If only, I thought with amusement, because Mirri didn’t have the latest and greatest in security as we did. Mirri might not have lived in Melbourne for as long as Ilianna, but she was infinitely more secure about being here.
"So where are you going to be staying?" Ilianna added.
"I’m not sure yet." I flicked a glance at Azriel, and couldn’t help adding, "Maybe with Lucian."
He didn’t react. Not that I could see, anyway. But that chill in the air got suddenly stronger, and a shiver ran down my spine.
Ilianna clicked her tongue. "You, Risa Jones, are positively evil." She glanced at Azriel. "I’m heading home now. Are you coming?"
"Yes," he answered. "I shall wait downstairs for you."
He winked out of existence and, as far as I could tell, actually did leave the room.
"Ris, be careful," Ilianna said, her gaze coming back to me.
"Is that a general be careful, or a there’s-shit-headed-your-way be careful?"
"General." She paused, frowning. "I have no sense that Lucian is evil or that he ever intends you harm, but I don’t think you can entirely disregard Azriel’s misgivings. He may have reasons other than what he’s saying, but he’s a warrior—and, like any good warrior, he relies on instinct."
"Lucian isn’t evil, and he’s shown absolutely no interest in the damn keys or my father." And for that alone I would trust him. "He’s just an Aedh who’s been bound to earth and is doing his best to survive."
She nodded. "I know, and I agree, but I’ve been wrong before and I’d hate for this to be one of those times. So just be careful."
"I will. I am." I gave her a crooked smile. "These days, the only people I truly trust are you, Tao, and the Jenson pack."
"Well, you can’t go wrong there." She hesitated again, then drew a paper-wrapped package out of her pocket. "Here, I bought you this."
She offered me the package. Undoing it revealed a small, multipurpose hunting knife—the sort of knife that could cut wire as easily as it did throats. I glanced at her sharply. "You said you don’t see specific trouble in my future, so why hand me a knife?"