Page 90

I peered up at him through my lashes. He ran a hand through his hair, looking endearingly uncertain for an immortal. I’d almost expected a cheeky retort, but instead…

“We could figure it out together?” I offered softly.

His green eyes met mine, the low light in the room reflecting in the golden flecks of his irises. “I’d like that verra much.”

I couldn’t help but mirror his smile. A car passed outside, its headlights sweeping across the ceiling. The brief flash of light reminded me why he was here.

I cleared my throat. “So what did you come here to tell me?”

Nicholas straightened, a predatory stillness returning to his frame. “I believe it’d be beneficial to visit your local… information hub, as it were.”

“You want to find Solace?” I huffed. I’d forgotten all about the eternally teenage vampire, with all that had been going on. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. If anyone could tell us how this killer is spying on us, it’d be her.”

“Aye. Tom mentioned she sensed me here afore anyone else did. I suspect she may have a talent for it.”

I laughed shortly. “You havenoidea.”

I brushed past him toward the hallway and pulled on his ancient, soft leather jacket. His sleeve caught mine as he glanced down at it, amusement dancing in his eyes, though he didn’t comment. The simple touch sent sparks racing up my arm, and I dropped to the bottom step, yanking my boots closer to hide my reaction.

“She’ll expect payment, though. Solace doesn’t do anything for free – and I already owe her for the last time.”

???

Since I no longer had a vehicle to speak of, Nicholas drove us across the city in the sporty black Maserati I’d seen Adam and Isabel climb out of once before. He sped along the empty streets, the car purring beneath his touch – though whether it was fancy engineering or his skill as a driver was hard to say. Regardless, it was strange to see him doing something so normal.

After a few minutes, Nicholas spoke up.

“Are ye okay, love?”

I continued to stare out of the window, watching the streetlights blur past. “Yes. No.” I sighed. “I don’t really know.”

“If it’s the plan…” he trailed off. “It’s no the safest way to do things, and I cannae say I like it, but it’s no a bad plan.”

I nodded. “I know.”

He waited a moment before replying. “Mayhap I candistractye from your worryin’.”

I turned to him to find a small smile playing around his mouth, the lights on the dash reflecting off his eyes in the darkness. “What sort of distraction?”

He hummed in the back of his throat. “I can think o’ plenty, but for right here and now, perhaps we could just… talk?”

“Talk?” I smiled despite myself. “About what?”

“Anythin’. Everythin’.” His fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel.

I watched his profile, my eyes tracing the strong line of his jaw. “How long were you in the city before we met? That night in the park, I mean.”

Nicholas’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “I was wonderin’ when you’d ask.”

He expertly navigated a sharp bend in the road, the powerful car responding to his slightest touch. Behind, the twinkling city lights spread out below us as we climbed higher.

“And?” I prompted.

“A few days,” he admitted. “I caught your scent the first night I arrived. Thought I might be imaginin’ things at first. So I spent my nights… followin’. Catching glimpses.”

“You were stalking me?” I raised an eyebrow, though the revelation didn’t really bother me.

He shrugged. “I prefer to think of it as… reconnaissance.”