"It damn well feels real when I touch you." And it had certainly felt real when we'd made love. "Besides, you said you can find death in this form, so how can it not be real?"
"I bleed, and I can die in this form, true, but my being is energy, not flesh and blood." He hesitated, frowning a little. "That place would not react to you, either, if you were in Aedh form. Neither their technology nor their magic is attuned to what you and I are."
I frowned. "They're obviously aware of both reapers and Aedh, so why wouldn't they have some line of defense against either of you?"
"Because reapers interact with humans only on a soul-collecting basis, and why would anyone want to stop that?"
"But Aedh—"
"Have a long history of ignoring humanity, except when it comes to their own needs—procreation, for instance," he said. "There is no major need for the Directorate to protect themselves against us, and they are well aware of that fact."
Which meant Lucian could have followed us into the building, if he'd wished. Though why that particular thought occurred to me I have no idea. And it wasn't like he could lurk in Aedh form anywhere nearby without Azriel being aware of him.
"So what if this person we're chasing is also not flesh-based?"
"He cannot be energy, as that would make him either Aedh or reaper. And no reaper can interact with those on the astral plane."
"That still leaves the possibility of another Aedh."
"Aedh have no need to use magic to transport themselves to and from locations. This killer did."
I grunted. I'd forgotten about that. "So what we need to do is uncover who in Melbourne sells powerful transport charms. It's something either the Brindle or Jak will know or can find out."
"What of Ilianna? And do you not think the Directorate would be already chasing that possibility?"
"I've involved Ilianna in enough dangerous shit already. She doesn't need this as well." I shrugged. "And the Directorate probably have investigated such an angle, but it doesn't hurt to ask the Brindle witches."
"Then why even bother with Jak?"