but he’d been up as long as I had, and we were both tired.
“Maybe that’s all it will take,” I said, words spilling out in a rush. “If the baku is damaging his soul, he needs to know about it.”
“I think he already does.” Trent yawned, and I could imagine him rubbing his chin. “But I’m not going to the I.S. or the FIB with the claim that Landon is working with a sentient energy with the intent to murder people without having seen the baku damage myself first.” He hesitated, then softly, almost breathing the words, he added, “All we have is Zack’s say-so. Landon could be using him to discredit me without him even knowing. I can’t risk what’s left of my reputation until I know for sure.”
“Yea-a-a-ah,” I said, wincing. Here I was worried about Trent letting his emotions make him vulnerable, and I was the one not thinking three moves ahead. “So how do we get a blood sample?” I prompted, and Jenks’s wings pinked up, vibrating in anticipation. “Go in. Hit Landon on the head. Prick his finger? In, done, and out in five minutes.”
“Perhaps inviting him to dinner?” Trent suggested dryly. “He’ll show if Zack is there.”
“But. . . . if you’re worried he might be working with Landon . . . ,” I started.
“Exactly,” Trent interrupted. “I need to see them interact.”
My head bobbed as I got it. “How about Carew Tower?” I was dead tired, but I couldn’t sleep until this was over. “Very public, and they know us.” Crap on toast, I need a dress.
“It’s short notice, but I’ll make a call. I might get through to Landon if I mention Zack,” Trent said sourly.
“Okay.” I bit my lower lip, guilt rising. Once upon a time, there was a noble elf who lost everything because of the one he chose to love. . . . “I, ah, should probably go to my boat tonight.” True, it was technically Kisten’s boat, but none of his relatives had shown up to claim The Solar. I didn’t even know if he had any living relatives. The dead ones wouldn’t have been interested.
“To pick something up? You’re staying here for the night, right?” Trent said, and my eyes flicked to Jenks. That hadn’t been my thought, but Trent had sounded almost desperate. Grimacing, Jenks rose up on a column of blue dust and flew away to give me some privacy.
“Um, sure,” I said, thoughts churning. “None of Ellasbeth’s dresses do squat to hide my splat gun. We can keep each other awake again.”
“Good. Good,” Trent said, clearly relieved. “Is Jenks still with you?”
I looked up to find him, but Jenks had darted over before I could open my mouth. “You think I’d leave Wendy of the Damned Boys alone when she’s got a piece of magnetic chalk in her pocket?” he said, and I pushed Jenks back with a glare, a hand briefly over the receiver. Privacy was an illusion around the sharp-eared pixy.
“See you in about an hour,” I said. “Let me know if you get through to Landon.”
“Will do.” Trent hesitated. “Rachel . . . I want you here. And not because of the baku.”
“I know.” I went silent, afraid to voice my fears. How could something so good cause so much trouble? I needed him, and he needed me, and the demons and elves just needed to back off.
But neither one of us said anything until finally Trent sighed. “Good. I’ll see you soon. Zack?” he said louder, his tone confident again. “I need your help.”
My brow furrowed at the click, and then I looked at Jenks hovering at eye level. I need your help echoed in my thoughts as I put my phone in my back pocket. I’d be willing to bet Zack had never heard that before. “I wish you could see intentions as you can auras, Jenks. Landon could be using Zack to discredit Trent and the kid wouldn’t even know it.”
“Me too.” Jenks’s jaw moved as he worked a chunk of pollen he’d stashed somewhere in the church for emergencies. “It would make keeping your ass above the grass easier. I think I got one of those heat blocks upstairs. Give me a sec.”
“Shout if you need some help,” I said as he darted for the foyer and the stairs. “I’m going to clean up a little,” I added, softer now that I was alone.
I stood, hands on my hips as I looked at the pool table and