Page 26 of Kiss the Dawn (Order of Helsing #4)

K aster went pale at my words, and his grip on me tightened too. It’s a weapon, and we have to find it.

“Then you need to stay close to Padma because that thing has been stalking her.”

Where is she now?

“Out on a case. But Kaster, it hasn’t hurt her. In fact, we’re pretty sure it saved Edwin and tried to help her when she was taken by the bounty hunter Shay.” He didn’t look convinced. “It’s the truth. It’s been free for days, and nothing bad has happened.”

Nevertheless, we need to be wary. Padma should be under protection.

“She’s with us. She’s safe.”

Maybe I should have her stay with me.

You can ask her if you want, but I’m not sure what you can do that we, Order operatives, can’t .

I was aware my tone was clipped and haughty, and I didn’t care.

His shoulders sagged. You’re right . But you’ll call me if anything happens.

“Why? Does your father want the entity? And if so, why?”

He balked. No. I just want to make sure that you’re all safe.

What was wrong with me? Why was I being so defensive? I shook it off and smiled. At least we know who the dead vampires are now. But we still have no idea who murdered them and why. If they didn’t take the artifact, then what was the point? And who sent the Order to put out the fire?

I don’t know. That’s something I was hoping to use the teapot to find out. Lure them out maybe?

“I still have the teapot…”

Bait.

I smiled. “Exactly.”

He pressed his lips together. We need to keep this quiet. Need to know basis only.

“Of course. Shall I fetch the teapot?”

Not yet. Let me put a plan together and then I’ll come for it. Keep it here, and keep it hidden for now.

Silence fell between us now that business was complete and awareness seeped into my bones, of his scent and proximity and the pressure of his hands on my shoulders .

His gaze softened and darkened. Did he feel it too? The connection between us?

I swallowed past the dryness in my throat. “Okay, so we’re good, then.”

He released me and tucked his hands into his pockets. Yes. I better get back to the office, but I’ll be in touch and… He sighed. About last night and the text message I sent ? —

You don’t have to explain. It’s fine. I’m fine.

His gaze dropped to my mouth for a beat, and then he looked away, twin spots of color blooming high on his cheeks, and damn did it feel good to know I affected him. He wanted me. He just thought he was doing the right thing by keeping his distance.

I could live with that.

For now.

I backed up with a smile. “I best get back to work.”

Yes, of course. He picked up his umbrella, tore his gaze from me, and headed for the door .

I took pleasure in watching him leave because that man had the nicest ass.

The package arrived just after three.

A small rectangular machine that looked like a cross between a mobile phone and a tablet, except it was embedded with crystals .

I carried it into one of the interrogation rooms and used the instructions to activate it. Mouth dry, pulse racing, I pressed the open channel button, set it on the table, and stood several feet away.

A couple of seconds passed, and then the air began to hum. The crystals lit up, and a cone of blue light shot up from the contraption.

The haze cleared a little, and a face appeared, wide dark eyes looking this way and that from an oval face framed in silvery locks.

“Is it working?” she asked, her voice soft and breathless. “Is it—” She blinked sharply and focused on me. “Oh…”

I lifted a hand in greeting. “Hi.”

She smiled shyly. “Hello, Orina. What a lovely name. I’m so glad to see you, finally…” Her gaze tracked over me. “You’re so beautiful.”

“I guess I take after my mother,” I said wryly.

He cheeks pinkened. “I, um…that’s very sweet.” She looked away at something I couldn’t see and nodded. “I’m told you wished to speak to me. To see me. That you have questions. I’ll do my best to answer them.”

My heart sank, because hadn’t she wanted to see me too? My face must have reflected my thoughts because she shook her head quickly.

“I wanted to see you too, of course I did, I just…I never expected it to be a possibility and—” She broke off again to look to the side, and her mouth tightened slightly in annoyance—the first flash of fire I’d seen on he r face. The first sign of me. “I know,” she bit out. Then to me, “We don’t have much time. The connection won’t hold for long. I assume you want to know why I gave you to the Order?”

“Yes.”

“I wanted to save you from this life. The duty of procreation. I wanted to free you, so when he found me and offered to take you off the Isle, I jumped at the chance.”

“Who was he? What was his name?”

“I don’t know. He never gave a name.”

“And you just gave him your baby?”

“He had a blessing on his arm. He was with the Order. I could feel his power.”

“And he just happened to cross your path.”

She looked away, her gaze almost shifty, then up again at the person out of my view. Her jaw hardened, and she exhaled. “Fine. I knew him from before I was mated. We met when an Order envoy came to the Isle. We were lovers for a brief time and even after…we kept in touch. I spoke to him of my worries and my grief when I lost your father. I told him I feared for you, and he offered to take you. It went from there.”

“His name. I need his name.”

“Micah. His name was Micah.”

My stomach lurched. “What?” How many Micahs were there in the Order? Only the one that I knew of. My mentor. My friend. But it made no sense. My Micah was early thirties, so he would have been much too young to be her lover…or was he in his early thirties? The blessed aged slowly, after all. He’d never told me his age. “Why didn’t you tell the Circle when they interrogated you? Why tell me now?”

Her smile was a jaded thing. “I needed to be able to warn him, and I couldn’t do that until they allowed me to come back home.”

The feed trembled, and my mother was replaced by Daphne. “Rest assured this Micah person will not escape justice. We will?—”

The feed cut off, leaving me staring at a blank wall, heart in my mouth.

Micah was the baby smuggler.