"Rhoan Jenson will not get in the way of this. You are a consultant, nothing more, as far as he is concerned."
I snorted. "A consultant you're using to hunt and kill."
"Yes. And you would do well to remember that you remain alive only as long as the council and I agree on your usefulness."
"And," Azriel said, suddenly standing behind me. His closeness had desire stirring, even though I had little enough energy to spare. "You would do well to remember that any attempt to harm her would be met with even more deadly force."
Hunter smiled, but there was nothing pleasant about it. "We both know you cannot take a life without just cause, reaper, so do not make your meaningless threats to me."
"What I have done once, I can do again," he said, his voice stony. "And in this case, as in the last, I would revel in a death taken before its time."
Azriel, stop poking the bear. I've already antagonized her enough.
That is a somewhat absurd statement, given she is clearly vampire, not bear.
Amusement slithered through me again, as he'd no doubt intended. He'd grown something of a sense of humor of late—which was, according to him, a consequence of spending far too much time in flesh form. Whether that was true or not, I had no idea, but I certainly preferred this more "human" version to the remote starchiness that had been present when he'd first appeared. You know what I mean.
Surprisingly, I do. He touched my shoulder, the contact light but somehow possessive. But her threats grow tedious. She must be made aware it gains her nothing.
Hunter laughed. The sound was harsh and cold, and sent another round of chills down my spine. "Reaper, you amuse me. One of these days, when I'm tired of this life, I might just be tempted to take you on."
And she was crazy enough to do it, too.
"However," she continued, "that time is not now. I will send you my friend's address, Risa. The Directorate will arrive at his home at four. Please be finished with your initial investigation before then, and report your impressions immediately."
I glanced at my watch. She'd given me a whole hour. Whoop-de-do. "Where does he live, and what sort of security system has he got in place?"
"I've just sent you all his details."