Darkness Devours (Dark Angels 3)

“It is possible.”

I swore, dug my phone out of my purse, and said, “Uncle Rhoan.” The psychedelic patterns ran across the screen as the auto connect sprang into action.

Then Uncle Rhoan appeared. “If you’re ringing to tell me you’ve discovered another dead body, I will not be happy. You know I wanted you off these investigations.”

Fortunately, there was a resigned weariness in his voice rather than anger. I had a suspicion that either Aunt Riley had talked to him or he’d simply come to accept that I wouldn’t stop sticking my nose into events. “I’m afraid there is another body and his name is—was—James Blake. He was a retired photographer who happened to be the attending photographer at John Nadler’s wedding. He was killed the same way as Mom.”

He was silent for a long moment, then said, “Are you okay?”

My attempt at a smile came out more of a grimace. “Queasy as hell, but holding up. You need to get people out here, but I also need you to check on Jacinta Nadler—we talked to her yesterday, and it just might have placed her in danger.”

He paused, and barked out orders to whoever was in the room with him, meaning he was at the Directorate rather than at home, then said, “Who’s we?”

I hesitated. “Myself and Jak Talbott.”

“Jak Talbott?” His voice was incredulous. “The reporter who used his relationship with you to do that hatchet job on your mother?”

I winced. “Yeah, that very one.”

“Why the hell are you working with him?”

“Because I’m trying to track down John Nadler, and Jak’s got a lot of useful street contacts.”

His sigh was one of exasperation. “Riley’s right. You’re not only pigheaded but determined to see this through no matter what you have to do, or who you have to use.”

It was no surprise she’d said that—she knew me better than most. “If it was Riley who’d been murdered,” I said softly, “wouldn’t you react the same?”

“The difference is,” he snapped, “I’m a trained guardian. You’re not.”

“No, but I’ve been taught to fight by two of the best, I’m not without means of protecting myself aside from that, and I have a reaper following me about who needs to keep me alive.”

He grunted. Whether that meant he was finally accepting my continuing pursuit of both Nadler and my mom’s murderer was anyone’s guess. “Okay, I’ve pinpointed your location. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” He hesitated, then added, “Do not go back into that house until I arrive.”

“I won’t.” I hung up and glanced at Azriel. “No matter what you think of Lucian, he can’t have been involved in this. I haven’t seen him, haven’t talked to him since last night, and even if he could read my thoughts, he wouldn’t have had time to get down here before Jak or me.”

“All of which is true,” Azriel commented. “That does not, however, change my opinion that he is involved in all this somehow.”

“You,” I said flatly, “are annoyingly pigheaded.”

“Perhaps it is the company I keep that makes me so.”

I snorted and waved a hand at Jak. “You’d better release him.”

“Do you wish me to update his memories to include your ringing the Directorate?”

I nodded. Azriel touched Jak lightly and energy swirled, whispering through me like a sweet autumn breeze.

Then he dropped his hand and met my gaze again. “And just to be clear,” he said, his voice even but a teasing light suddenly gleaming in his eyes, “I am not as immune to the virtues of that top as you believe.”

And with that, he disappeared again, leaving me shaking my head and smiling like an idiot.

“Care to share the joke?” Jak said dryly.

I glanced at him. “Sorry, just something my uncle said.”

“Your uncle the guardian, I gather we’re talking about?”

“Yeah.” I put my phone away. “To say he was rather surprised to discover I’m working with you on this is something of an understatement.”