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“It is an option we must try.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“No.” He hesitated. “In all honesty, I do not think it will. Aedh magic is strong, and the Raziq have traveled down a path that has twisted and darkened theirs. I doubt we reapers would be able to counter it, let alone human magic.”
“But didn’t you say reapers aren’t particularly well versed in magic anyway?”
“We are soul guides first and foremost, but we were forced to at least gain some knowledge about magic and the portals when the Aedh priests all but died out.” He half shrugged. “But the dark magic that beats within you is far stronger than anything we have dealt with up until now.”
A fact the Raziq had undoubtedly been aware of when they’d shoved the tracer into me. I drank some more coffee, then said, “What are we going to do about the Rakshasa?”
“We will find it and kill it, as the councillors require.”
I snorted softly. He made it sound so simple, yet we both knew that was far from the case. “Yeah, but it knows you’re hunting it now. Do you really think it will come into that room without first checking that we’re not near?”
“If we are not near, we cannot know when it arrives.”
There was that. I gnawed my bottom lip for a moment, then said, “There was a camera in the room, and I’m guessing there’s sound, too. Maybe we could use that to our advantage.”
“The Rakshasa will not be visible on a monitor. Nor will you hear either her or the ghosts through a microphone.”
“No, but doesn’t the Rakshasa scratch her victims and follow them home before devouring them?”
“Yes.” His eyes gleamed with sudden understanding. “We can watch for such an event from a distance, then arrive at the victim’s house and set a trap for the Rakshasa before it arrives.”
“The only trouble is, the victim will be a vampire, and will sense my presence before he or she gets near the door.”
And given that I felt like shit and it was a state that didn’t seem to be improving in any hurry, I very much doubted I’d have the strength to remain in Aedh form for very long.
“I will set the trap and wait for the Rakshasa,” Azriel said softly. “You do not need to be near.”
I sighed. “Yes, I do. Hunter—and the councillors—want me to prove myself, not you. It has to be my sword and actions that kill this creature. Remember, her watcher is a witness to all that we do.” I paused. “Or have we permanently lost him?”
“He is downstairs. It appears he returns to our home base—wherever that happens to be—when we take energy form and he loses us.”
“Well, it doesn’t alter the fact that I need to be involved in the Rakshasa’s demise. I need to prove myself useful. Otherwise I’m dead.”
“Hunter does not want you dead. Not when you are still of use to her.”
“Hunter is not the council, even if she has grand plans to become head supremo.”
“Do not doubt that if Hunter wants you alive, you will remain alive, no matter what the council might threaten.”
I frowned, but before I could say anything, my phone rang. For several seconds I debated whether I should answer it or not, but in the end, the need to at least know who it was won out over the need to retreat from the world and get some sleep.
One glance at the screen told me it was Jak. I hit answer and said, “Hey—”
“No time for small talk,” Jak cut in brusquely. “Just get your uncle to the secretary’s place quick smart. Three men just busted their way into her house and they obviously don’t intend to sit down and chat.”
Chapter 11
“Oh, fuck,” I said, then added, “Don’t go in. Wait until we get there.”
“Ris, it’s three against one woman. I can at least even the odds a little—”
“Jak, you have no idea what you’re—”
I didn’t get the rest of the sentence out, because the bastard hung up on me. I swore, hit my contacts list, and dialed Uncle Rhoan.
