To say our sudden appearance in the middle of her living room was something of a surprise would be the understatement of the year. I waited until she stopped swearing, then dropped a kiss on her cheek. “And good morning to you, too.”
“Well, it was a good morning until you scared the life out of me and made me spill my coffee.” Amusement teased her mouth and lit her gray eyes as she walked into the open kitchen area and grabbed a cloth. She tossed it to me, then added, “Seeing as I have to make a fresh cup, do you want one?”
“No, I haven’t the time.” I bent and wiped up the spillage. “I’m actually here for help.”
“I’m gathering it’s not key related, given your determination not to involve any of us in that search.” Her voice was wry. “Which, by the way, is neither warranted nor necessary. We have faced far worse in our lifetimes than rogue Aedh.”
“Which is precisely why I don’t want you involved.” And she knew that. “But this is related. Sort of.”
“Go on.”
She crossed her arms and regarded me steadily. A rock I could always depend on, no matter what, I thought with a half smile.
“Lucian has kidnapped Ilianna and is holding her hostage against my good behavior at a warehouse in Link Court, Brooklyn. According to the Brindle witches, she’s protected by magic that will allow neither Aedh nor reaper entry.”
“Then I’m surprised Lucian is still alive. In a similar situation, I would have killed the bastard.”
“A sentiment I totally agree with,” Azriel said.
I gave him a look over my shoulder, but he merely raised an eyebrow at me.
“Then why isn’t he dead?” Riley said. “It would solve the problem of being forced to do what you do not wish to.”
“If he doesn’t report in every hour, the men holding her have orders to kill her.”
“Ah.”
“Also, I do not think those men are human.”
She shrugged. “Non-human I can deal with.”
“Yeah, but these are non-human and Razan.”
“Meaning the fight will be infinitely more exciting.” She grinned and cracked her knuckles. “I haven’t had a good fight in quite a while.”
“That is because you’re supposed to be settling down to a quiet life.” Uncle Quinn’s gently lilting tones seemed to come out of the air itself. “And you were intending to call me in on this, weren’t you?”
He re-formed next to Riley, his expression a mix of love and amusement. Like me, he was half Aedh, and was, in fact, the man who had taught me all of my skills.
“Of course,” she replied, a smile on her lips and her eyes sparkling. “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the excitement.”
Quinn rolled his eyes and glanced at me. “What do we face?”
“Magic, electronic security, and more than likely Raziq.” I hesitated. “Tao and Carwyn—Ilianna’s potential mate—want in on the action.”
Quinn frowned. “Given we face an unknown number of combatants, I don’t think it wise to involve anyone who isn’t fight trained.”
“Maybe, but the magic is aimed at those who are energy or half-energy beings, so it’ll prevent you from getting in.” I switched my gaze to Riley. “I know you’re one of the best, but I don’t want you going in there alone. I couldn’t stand to see you hurt.” Or worse. I didn’t say it, but it hovered in the air, regardless.
“I won’t be alone. I have a twin, remember, and he loves a fight even more than I do.” She smiled, walked over to gather me in her arms, and hugged me fiercely. “It’ll be all right, Risa,” she added softly. “It always is.”
Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them away rapidly. And wished, with all my heart, that I could believe her. But deep down I knew it wasn’t going to be all right, that it was never going to be all right. All right had long ago passed me by, and I was sliding faster and faster into the darkness that my mother had foreseen wrapped around me all those years ago.
“What we need,” Quinn said, “is eyes on the situation. Once we know what we face, we can plan our attack.”
“Stane can hook into all the security cams in the area—”
“So can the Directorate,” Riley said. “And it’ll be easier and faster. I’ll get Rhoan on it immediately.”