I rang Ilianna next, getting an update on Tao—who was still improving but not yet conscious—and asking her to alter the power of her wards so that Azriel could get into our apartment.
The doorbell rang as I said good-bye to her. Figuring it was probably the meal Azriel said he'd order, I shouted, "Hang on a minute," then quickly threw on a shirt and jeans. I grabbed some of the change I'd dumped onto the bedside table the night before and walked across the room to open the door.
"Just put it—" The words froze in my throat.
Because it wasn't just a waiter and one of those new hover trays standing outside my door. A grinning Lucian stood behind them.
"Ma'am?" the waiter said politely.
"Oh, yeah, just put that over on the table." I stepped aside and waited until the tray and the waiter had moved past, then quickly raised a hand to stop Lucian. In a heated whisper I added, "How the hell did you find me?"
"I simply phoned hotels asking to speak to you until I found which one you were staying in."
Damn, I should have thought of that. Next time I wanted to hide from the world, I'd better use a false name! "But you didn't leave a message."
"No. I thought you'd have a harder time ignoring me if I simply turned up." His gaze suddenly fixated on my face and his smile faded. "You've been in the hands of the Raziq, haven't you?"
I hesitated, but it was pointless denying it. And I guess if he was going to help us find the remaining keys, he had to know just how much deeper the shithole had gotten. "Yes."
He swore softly. "How the hell did that happen? Why didn't the reaper stop it?"
"He couldn't—"
"It's his job to protect you."
His voice had sharpened significantly, and the waiter glanced over at us. I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile, then met Lucian's angry gaze and added softly, "He is. But it's not that simple."
"It fucking is—"