"He now knows about the tracker. The point of it is useless."
My mouth went suddenly dry. If the tracker was useless, did that mean I was as well? I swallowed heavily, and somehow said, "And here I was thinking the Aedh were clever enough to work out a way around that."
He obviously didn't catch the sarcasm in my voice. "That is without question. But your father is also Aedh—he will find a means to mute the transmitter."
No doubt. "Then you'll just have to work faster than him, won't you?"
"Or develop a different way of drawing him to you." He paused. "We will be in contact, Risa Jones."
The threat hung in the air as the energy of their presence began to dissipate. Azriel wrenched his arm from my grip, then drew Valdis back and released her in one violent movement. The sword sang through the air, the sound fierce, joyous. She hit the fading remnants of the shimmer and there was a short, sharp explosion, accompanied by a shrill scream. Then there was no energy, no Raziq.
Only fury.
Valdis looped around and returned to her master. Azriel caught her one-handed, then swung to face me. His expression was as angry as I'd ever seen it.
"Do not ever do that again." Though his voice was flat, every inch of him seemed to vibrate. Valdis's steel wasn't even visible, so dark were her flames.
And Amaya responded, her hissing fierce enough inside my head to make my eyes water. She was ready to protect, whether it be against foe or friend.
"Azriel—"
"I am here to protect you, not the other way around."
"You would have died." I sheathed Amaya—although it didn't shut her up—and rubbed my arms. Not that it did much against the force still assaulting me or the chill that the mere thought of losing him sent through me.
"There is always the Aedh," he practically spat. "You trust him so much, after all."
Anger surged. Anger and hurt. "Damn you, Azriel, that was totally uncalled-for!"