Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angels 5)

“That’s okay,” I said, noting with amusement—and perhaps a touch of annoyance—that she barely even glanced at me. “We just want to inspect its location for the moment.”

“I can’t see the harm in that.” She half shrugged. “It’s unit G-18. I’ll buzz you through the security door; then follow the corridor down and around to your right.”

“Thanks, Maggie.” Azriel gave her the sort of smile that would have melted the iciest heart. This poor woman had no hope whatsoever, and practically puddled on the seat. “It’s appreciated.”

“You’re very welcome,” she all but stammered.

Amusement glittered in Azriel’s bright eyes as he turned away. I followed, knowing I probably could have danced around naked and she wouldn’t have even noticed. I shook my head in amusement. You, reaper, are incorrigible.

He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised, and the laughter I’d caught earlier was now richer in the depths of his eyes. And why would you say that?

Because every time you have to cloud the mind of a pretty woman, you flirt.

On the contrary, I am merely polite.

I snorted softly. Polite doesn’t come in the form of a high-wattage, sexy-as-hell smile.

His amusement deepened, and it shimmered inside me, warm and enticing. So you think my smile is sexy?

I rolled my eyes and nudged him with my shoulder. Fishing for compliments, are we?

No. I merely ask a logical question. The security door buzzed as we neared it. He caught it with his fingertips, opening it and then ushering me through. It is the resonance of energy that attracts reapers rather than anything as fleeting as an expression.

I followed the receptionist’s directions, making a mental note of the regularly spaced security cameras, then glanced at him with raised eyebrows and said, Does that mean you don’t think my physical form is attractive?

Who is fishing for compliments now?

I grinned. Hey, it’s not like you throw them around with great abandon.

No, he agreed, and touched my back again, his palm still light against my spine yet somehow oddly possessive. Or maybe that was merely wishful thinking on my behalf. And yes, I find your physical form attractive. But it is the being within that flesh, the timbre and music of all that you are, that is the most dangerous to someone like me.

Because of the threat of assimilation. It was a sobering reminder of the risk we were taking, and I had to wonder whether it was actually worth it.

But how could I be around him and not want him? That seemed as impossible to me now as it would be to stop breathing.

“Indeed,” he agreed softly. Almost grimly. Then he motioned with his free hand. “The locker we seek is just ahead.”

I slowed as we neared it. It looked like every other unit in this area in that it was fronted by a double-sized roller door that was padlocked at either edge. I’m not sure why I’d been expecting something else—but maybe it was simply the fact that Nadler didn’t seem to do anything that could be considered ordinary.

Of course, Genevieve Sands might not be connected to him in any way—but I seriously doubted that was the case.

“There is magic here.”

Azriel stopped in front of the unit and crossed his arms. His expression gave little away, but blue fire flickered down the sides of his sword, radiating an energy that was oddly tense. Valdis—the name of the demon trapped within the sword, giving the steel a life and energy of its own—was as ready for action as her master.

I had a similar sword strapped to my back, but Amaya was shadow-wreathed and invisible. The only time anyone was truly aware of her presence was when I slid her dark blade into their flesh—although she did have a tendency to scream for bloodshed, and generally at the most inappropriate times.

“But what sort of magic? Good or bad?” I stopped beside him and eyed the roller door dubiously. I couldn’t feel anything, but then, I wasn’t always sensitive to magic.

“Neither. In fact, it is almost Aedh-like in construction.”

I frowned. “The only Aedh we know who play around with magic are the Raziq, and I seriously doubt they’d be involved on any level with Nadler.”

“There is Lucian.”

I frowned. “Yeah, but he isn’t capable of magic.”

“That we know of.”