Jak jumped and swung around. "Fuck it, reaper, you could at least give some kind of warning before you pop into existence like that." Then he frowned. "How the hell did you even know about the site?"
"He can read any mind he chooses to," I explained, and switched my gaze to Azriel. "How come you can't get in?"
"There are wards similar to the ones your father once used set around the warehouse. I cannot enter when they are in place."
I frowned. "I wonder if the wards are set to repel all energy beings, or just reapers?"
"I cannot tell. The magic involved is beyond my understanding."
Ilianna would no doubt be able to tell us what it was, but I wasn't about to ask anything else of her unless it was absolutely necessary. She'd already placed herself in enough danger for this quest of mine. "We need to get into that warehouse to see what the wards are protecting."
"I'm glad you said ‘we,'" Jak commented, "because you're not going anywhere without me."
I flicked my gaze to him. "Hellhounds are not something you want to tangle with."
"Probably not, but this is my story, remember, and I'm damned if I'm going to be cut out of it."
Do you wish me to tamper with his thoughts and send him home? Azriel asked.
I hesitated. No. I don't want to go into that warehouse alone.
If there are hellhounds, you will be better off calling your uncle. Jak will be of little use—you endanger his life for little reason.
We can't keep preventing him from taking risks. It's neither fair nor right when he's holding up his end of the deal.
Doing what is fair and right did not stop you from perting him last time.
That was a different situation because the threat was direct and real. Only it was Logan who the killer had been hunting, not Jak, as we'd presumed. Besides, we won't be heading there unarmed.