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I paused on the edge of the clearing and looked around. The clearing appeared empty of everything but the fire.
“Tao, I really need your help. If you’re here, please come talk to me. Or even just listen, if you’re in elemental form.”
My words seemed to echo softly in the still morning air. After a moment, one edge of the fire seemed to pull away from the other; then it rose. The elemental swung around, its faceless form seeming to contemplate me for several seconds. Then its fiery form began to contract in on itself, until what stood before me was flesh and blood, not fire.
I heaved a sigh of relief and walked toward him, but he held out a hand, stopping me. “Wait. Don’t approach the fire, because the elemental is not trusting of anyone being near it and might just attack to protect it.”
I stopped immediately and waited for him to come to me. Then I threw my arms around him and gave him a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you and the elemental appear to have worked things out.”
“Yeah, so am I.” He returned the hug briefly, then stepped back, his gaze scanning mine. “What’s this about you needing help?”
I produced one of the small, ragged pieces of concrete. This bit had the anchor on it, though one edge had been snapped off. “I want you and the elemental to guard this.”
He frowned and took it from me, turning it over for several minutes before meeting my gaze again. “And why would you want this broken bit of concrete guarded?”
“Because it may be concrete here on Earth, but on the gray fields it’s actually one-quarter of the final key to the gates of heaven and hell.”
“Oh fuck, you found it?”
“Yeah, and we beat every other bastard to it, too. Of course, now the trick is going to be keeping it safe.”
“And one part of that is hiding the bits in different locations. Good idea.” He ran a finger over the raised anchor part of the shield, then added softly, “I can feel the magic in it, you know. It feels like the fire, but sharper, almost cleaner.”
And yet it had felt foul to me. But then, the elemental owed its existence to dark magic, so it was logical he would be sensitive to its presence—even if the source of that dark magic was Aedh rather than human.
“Can you keep it safe? We can’t allow anyone to access it, Tao, not ever.”
“Then I have the perfect place.” He spun on his heel and walked back to the fire. The closer he got, the more the fire responded, until it seemed to be dancing in eager anticipation. He stopped and held out the small section of shield. Fingers of flame reached out from the body of the flame and wrapped lovingly around both the key and his arms. An odd sort of smile creased his features, and just for a moment, flames rolled across his flesh. Then the fingers retreated, taking the key with them. Tao spun around and walked back. The fires still glowed in eyes.
“No one will take it from the flames,” he said. “And if they destroy the fire, they destroy any hope they have of accessing it.”
“Thank you.” I hesitated, then added, “Both of you.”
He smiled. “The elemental says it is happy we both have a reason to keep the flames going. What is your next move?”
“I’ve got to hide the rest of the key.”
“And Hunter?”
I grimaced. “Will be murderous, to say the least, when she discovers what I’ve done. It might be wise for you to hang around here today, just to be safe.”
“I doubt—”
“Tao, it’s not just Hunter we have to worry about right now. The council attacked Stane; I don’t want to chance them having a go at you, too.”
Alarm spread across his features. “He’s okay?”
“Yes, and he’s added extra security that he assured me a gnat couldn’t get through. But you’re a juicier target, so please, stay here. It’s just for one day. It’s all going to be over with, one way or another, by tomorrow.”
His expression, if anything, grew more alarmed. “Fuck, Risa, if you need help—”
I squeezed his arm. “I know, and I appreciate it, but this is my fight.”
“And Azriel’s, I would hope.”
“Considering he’s basically glued to my side, that goes without saying.” I rose on my toes and kissed him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I fucking hope so.”
