Rhoan motioned me to sit, then slid a mug of coffee in front of me. “Here’s the deal. Our hunter wants to meet you on the astral field, where he will outline the details of his macabre challenge.”
I wrapped my fingers around the mug, but it didn’t do much to ease the chill from them. “So no one else can be there?”
“No Directorate personnel,” Jack said. “But he did say the follower you had on the plane was permissible, as he would not interfere. We need to know who your follower is, and whether you can trust him.”
Him. Not her, not them. In those bright depths, I saw awareness. He knew who was following me. Knew why.
But was that so very surprising? Hunter might not want the Directorate overall—and Rhoan and Riley in particular—to know about my dealings with her and the vampire council, but Jack was her brother and the vice president of the Directorate. It was doubtful she’d keep too many secrets from him.
Although I had to wonder what he thought of her plans to take over the council.
“My follower is someone who currently means me no harm.” I hesitated, then half shrugged.
Rhoan frowned, his gaze flickering between me and Jack. He knew something was going on. “That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement—who is he?”
“No one important.” I took a sip of coffee, then added, “And we haven’t the time to discuss this if our killer wants to meet me in a few minutes.”
“True.” Rhoan’s gaze went to the woman. “Elga?”
She leaned her arms on the table, her gaze narrowing. “You have not had much experience on the plane, have you?”
A smile twitched my lips. “You can tell this by just looking at me?”
“There is a certain energy that radiates from those who travel frequently. How many times has your spirit walked free?”
“On the astral plane? Once. But I do walk the gray fields.”
“That is something, I suppose.” She pursed her lips and didn’t look happy. “We must go prepare.”
Jack nodded. “Take her. Harris, monitor all incoming energies and let me know the second there’s any spike. Rhoan, you’ve got the sensors ready?”
He nodded and rose. I gulped down my coffee, scalding my throat in the process, then followed suit.
“This way,” Elga murmured, her long skirts swishing as she strode past me.
I followed her out the door and down the corridor. The room she entered was small and dark, and reminded me somewhat of Adeline’s room, without the thick padding underfoot. But the air was ripe with the scents of lavender and chamomile, and there was a comfortable-looking bed stuck in one corner.
It was also a room protected by magic. It caressed my skin, a touch that was warm and yet filled with power. It wasn’t as strong or as ancient as the force that protected the Brindle, but it wasn’t something anyone sane would want to mess around with.
Although I’d hazard a guess that our no-face killer didn’t exactly fall into the sane category.
“Okay,” Rhoan said, as he came into the room after me. “Strip off that dress.”
I did as I was bid, suddenly glad that I’d had the foresight to tuck clean underclothing into my purse before I’d met Lucian. Rhoan carefully stuck seven sensors on me—one at the base of my spine, then the others at the top of my head, middle of my forehead, my throat, near my heart, solar plexus, then the final one below my belly button. The chakra points, I realized. They were monitoring my energy flow, not my vital signs. I glanced around to Elga.
“We need to detect incoming energies.” She waved a hand to the bed.
I walked over and lay down. “And if you do detect them?”
“Then we will recall your astral body instantly.” She hesitated. “It shouldn’t be a problem, as this room is well protected. But it’s better to be safe than sorry when we have no idea what—or who—we are dealing with.”
With that, I could only agree.
“Now,” she continued, “do you remember the process?”
“Yes, but I prefer it to be dark.”
The lights went off instantly. Though it was pitch-black, Azriel’s eyes seemed to glow, blue stars in a world that was otherwise black. He didn’t say anything, didn’t do anything, and yet, strength surged. He was here, and I was safe.