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Inodded. “Thanks,”I said, not feeling particularlypositive.

Loch finishedthe remainder of his drink and patted my back. "I gotta go. We'll catch uplater?"

"Yeah,"I said. After he left, I took my drink and walked to the huge window overlooking the city. The Crystal Hound was an exclusive lounge in one Wolfheart's tallest skyscrapers, and it certainly had one of the best views of the sprawl. The city lights glittered like a carpet of stars below. I went over the events of the day in my mind, still in a haze of disbelief. It felt like a dream. In fact, I'd had dreams just like this—with him showing back up in my life. I closed my eyes, and I could feel the soft press of his lips on mine. Maybe I shouldn't have kissed him, but it just felt like the natural thing to do. Our lips were calling to one another. Our bodies were,too.

Iwanted him so badly.How could I help him? How could I rescuehim?

"You looklike you're having a rough day," a voice said. I opened my eyes. A dark-haired woman with opal eyes smiled at me from a leather easy chair, her crossed thighs hugged by a tight fitting black dress. She fingered a glimmering diamond necklace as she sipped on a martini. I turned toher.

"Why do you say that?"

"Ican seeit in your face." She stood and walked over to me, her body all fluid lines. She gazed out the window, and I caught a whiff of her perfume. It sent a tingle of habit through my body—she was the kind of woman I would've gone for in an instant. Sexy, sophisticated, forgettable. "Beautiful view," she said. "I'm surprised I've never come herebefore."

"Mm."I wasn't really listening. Not like me. Normally, I would've focused my game on her immediately, but rightnow...

"Let me get you another drink,"she said, gesturing towards my near empty glass. I held it up and examined the remainder ofwhiskey.

"No, thank you,"I said. "I've probably already had enough todrink."

"Oh. Well, a water then?"

"Sure."

Iwalkedwith her back to the counter, where we both took a seat. She ordered another martini and a glass of water, and I thought about Perry. How long did I even have before he vanished from my life again? Before Gregor Houndfang came and stole him away? I gritted my teeth as anger flushed inside ofme.

"Sometimes it helpsif you talk about it," the woman said. "And I'm all ears. My name'sAva."

"Arthur,"I said, and shook her hand. "Look, Ava, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm notinterested."

She smiled."All I'm looking for is some good conversation. I can't get it at home, so I come here. That's all I want. No stringsattached."

Isighed,and then proceeded to unload the whole story on her. Normally I wouldn't have been so open about my private business with a random stranger, even if I had been trying to sleep with her, but I was boiling over. I needed to vent and, well, she asked for it. Everything just spilled out, and I found myself opening up even more to her than I had with mybrother.

"That's about it,"I said, swigging down my glass of water. I wanted it to be whiskey, but I really'd hadenough.

"Well,"she breathed, her eyes wide. I waited for her to back away from me slowly and run out the door. Instead, she flagged the bartender. "One more martini and a glass of water,please."

"Let me get that one,"I said, feeling slightly embarrassed, but sherefused.

"Iunderstand his frustration completely,"she said. "To be trapped with someone who you despise is a tax on the soul. And I can only imagine how you feel. Being kept from the person you love is probablyworse."

"Maybe,"I said. "At least I can forget. He has to live with it everyday."

"Tell me one thing,"she said. "Why are you sitting around in this bar? You should be out there withhim."

"Well, he... I..."

She eyed me.

"Idon't know,"Iconfessed.

"You should go get your man,"she said. "Who cares about anything else? Who even cares what will happen later on? You have a chance to be with him again, right now. If I were you, I'd be fucking his brains out right now." She casually sipped on hermartini.

What the hellwasI doing?Perry wasback.

Istoodup from my stool, and shegrinned.

"Hey, thank you,”I said. “You're amazing. Excuse me? Get this woman another drink, anything she wants, put it on mytab."

She laughed. "Good luck,"she said in a singsong tone into her martini glass, and I ran out of the lounge, hopped into the elevator, and was soon on my bike riding towards the Windhelmestate.