It was on the tip of my tongue to retort that it really didn't matter if I did or not because she'd get the report from the Cazador who'd been assigned to follow me around anyway. But I resisted the urge. Right now, it was better if Hunter didn't know I knew about my follower.
I signed off without bothering to say good-bye and shoved my phone back into my purse.
"There goes your afternoon nap," Ilianna commented darkly. She'd expressed her opinion about my working for Hunter more than once, but had finally stopped harassing me about it. She knew, like I did, that there was no real choice given that half the council currently wanted me dead.
I grimaced and stood. "Yeah. But there's not a lot I can do about it."
"No. And I haven't got holy water or even a stake in my purse to give you."
"You said that like they're everyday items one finds in a purse," I said wryly.
She snorted softly. "Given the way Hunter is dragging you further and further into her web, they should be. At least then when the spider calls to the fly, the fly will be better armed."
"Ilianna—"
She held up a hand, stopping me. "I know, I know. But the fact remains, you want revenge more than you want out of any deal with Hunter."
Well, that was certainly true. "If this whole key business blows up in our faces, we might yet need Hunter and her Cazadors on our side."
"If this whole key business blows up in our faces, we're all going to be ass-deep in demons and fighting for our lives. I think Hunter and her council cronies will be too busy saving their own skins to worry about the rest of us."
That was also probably more true than not. And Hunter was an unreliable ally. She may have convinced the council to give her more time to prove my worth, but that didn't mean she—or they—couldn't change their minds. And considering that they'd already thrown one test at me, I wouldn't be surprised if this was yet another one.
I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes wearily. "I've arranged for Sara to come in and do your shift at the café. I want you to go home tonight and get some sleep."
She wrinkled her nose. "Sara couldn't pour a decent drink to save her life."
"Which is why I'll be pouring drinks and she'll be tending tables." I raised a hand against her objections and added, "No more arguments. Just go home and rest."