The blond guy behind the desk leaned back in his chair, his expression courteous. “Can I help you?”
“We have an appointment with Rhoan Jenson.”
“If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll inform him you’re here.”
“Thanks.” I walked over to the square of comfy chairs situated to one side of the foyer and sat, legs crossed. I was still wearing the shift dress, so a decent amount of thigh was revealed. But if Azriel noticed, he gave no indication—either physically or mentally. I squashed the sliver of disappointment and said, “Why have you been so absent?”
He half shrugged, the movement casual and eloquent. “I have no wish to be near when you are with the Aedh.”
“Granted, but what about before that? When I was at the café, and Tao exploded?”
“You obviously had everything under control. I did not see the need to interfere.”
In other words, he’d been too pissed off to interfere. I sighed. “Azriel, this distancing is not the answer.”
“Is it not what you wished for?”
I studied him for a moment, wondering if he was deliberately being obtuse. “You can’t solve a problem by ignoring it.”
“Unless I try, I will never know.”
“Surely there has to be a better way—”
“No.” It was sharply said, with an air of finality.
And it made me suspect there was more to this pull between us—more than just assimilation—that worried him. But, as ever, he didn’t deign to confirm or deny the thought—though I had no doubt he’d heard it.
Footsteps echoed softly on the highly polished concrete floor. I turned and watched Rhoan approach. His expression was grim as he stopped a couple of feet away. “We have ten minutes.”
He spun and walked back to the lifts. I hurried to catch him. His tension and anger stung the air and snatched at my breath.
“What do you mean by that? And why are you so angry?”
The doors swished shut behind the three of us, and the lift dropped rapidly to the basement levels.
“I’m angry because I hate having to bring you in on a Directorate case, and because Riley is going to kick my ass over it. Not that I have any choice. And what I meant was, we have ten minutes to set you up for your meeting with our killer.”
“Hang on—you never mentioned any of this.”
“Because we didn’t have the time. And I did tell you to hurry.”
“Yes, but you told me he wanted me on the case, not that he wanted to meet with me again.” My voice was defensive, hinting at anger but also fear. The very last thing I wanted to do was to meet the no-face stranger again.
“As I said, he’s offering a challenge.”
The lift came to a halt and the doors opened. The thick smell of vampire swept in, and my stomach began to knot.
Rhoan strode from the lift. I followed somewhat reluctantly. “So why ring to offer a challenge, and then demand to meet me? And where the hell does he want to meet?”
But even as the question left my lips, I knew. We’d meet on the astral plane again, where the Directorate could employ no traps and he could not be killed.
Rhoan confirmed what I was thinking, then added, “He wouldn’t give us the details, Ris. He wants you, and only you.”
I rubbed my arms and tried to ignore the trepidation that crawled through me. This could only end badly. I didn’t know enough about the astral plane or hunting madmen to avoid the trouble I sensed I was stepping into.>“As werewolves go, it seems I’m a poor specimen.”
“But you’re also half-Aedh. That should give you an advantage over regular wolves.”
“Not when my partner is apparently insatiable.”