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Unease slipped through me. I might have inherited clairvoyant abilities from Mom, but my abilities were nowhere near as reliable as either Mom’s or Ilianna’s. She could predict a sparrow’s fart to the second if she wanted to.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Bringing him”—she cast another scathing glance in Jak’s direction—“back into the fold is dangerous, for both the quest and you.”
“He’s not in my bed, nor ever likely to be.” As for our quest, could it really get any more dangerous? Somehow I doubted it. Yet even as the thought crossed my mind, I had to wonder if I’d just tempted fate. “And as far as my love life goes, it’s surely impossible for that to get any worse.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.” She touched a hand to my cheek. “Just be careful, okay?”
“I will.” It wasn’t like I wanted another bout of pain and heartache—though I had a horrible suspicion that was exactly what I was headed for. Only the source wouldn’t be Jak, but rather a stubbornly distant reaper.
“Good.” She glared at Jak once more. “And if you do anything to hurt her again, I will cast a spell so strong that you’ll never even fancy a woman again, let alone get it up.”
Jak winced and held up his hands. “I promise. I don’t intend to hurt her or write another story about her or anyone else related in any way to her.”
“Good.” She tossed her hair, her eyes sparkling. A mare enjoying her victory. “Now, tell me what you need.”
“Holy water,” I said.
“Of course you do.” Her voice was dry. “Because it couldn’t be something easy like demon deterrent, now, could it?”
“You have demon deterrents on you?” Jak asked, walking a little closer to the lounge.
Ilianna cast him a look that stopped him in his tracks. “Not on me, no.”
“But you have got them?”
“I can make them—”
“Holy water,” I interrupted, in an effort to keep the conversation heading in the right direction. “Have you got any?”
“Of course. Given the shit that has happened of late, I thought I’d better keep a good supply at the ready.” She paused. “What is it this time?”
“Hellhounds. Maybe.”
“Oh, fuck.” She shook her head. “Why are you two tackling hellhounds?”
I gave her a quick update, then added, “We need to get into that warehouse and see what we’re dealing with.”
“Which means you actually need me—”
“No,” I interrupted forcefully. “Absolutely not.”
“Ris, I know magic. You don’t—”
“I don’t care. Azriel said the warehouse isn’t on the ley intersection, so until I know for sure that’s what we’re dealing with, you’re not going anywhere near that place.”
“You don’t have to be in the intersection to use the power of it,” she said. “There’s going to be magic there, trust me.”
“Yes, but we don’t know if it’s been leashed or not.”
“If the sorcerer has used the intersection to hit the gray fields and open the first gate, it’s been leashed.” She paused, her concern deepening. “And if he has leashed the magic, then he’ll have more than hellhounds protecting it.”
“Undoubtedly. Which is why I don’t want you in the middle of it until we’re sure what we’re facing.”
“So why does he get to go, when he knows jack shit about magic?”
“Because risking his life means less to me than risking yours.” I flashed him a smile to take the sting out of the words.
