me that his promise of safe passage meant I’d be okay for the duration of the mission. Coming back to his territory after his two-week freebie concluded might be a problem, but they were working on a way to protect me from him should I ever need to cross his lands again. And it turned out they were right. Despite the niggling worries about Brude, and Cole, I slept well. No dreams. No interruptions. Until Vayl knocked on my door.
His hair sparkled, still wet from the shower. Wearing a black button-down shirt with pinstripes tucked into faded jeans he looked good enough to eat. I felt like a leftover taco. “Hi.”
“I am up for the evening.” Really, should it be legal for one man’s smile to make your heart skip a beat?
“I need a shower. And some food.” I thought a second. “And lessons.”
“Oh?”
“I’m pretty sure there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep you interested if you continue to catch me when my hair’s standing on end and my breath smells like drooly pillow. But maybe if some svelte supermodel could teach me a few tricks—”
The alarm in his eyes made me reach for Grief. Which was currently hanging in its holster on the headboard of the bed. So all I got for my trouble was a handful of armpit. Lovely. Problem was, I couldn’t even make farting noises to entertain him. All I could do was stand there and look like a freak show reject.
I think he might’ve read some of what I was thinking in my eyes, because his lips curled as he ran his fingertips down my arms.
“My sweet
“What a nice thing to say. I’m not sure I buy it, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Ah yes, you always did prefer actions to words.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Never fear. I am still working on a most amazing proof for the depth of my feelings for you.”
“Well, you could start by letting me get freshened up.”
“Certainly. Take all the time you need. I am just going to relieve Cole. I understand he and the girls are scheduled to sit in on Rhona’s presentation shortly.”
“Wow. So cool that I get to miss that.”
Unfortunately my shift at GhostCon started right after Cole’s ended, so I did have to endure a debate over what shades do when they’re taking a break from the haunting biz. Some panelists voted for them falling into a afalendkind of mystical coma state from which they emerged only when disturbed by our presence. Others insisted they functioned in a society of sorts, one much more savage than ours, where atrocity was the earmark of progress and success. After what I’d seen in Brude’s dungeon, I tended to agree with them.
The only other interesting occurrence that evening happened when I got back to the B and B in time to meet the Haighs on the way to their fancy supper.
“Wow, don’t you guys look ritzy?” I said as I met them on the walk in front of Tearlach. Humphrey wore a shiny black suit, white shirt, and bow tie while Lesley had chosen an ivory dress with matching low-heeled pumps.
“Thank you!” she said, her hand fluttering up to her hair. “I’m so excited. I’ve never been to Adair’s before.”
“Where’s your necklace?” I asked.
She looked at me blankly. “Excuse me?”
“The diamond rose necklace you had on last night. You said you’d brought it just to wear to this dinner.”
She gave me that polite smile people reserve for eccentrics and friendly drunks. “I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. I don’t own any necklaces like that.”
“Of course, my mistake,” I said, stepping aside to let them pass.
I told Vayl about the conversation as I took my linen-closet watch, but he still wanted to wait and see. “The mission is our priority,” he said as he handed off the laptop. “We must neutralize Bea.”
“Who’s taking her own sweet time showing,” I muttered as I grabbed the computer and thumped into the chair. “If she doesn’t make a move tonight I’m going to smoke her out.”
I know, impatient words from a girl who should’ve been an ace at waiting by now. But I wasn’t the only one who was sick of Bea’s lack of progress.
Chapter Thirty
Midnight. I’d once read this was the witching hour. Then I learned that only counted if the moon was full. As I jerked upright in bed, jarred awake by the shout in my head, I knew three things at once. The moon was only in its first quarter, showing like a halved dime in the sky. I’d overslept my shift change. And the voice I’d heard wasn’t my own.
Jack jumped into bed beside me, a forbidden practice that he knew would earn him a scolding. But as soon as he saw I was awake he bounded over me, went straight to the door, and began to scratch. I adjusted the receiver, which had fallen back into my hair while I’d napped. “Did you hear it too?” I asked.
Jack looked back at me and jumped on the door, the thump he made probably loud enough to alert Vayl, who’d retired to his room to see if he could pull up the results of the ash test we’d sent for, and also to help Albert hide from Rhona, who hadn’t given up her clumsy attempts at seduction.
The guys met us in the hall.
Before I could ask, Vayl said, “Cole is in trouble. Come.”
He led the way to the Scidair-hide. The door was cracked open. Vayl raised his eyebrows at me. As I drew and cocked Grief, I sent my extra senses into the room ahead of me. Shook my head. No scent of
