the Chinese garden.
Shit.
Tenzin watched from her perch in the king palm tree near the desert garden as he took flight. He was getting faster and faster. His control was growing. She was glad he’d finally left Asia. Keeping tabs on him had been exhausting. He was far more adept at disappearing than she’d imagined.
It both frustrated and delighted her. Ben had never been boring in his human life, and he was proving to be a skilled opponent in his immortal one.
Very enjoyable.
Opponent for now, partner eventually.
She glanced at the bat eating a piece of fruit next to her. “He insists he wants to be left alone, but if that was truly the case, why did he chase me?”
The bat didn’t answer her.
“Agreed.” She drew up her knees and rested her chin on them. “He doesn’t know what he wants.” She glanced at the bat. “No, you’re right. He does know, he just doesn’t want to admit it.”
He wanted her. For what, he was probably unsure. But he wanted her, and that was a place to start. Maybe at first he would only want her help. Maybe he thought he wanted revenge.
He’d see the truth eventually. She would be patient.
She had all the time she needed now.
7
Gavin was drinking a glass of whiskey in the front yard when Ben landed back at the house.
“I always forget how warm it is here,” he said. “There’s still snow in New York. Snow.” He curled his lip. “I’ve got to convince Chloe to move. Houston. Los Angeles. Capri. I have a new bar in Spain she’d like.”
“She loves New York.” Ben fought to get his emotions under control.
“I know.” He finished his drink. “How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Yes, clearly.” Gavin raised an eyebrow. “Funny, you have that enraged look you usually only get when you’ve been around your partner.”
“Tenzin isn’t my partner anymore.”
“And yet you knew exactly who I was talking about,” Gavin said. “She’s still your partner, and you’re fooling yourself if you think you can just avoid her.”
“Did she fly to LA with you?”
“With me?” Gavin frowned. “Of course not. Do you know how fast she flies? It’s ridiculous and irritating.” He muttered, “You’ll probably be as fast as her eventually, you irritating knob.”
“Missed you too.” Ben stalked past the Scottish vampire.
“Giovanni wants us in the library,” Gavin yelled. “You need some background on Radu.”
“I already got the briefing on the icon.”
“The icon?” Gavin smiled. “You still amuse me, sweet lamb. You think this is only about an icon? Everyone underestimates Radu.” Gavin joined him. “It’s not a mistake I’ve made.”
“So?” Ben shook off the irritation Tenzin had provoked and focused on work. “He’s offering way more than market value to find it. We knew it was sentimental.”
“Sentimental is one way of putting it.”
They walked in the house and past the empty kitchen.
Ben glanced at the clock. “It’s late.”
“Yes, that darling little mite was quite perturbed you weren’t here to wish her good night.” Gavin looked amused. “She’s quite funny for a small human.”
“I know.”
“Does she ask everyone to see their fangs? I find her ease with vampires disconcerting.”
Ben pushed through the swinging kitchen door. “Sadia has no fear.”
“That explains her fascination with Tenzin.”
Ben wiped a hand over his face and paused at the foot of the stairs. “Can I just go even one night without her being thrown in my face? I’m about ready to go back to Kashgar.”
“Is that where you were?” Gavin nodded. “Good choice. What made you come out of hiding?”
“A woman.”
Gavin lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Not like that.” He walked to the second floor. “She was watching me. She knew my name. Left me a note.”
“Ah. Which said?”
“‘Answer your fucking mail.’ That’s it. No name. No address. Just answer your fucking mail.”
Gavin laughed as they walked into the library. “What did she look like? Little pixie of a thing with big eyes and too much hair?”
Ben froze. “How did you know that?”
Gavin took a seat near Chloe, who was sitting at the library table with Beatrice. Chloe had her laptop open, and Beatrice was pointing to something on a tablet.
“I would bet you a case of sixty-year-old Macallan that the woman watching you in Kashgar was Kezia. She’s Radu’s sister.”
“Biological or immortal?” Giovanni spoke from the other end of the library.
“Maybe both,” Gavin said. “The Poshani tend to keep the same bloodlines in the terrin.”
Ben sat down near the fire. “And now you’re speaking a completely different language.”
“Yes he is.” Giovanni walked toward them, holding a book he handed to