It was a comment that earned another sneer, but Larson wisely refrained from saying anything else and walked away.
"Since when have I been a lady?" I asked, amused.
Azriel held out a hand. "I didn't say you were a lady; I just said it wasn't the correct language to use when in the company of one."
"Ah, that's all right, then." I gripped his hand and let him pull me up.
He didn't release me immediately, and there was concern in his expression as his gaze searched mine. "Are you up to facing your father right now?"
"No, but it's not like I have any other choice. Besides, the sooner we find the remaining keys, the sooner the madness destroying my life might just go away."
"Do you wish me to take you there?"
Yes, I thought, I would. If only to soak in the heat of his touch for a few precious moments. But it would also sharpen the gathering tide of frustration and, right now, I really didn't need that. "I thought we'd agreed that wasn't a good option."
"We had, but the note implies haste is required, and traveling the fields is faster than walking. It also taxes your strength less than you taking Aedh form."
All of which was true. I hesitated, torn between desire and sanity, then shook my head. "Walking will clear my head. But you could go get the locker key for me. It's on the dresser—"
"I am aware of its location."
He winked out of existence. I went into a nearby café, grabbed a can of Coke and a couple of sausage rolls, then started walking. I didn't actually feel like eating, but I had a suspicion that I was going to need the fuel over the next couple of hours.
And it was premonitions like that I could really do without.
Azriel reappeared as I was halfway through my second sausage roll, and handed me the key. "‘Tidy' is not in your vocabulary when it comes to your jewelry, is it?"
"No, but I thought you said you knew where it was."