That rather erotic dance and kiss had actually been shared with Azriel, who’d taken Jak temporarily out of the picture—and taken on his form—to protect him. But because so many people had seen somebody they thought was Jak with me, I’d asked Azriel to supply him with memories of the evening. I just hadn’t expected said memories to be so complete.
“Then you thought wrong, Jak. As I told you on that night, there’s nothing left between us and there will be no repeat.”
“Nothing left, huh?” His hand whipped out and snared mine. His grin was devilish as I tried—without success—to pull away. “So the racing pulse, and the desire that stirs the air, is nothing more than my imagination?”
“Nothing more,” I said, and wished it was. Wished the past would just leave me the hell alone. But then, I’d invited it—and him—back into my life, so I had only myself to blame.
“And if I leaned across the table and kissed you,” he said, in a voice so intimate it felt like a caress, “you would feel nothing more than the press of lips against lips?”
My gaze dropped to the lips I’d once known so well, and then I closed my eyes, drew back a foot, and kicked him. Hard. He yelped and released me, and I shifted out of immediate reach.
“Well, it’s safe to say that was not the response I was hoping for.” His grin was somewhat rueful as he rubbed his shin. “But do not think me defeated. If I breached your defenses once, I can do it again.”
“Jak, give it up and just concentrate on business.”
“I can’t. I love a good challenge.”
“Yeah, almost as much as you love a good story, and that’s what wrecked our relationship in the first place.”
“That is undeniably true.” He caught the attention of a passing waitress and ordered a couple of beers. “So, business. I’ve been asking around about the murders of Frank Logan, his ex, and his secretary, and I’m afraid I’m getting nowhere fast. No one is talking.”
“Not surprising, given that everyone who knows anything is ending up dead.”
He nodded. “I did discuss Logan’s murder with his partners, but other than sussing out who’s handling his estate, I wasn’t able to get anything helpful, either about Logan or Nadler.”
I crossed my arms on the table and leaned forward a little warily. His spicy, woodsmoke scent teased my nostrils, warm and familiar. “Just as well I managed to get something, then, isn’t it?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”
“Like the names of Nadler’s three heirs.”
“Three heirs? He’s making damn sure we can’t easily track him down again.” He contemplated me for a moment, then added, “How did you manage that feat?”
“I talked to Logan’s ghost.”
He frowned. “I thought it was your mother who could talk to ghosts, not you.”
“On this plane, yes. I talked to him on the astral plane. He died before his time, so he’s stuck there rather than moving on.”
“Huh. The things you learn.” He gave the waitress a cheery smile as she arrived with our drinks. When she’d left, he added, “What are their names? I take it you’re following them up?”
I gave him the three names, then said, “We’ve initiated searches, but haven’t found anything yet.”
“I’ll see if any of my contacts can tell us anything.”
“Good. Also, could you nose around and see if there’s anyone in Melbourne selling transport charms?”
His eyebrows rose. “I may not know much about magic, but even I can tell you those things are rare. And expensive.”
“Yeah. But someone used one recently, and I Scenhen, isn want to find out where it came from.”
“This related to our quest?”
“Nope.”
“Then am I allowed to know what it’s related to?”
I hesitated. “It’s a Directorate investigation—”
“The vampire drainings.” His voice was grim. “Has to be. Not that we’re allowed to print anything about them, which stinks.”
“I can’t do anything about that.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll ask around, but don’t expect much.” He took a drink, then licked the froth from his lips, the simple movement raising memories of other things he’d done with his tongue. Desire stirred anew, and the heated spark in his eyes grew. But all he said was, “Now, to my news.”
“And here I was thinking we’d have to dance around it some more.”
He grinned. “I thought about it, but decided to take pity on you. You really do look like crap.”
“Maybe I look that way because people keep saying it,” I grouched, and downed half the glass of beer. Which wasn’t a good thing to do on a practically empty stomach, but I was half were and it wasn’t likely to affect me the same way it would a human. I waved a hand at him. “So, give.”
“I think I may have discovered where the fake Nadler—if he is indeed our dark sorcerer—has his base of operations on West Street.”
West Street being the street where Stane was located, and the area Nadler’s consortium had bought up. But before I could say anything, Azriel popped into existence behind Jak and pressed two fingers against his temple. Jak froze instantly, but no one seemed to find this—or a half-naked, sword-bearing reaper—interesting. Azriel was obviously controlling what everyone saw again.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked in exasperation.
Azriel raised his eyebrows, though his attention wasn’t really on me, but rather Jak. “Getting the information he holds, of course.”
“And you couldn’t get it the old-fashioned way?” I said. “You know, by actually letting him tell us?”
“Why would I do that when this is quicker?” His differently colored blue eyes clashed with mine, as distant and matter-of-fact as his expression. “I will be back.”
Before I could object, he disappeared again. I growled, but stifled the sound as Jak regained life. I said, “So how did you manage this minor miracle?”
“By keeping my ear to the ground.” He took another sip of beer. “There’s been some rumblings among the homeless in the area about being forcibly moved on—”
“The consortium has armed security patrolling the warehouses to stop the looters and taggers, so that isn’t really strange.” Especially in this situation, where the abandoned buildings surrounded one of the most powerful ley-line intersections in Melbourne. A sorcerer intent on using it wouldn’t want anyone stumbling upon anything by mistake.< S by tag/font>
“Yeah,” he said, his voice dry. “But these particular guards were dogs. Dogs that were big and black, with glowing red eyes.”
I blinked. “Hellhounds?”
“If you believe in them, yeah.”
“Oh, they’re more than real. Tao and I barely survived an attack from a pair of them.” And if Nadler—or whoever he now was—had hellhounds patrolling the area, then he sure as hell was hiding something big.
Which might mean our suspicions were correct. The sorcerer had used the power of the intersection to get onto the gray field and open the first of hell’s portals.
“And just when did this event occur?”
I returned my attention to Jak. “What?”
“Hellhounds. You and Tao. Details, woman, details.”
I waved a hand. “It’s not important right now.”
His growl of frustration practically echoed the one I’d stifled. “But you will fill me in later, won’t you?”
“Maybe.” I lightly bit my lip. “Did you uncover an exact location, or was it more general?”
“Exact. A warehouse on the corner of West and Reeves.”