She snorted softly. "So he resorted to violence. And then, undoubtedly, threats."
She was good, there was no doubt about that. "Against you and Tao, yes."
"The man is a bastard," Mirri muttered.
"Yes, except he’s not a man. He’s something far worse."
"So we can’t do anything about him, right?" I nodded when she looked at me. "But why would you even consider undertaking a mission like that for the vampire council?"
"Because Hunter was a bitch and caught her in a moment of weakness, and now she can’t get out of the deal," Ilianna commented tartly, then grimaced as she glanced at me. "And I suppose you’re going to this locker even though the last time you followed one of your father’s orders the Raziq used it as an opportunity to capture you?"
"I don’t have a choice, Ilianna." Not about this, and not about helping Hunter. "And Azriel will be there."
"He’d better be." She glanced past me. "Hear that, reaper? Be there. Protect her."
"Trust me, it’s in his best interests to keep me alive and functioning."
"His version of functioning might well be different from ours, remember."
Maybe, but in this case, at least, he needed me not only alive, but able to walk and talk. At least until I’d found the keys. "I’m heading there now. If I don’t call by one thirty, marshal the troops."
She snorted. "Like that’s going to help."
She was right—it probably wouldn’t. But if I didn’t at least have a backup plan, Aunt Riley would kick my ass. Although she was going to kick it anyway for going to the locker again after what had happened previously.
"Listen, have you heard of an Adeline Greenfield?"
Ilianna raised a pale eyebrow. "Sure. She’s a practitioner and is renowned for her protection spells. Why?"