Mrs. Hudson pawed at me, so I tossed her cow toy for her to fetch or dry hump. She was a healthy modern female with needs. No judgment.
“Now,” I said, when Rafael didn’t answer fast enough, and dragged him into the empty reception area for privacy.
“Was securing House Pacifica resources for our cause merely a ploy for you to develop an intimate relationship with Levi?” Rafael said, his eyes flashing.
“Huh? Busted. Having nothing else to recommend me, I appealed to his big strong protector self, because there’s nothing I love more than playing helpless to get a guy interested.”
“Ah. You were already sleeping with him, weren’t you?”
“We’ll make a Seeker of you yet.” I wiped some dust off the rubber tree plant next to the sofa. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“If it compromises our mission in any way, your arrangement with him ends. Personally and professionally.”
“So you don’t think going to the Queen compromised us?” I said slowly.
He scratched his jaw. “How certain are you that she won’t use this information against us?”
“Chariot tried to make her a scapegoat when they were stealing magic from those kids. She won’t forgive that and she certainly won’t get into bed with them.”
“Your methods are unorthodox, but I concede that there is merit to them. Chariot expects us to act like lone wolves. They won’t anticipate these tactics.”
“Thank you for being understanding, and I’m sorry. We should have discussed going to her with you first. I promise to be better at looping you in.”
“I appreciate that.” He turned to leave, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“I’m not done. This whole ‘first rule of Magic Snacking: there is no Magic Snacking’ business isn’t going to work. It happened and it likely will again. If we don’t find a way to deal with it, it could destroy our working relationship. I can’t fulfill my Jezebel duties without you.” I paused, looking for a delicate way to frame this next part. “Is it possible that your response in regards to assisting me with my problem went farther than merely the effects of that connection?”
He stared at me blankly, then shuddered. “I assure you I’m not sexually attracted to you.”
“It’s not a fate worse than death,” I snapped.
“Says you. That type of relationship does not bode well for Attendants and Jezebels.”
“Then what are you so uptight about? Admittedly, our situation isn’t great for either of us—”
“How, precisely, is it a problem for you?”
I glanced around to make sure we were alone, and still lowered my voice. “How about the part where the only thing that quiets my cravings and brings me back from the brink is sucking you off?”
Rafael grimaced.
“Ingesting your magic.” I slapped my hand against my thigh. “You know what I mean.”
“Your actions were taken out of necessity.”
“As were yours. I craved that connection, too.”
Rafael crossed his arms, his flush deepening. “Not as much as I did,” he muttered.
I threw up my hands. “You win the suffering Olympics. Mazel tov. Big deal. You had an involuntary physical reaction. Wait. Do you feel taken advantage of? Because I’m really sorry about—”
“Upon further, more clear-headed reflection,” he said, “what transpired was not the best approach to your dilemma regarding your cravings.”
Say “your” one more time and I’m going to punch you. “How should we deal with it?”
“If there is a scenario where the scroll’s presence is at all a possibility,” he said, “I’ll accompany you and be the one to physically handle it. However, I will not be thrust back into that position.”
The finality in his voice was absolute. The siren’s song lurked at the back of my skull, waiting for the chance to once more take center stage, and if there was no other cure? I’d be on my own. However, it was a workable enough solution for now. Reasonable even.
So why did I feel like a door had closed between us?
There was still one situation I couldn’t handle on my own. “When the time comes to destroy all the pieces of the Sefer?” I said. “I’ll need you then.”
“That one time, I’ll assist you.” He dropped his gaze to his feet, tension in every line of his body. “The entire episode was a… challenge to overcome.” The last part was spoken softly.
I seized on the opening. “Rafael—”
“Meantime,” he said briskly, “I’ll endeavor to find a viable alternate fix to your magic difficulties.” He couldn’t have retreated further into his stiff upper lip self if he’d tattooed the British flag on his face. Before I could reach out to him, he pivoted sharply and returned to the office.
I exhaled, leaning my head back against the wall.
“What the hell is going on with the two of you?” Levi drew closer, sipping on a steaming mug of coffee.
“We’re still working out the kinks in our relationship.” Shit. No. Not kinks. Annnnd new topic. I smiled benignly.
Levi stilled, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. “That smile is frankly worrying.”
“It’s a perfectly normal smile.” I patted my lips. Not too many teeth. Not too wide. “You’re imagining things. Now, how do I get a plane ticket to Antigua authorized? Or the House jet?”
“What’s in Antigua?” he said in a voice laced with deep suspicion.
“My dad’s best friend. Uncle Paulie.”
“Wouldn’t your mother have checked in with him when Adam first disappeared?”
“She did, but Uncle Paulie denied knowing anything.”
Priya exited Eleanor’s office with a now-empty tray, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Levi glanced at it, then grasped me by the elbow.
“Need help?” she said, shoving the tray at me. “Here. Wash this.”
“We’re good,” Levi said, hauling me down a short hallway.
“Okay,” Priya said, sunnily.
“You’re useless,” I called out, hoisting the tray in one hand.
Levi stuffed me into the small kitchen. “What if your Uncle Paulie is a member of Chariot?”
“He’s not,” I said with a scoffed laugh.
“You seem
