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I wasn’t dense enough to answer that remark, so I said, “I’ll tell you when we’re doing the job.” I paused. “There was a weird thing earlier.”
“In New Orleans? How would you notice?”
“Fair.” I smiled. His love of our shared city was what we’d first bonded over. “Masked person. Possibly female. Attempted to injectvenominto a kid.”
“Unsuccessfully?”
“Yeah.” I thought about the kids. When I was their age, I had the sense not to go looking for again-walkers and the skill to do it anyhow. “They were lucky tonight. . . but if you hear anything . . .?”
“Of course. I’ll call you immediately.” He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Shall I drive you home? Or are you going hunting?”
“As tempting as both ideas are, I’m going to call a car.” I gave him a wry smile. “I think I need a minute alone to clear my head.”
“If you must.”
“I must,” I stressed.
“Until we next meet, Geneviève.” He nodded once, made a gesture to one of his omnipresent staff members, and then told me, “The driver will be out front momentarily.”
“I can call a car,” I objected.
He scowled. “And I can have you driven home.”
It was going to be athingif I continued to object, so I said, “I appreciate it.”
“Of course.”
For a moment, we stood there, not retreating, not advancing. Maybe it was relief that he’d acquiesced to my request for help or happiness that he’d be back at my side. Maybe it was simply joy that he was in my life when I was feeling so out of sorts. Regardless of the reason, I leaned closer and gave a light kiss in the air over either cheek.
“I’m joyous that we are back to this point,” Eli said in a voice that seemed more appropriate for bedroom promises. “When you are ready to proceed further, I’m here.”
No amount of logic could negate the images stirred by his words in that tone. I swallowed and attempted to appear unaffected, but I didn’t speak. I couldn’t trust myself to say anything remotely blasé at that moment. The darkness in his gaze made it quite clear that I was fooling no one.
Sometimes, I hated the way he could make me tumble toward lust. Other times, I wanted to kiss him into submission.
Chapter Four
“This is a terrible plan, Geneviève,”Eli stressed as we stood outside the locked cemetery a week later. “Even you must realize that.”
I stared at the fence in front of us, sparing a glance for the ever-darkening sky. The moon wasn’t winking at me yet, but sunlight was fast escaping. I’d met the widow. I’d made arrangements. It really ought to be simple.
“You always think my plans are terrible,” I muttered.
“Would you like to see my scar from the debacle at St. Anne’s, bonbon?” Eli reached down as if to unfasten his trousers.
“Only if you want to add a new scar, cupcake.” I’d seen the wound when it was fresh. Adraugrhad tried to go for Eli’s femoral artery. I lopped its head off while it was mid-bite, and the weight of the head tore a bigger hole. I still felt vaguely guilty about it. “Maybe you should head back. Being around me will lead to more scars sooner or later.”
Eli laughed in a way that seemed at odds with where we were. “I am here with you, Geneviève, instead of safely ensconced in my tavern or home. Does that not imply a willingness to bleed for you? I would accept many scars to be near to you if that is the cost I must pay.”
“That’s sounding close to a vow, Eli,” I warned as I walked along the fence, hoping I’d somehow missed the groundskeeper completing his rounds. “I don’t want a vow.”
“No vow, frosting,” Eli said lightly. “Just raw truth. I have faith in your skill.”
“Same,” I admitted.
He gave me a smile. “But?”
“I’m exhausted, and we’re behind schedule. And Marie Chevalier, the one that ate the security guard’s face, vanished. I’m honestly not sure what to expect.”
