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“Jak, just tell me what you’ve uncovered. It’s important.”
“Answer the question on the table, and I just might.”
I opened my mouth to say, “For fuck’s sake, one date, no sex,” but what came out instead was a flat, “No.”
Jak didn’t immediately say anything, but I could see his surprise. Hell, I was surprised. And yet, weirdly, I also felt free. I may not have wanted him back in my life, but at least confronting him had finally freed me from the pain of our past.
I could move on.
At least until Azriel got around to shattering my barely healed heart again.
“Look,” I continued. “I’m not denying there’s still chemistry between us, but I have to wonder how much of it is just the pull of our wolf natures.”
“This is more than just that—”
“Jak,” I cut in, exasperated. “I’m with someone else. I don’t care how much lust might flare between you and me—or anyone else for that matter—it’s not going to happen. If you can’t accept that and move on, well, then, good-bye. But I won’t be blackmailed into something I don’t want.” Not this fucking time, anyway.
He stared at me for several seconds, then took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Okay.”
“Okay, you accept what I said, or okay, you’re out the door?”
He smiled. “The former. You still owe me a major story, my dear, and you’re not getting rid of me until I get it.”
I couldn’t help a chuckle. He really hadn’t changed. “Then cut the crap and tell me what you’ve got.”
“I just hope your reaper appreciates what you’re giving up,” he said, amusement teasing his lips.
“Who said it was the reaper?”
He snorted. “Anyone with two eyes and half a brain. Don’t try to kid a kidder.”
“Jak—” I warned.
“Okay,” he said, the amusement on his lips becoming an all-out grin. “There have been several weird fire-related reports popping up on the scanner over the last half hour.”
“This is the scanner you haven’t got because they’re illegal?”
“Do you want to hear the news, or not?”
I smiled. “I’m listening.”
“There’s been reports of fires breaking out on freeway verges near Strathmore, Keilor East, Calder Park Raceway, and another of a grass fire near Diggers Rest.”
“And?” I said, hoping there was more to the reports than just that. Spot fires weren’t unusual, especially along freeway verges. Cigarettes being thrown out of car windows started too many fires in the summer and autumn months.
“And,” he said, “all reports mention a figure seen fleeing the scene.”
I closed my eyes. Here it comes, I thought. “Was there any description?”
“Just one,” he said. “They all said the man was made of fire.”
Chapter 6
Damn, damn, damn!
Of course, there was always a chance it wasn’t Tao, but deep in my heart I knew it was a very remote one. While he wasn’t the only fire starter in Victoria, they all had one thing in common—even though they could make their entire body flame, they never appeared to be made of flames. Their features were always visible underneath them. If the figure seen fleeing the string of fires did appear that way, then there could be only two reasons why: Either a witch had conjured a fresh elemental, or Tao’s elemental was now in control of his body.
I rubbed my suddenly stinging eyes. “How long ago was the last report?”
