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“Why would I do that when this is quicker?” His differently colored blue eyes clashed with mine, as distant and matter-of-fact as his expression. “I will be back.”
Before I could object, he disappeared again. I growled, but stifled the sound as Jak regained life. I said, “So how did you manage this minor miracle?”
“By keeping my ear to the ground.” He took another sip of beer. “There’s been some rumblings among the homeless in the area about being forcibly moved on—”
“The consortium has armed security patrolling the warehouses to stop the looters and taggers, so that isn’t really strange.” Especially in this situation, where the abandoned buildings surrounded one of the most powerful ley-line intersections in Melbourne. A sorcerer intent on using it wouldn’t want anyone stumbling upon anything by mistake.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice dry. “But these particular guards were dogs. Dogs that were big and black, with glowing red eyes.”
I blinked. “Hellhounds?”
“If you believe in them, yeah.”
“Oh, they’re more than real. Tao and I barely survived an attack from a pair of them.” And if Nadler—or whoever he now was—had hellhounds patrolling the area, then he sure as hell was hiding something big.
Which might mean our suspicions were correct. The sorcerer had used the power of the intersection to get onto the gray field and open the first of hell’s portals.
“And just when did this event occur?”
I returned my attention to Jak. “What?”
“Hellhounds. You and Tao. Details, woman, details.”
I waved a hand. “It’s not important right now.”
His growl of frustration practically echoed the one I’d stifled. “But you will fill me in later, won’t you?”
“Maybe.” I lightly bit my lip. “Did you uncover an exact location, or was it more general?”
“Exact. A warehouse on the corner of West and Reeves.”
Which was the other end of the street from Stane. Maybe that was why the consortium had left him and the bar—the only two businesses in the area to remain in private hands—alone.
Azriel reappeared behind Jak. “I cannot access the site, but whatever is within, it is not the intersection itself. It lies farther down the road.”
Jak jumped and swung around. “Fuck it, reaper, you could at least give some kind of warning before you pop into existence like that.” Then he frowned. “How the hell did you even know about the site?”
“He can read any mind he chooses to,” I explained, and switched my gaze to Azriel. “How come you can’t get in?”
“There are wards similar to the ones your father once used set around the warehouse. I cannot enter when they are in place.”
I frowned. “I wonder if the wards are set to repel all energy beings, or just reapers?”
“I cannot tell. The magic involved is beyond my understanding.”
Ilianna would no doubt be able to tell us what it was, but I wasn’t about to ask anything else of her unless it was absolutely necessary. She’d already placed herself in enough danger for this quest of mine. “We need to get into that warehouse to see what the wards are protecting.”
“I’m glad you said ‘we,’” Jak commented, “because you’re not going anywhere without me.”
I flicked my gaze to him. “Hellhounds are not something you want to tangle with.”
“Probably not, but this is my story, remember, and I’m damned if I’m going to be cut out of it.”
Do you wish me to tamper with his thoughts and send him home? Azriel asked.
I hesitated. No. I don’t want to go into that warehouse alone.
If there are hellhounds, you will be better off calling your uncle. Jak will be of little use—you endanger his life for little reason.
