Page 102

I watched him until he’d turned the corner and I couldn’t see him anymore.

I considered going after him, but realized it was likely too late.

Iwalked back to my leather chair, and sank into it with a frustrated exhale.

I took a drink of the tea I’d been sipping earlier and forgotten about, then exhaled some more of my frustration, and yes, anger, and switched on my earpiece.

“Well, that went even worse than I expected,” I told Black, not waiting for him to speak. “You might have incoming, by the way,” I added, not waiting for him that time, either. “A very pissed off Jem, heading your way. I have no idea what his intentions are, but he walked out of here like he had something in mind.”

Black’s voice immediately switched to a growl. “Wait… what? How the fuck are you two finished already?”

“He walked out.”

“I gave him a directorder.I was in no wayunclearabout that.”

I threw up a hand, and let it fall to the leather armrest. I knew Black couldn’t see it, so it was purely my own drama. “Well, clearly, he didn’tlikethat order, Black. Which is exactly what I told you could happen, if you’ll recall.”

“He didn’t tell youanything?”

“Oh, he had plenty to say about me,” I said, annoyance leaking into my voice.

I felt a plume of anger off Black. “Anything else?”

“Only that the girl is dangerous. I don’t think this is all about Nick, by the way. Him walking in on Aura with Nick, and finding out she was pawing at Nick in his sleep, came across at least partly as an excuse. Most of what he said didn’t make a lot of sense.” Thinking about that, I grunted. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure heisangry about naked Aura pawing at Nick. But I definitely got the sense that wasn’t the real issue.”

“How could thatnotbe the real issue?” Black asked. “Jem had never laid eyes on her before he walked into that room. How would he have any opinion about her at all prior to that? He wasn’t evenwithus in Pacific Heights––”

“I’m aware of that, Black.”

“You’re not saying he knew her before?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then whatareyou saying, Miri?” he growled.

“I’m just telling you how it felt,” I said, my voice a touch annoyed.

I was a little sick of male seers yelling at me, honestly.

It felt like most of my day had consisted of that.

“I’m saying,” I went on, even more annoyed. “Whatever is wrong with Dalejem, it’s not really about Nick… or Aura. You asked for my opinion, and that’s my opinion. He’s unstable, Black. His whole demeanor changed right in front of me… like I wasn’t even there. Before that, I probably would have said he seemed afraid. Like his aggression and anger were covering upsomething that felt like fear for his life… or maybe Nick’s… or maybe both of them. After he changed, it’s like he was just blank. Like he’d turned himself off.”

“What does that mean?” Black asked.

He’d subdued his voice, obviously picking up on my annoyance.

“Turned himself off?” he clarified carefully. “Turned himself off how?”

I took a breath, combing my fingers through my long hair to get it out of my face, and away from my lukewarm cup of tea.

“I don’t know. It was really fucking weird,” I admitted. I tried to replay the memory. “His eyes changed, Black. It’s like he’d reached some limit on his emotional bandwidth and he just… shut everything down. He walked out right after he did that. He wouldn’t even look at me.”

Still thinking, I frowned in the direction of the window.

“Something has Jem scared,” I said, a touch more sure. “Him going in there and finding Aura naked and pawing at Nick struck me asalmosta relief to him, purely from a logic standpoint. It explained his own anger and fear to him. It gave his mind something concrete. But if I had to guess, whatever’s causing him to lose control started well before the girl.”

I frowned, still thinking as I drummed my fingers on the leather armrest.