"I know," I repeated, then rose up on my toes and kissed him lightly. "I’ll see you tomorrow. Right now I think it’s better I get the hell out of here, just in case Forman’s boss decides to come investigate."
"Then perhaps," he said slowly, "I should remain here, just in case. At the very least, I can study the magic and see if there’s a clue as to its origin."
I frowned. "I really don’t think you should be putting yourself in danger like that—"
"Danger?" he snorted softly. "Trust me, one lone practitioner does not represent a danger to me."
"But—"
He briefly placed a finger against my lips. "I will be fine. Besides, it’s a good chance to flex some muscle. The life of an accountant is somewhat boring."
I chuckled softly, then kissed him again. This time his arm snaked around my waist, and he kissed me more fully. It hurt my ribs but, right then, I couldn’t have cared less.
"You still stink," he said eventually.
I grinned. "I promise I won’t tomorrow."
"Hey, as long as you’re warm, willing, and able, I honestly won’t care what you smell like."
I laughed, touched a hand to his cheek, then wrapped my hands around my phone and wallet, avoiding Azriel’s steely gaze as I called to the Aedh. Her energy surged through my body, numbing sensation as it broke down every muscle, every cell, until my flesh no longer existed and I became one with the air.
In that form, I fled down the tunnel until I found a storm drain and was able to escape into the cold night air. I had no idea where Azriel was—he couldn’t follow me when I was in this form—and half wondered if I should have warned him to leave Lucian alone. If Valdis was—as I was beginning to suspect—something of an indicator of her master’s emotions, then Azriel had not been happy to discover Lucian beside me.
But had he been angry enough to attack?
I doubted it, if only because Azriel seemed to operate off some grand master plan. And if Lucian’s death had been part of that plan, then it would have happened long ago.
I whisked along the city streets, heading for the café. While I could slide into the Langham unseen in this form, my clothes were rank and there was no way I was stepping back into them after a shower. I still couldn’t go home, so the week’s worth of clothes I’d left in my locker at the café was the next best option. I certainly couldn’t go shopping in this state.