower—to do it otherwise. Which, again, struck me as odd because up until now I’d never been a pushover when it came to men and sex. But then, up until now I’d never been involved with a full Aedh, either.
“That’s not the point, Lucian.”
“What if I swear on bended knees not to push against your desire like that again?”
“Then I might forgive you,” I said with a half smile. “Just not today. After all, you did bet that I’d only last two nights without you.”
“I will hold my tongue in the future,” he said, with a laugh. “So, what have you been up to without me? I’m guessing your father hasn’t been in contact with you about finding the next key?”
“No. Life has been the same old, same old, I’m afraid.”
“Meaning you’re at work?” he inquired. “Against the reaper’s wishes?”
“Azriel doesn’t run my life any more than you do,” I said mildly—and, hopefully, sidestepped the question of where I was.