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I frowned. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea—”
She waved my objection away as she picked up her phone. “Jack owes me more than one favor. Besides, if this goes sideways, it’s better that the Directorate be involved.”
Please, God, don’t let it go sideways. I licked my lips, then nodded. As Riley made the call, I glanced at Quinn. “I’m meeting Lucian at eleven thirty. I know that doesn’t leave much time to plan anything, but I can delay him for at least an hour.”
He said, “The longer you can delay, the better it will be. We’ll ring—”
“You can’t. My phone is dead and I left it home.”
“Then I will shoot you a telepathic message when we’ve freed her.”
“But I’m wearing nano microcells—”
“Which have not the capacity to stop me, no more than they could Riley.” Quinn glanced at her as she got off the phone. “All set?”
“Rhoan is gearing up surveillance as we speak, and Jack has approved full Directorate participation.” Her gaze met mine. “He said he owed you a favor. Care to explain that?”
I kept my expression—and thoughts—carefully neutral. “I was asked for advice on some demon-related killings Rhoan’s investigating. Couldn’t do a whole lot to help, though.”
“Hmm.” Her expression suggested she very much didn’t believe my reply, even though it was the truth as far as it went. “We’re not going to need your friends, so tell Tao and Carwyn to cool their jets. We’ll contact them the minute we can.”
If they are not going to help free Ilianna, perhaps we should bring them in on the key—
No, I said, before he could finish. Definitely not.
Risa, I do not trust the Aedh, and it might be wiser—
I won’t risk my friends again, Azriel. I’ve already done enough damage to them. Out loud, I said, “You’ll let me know the minute you have her? And you’ll both be careful?”
“We will, on both counts.” Quinn glanced at his watch. “If you were planning to scout the area before you met Lucian, you had better hurry. It’s almost eleven now.”
We left.
But not without a prayer to the fates and whatever gods were listening that everything went as planned and everyone got out alive.
And that included me and Azriel.
Because the shit, I suspected, was about to hit the fan big-time.
Chapter 13
The Arms and Militaria Exhibition was being held in a beautiful redbrick building that had once been a post office. It sat on one corner of a street that was a mix of old architecture and more modern—but infinitely uglier—concrete buildings, a grand old lady that time had not diminished.
The street itself wasn’t crowded, although the parking lot across from the old post office was full, and I doubted they were all here for the nearby florist or the computer shop.
A roundabout was situated at the right end of the old building, but to the left there was a small metal gate and a green covered pathway that led—presumably—around to the back. Handy, given I had to set up the ward somewhere it wouldn’t be noticed—presuming it was a ward in the box my father had sent, and not something else.
“Whatever lies in the box,” Azriel said, “it certainly involves some form of magic. It crawls over my skin.”
I frowned. “Why would it have that reaction? It’s supposed to keep the Aedh out, not you.”
Azriel’s smile was tight, without humor. “Your father does not want me in possession of the keys any more than he does anyone else.”
I rubbed my head wearily. “You know, I hadn’t even thought of that possibility.”
He shrugged. “It is better to have us all locked out than none of us.”
“You can bet my father won’t be locked out. Or the Razan.” Not to mention the dark sorcerer. I doubted he was going to miss out on the action, given his success stealing the first key.
