"I'll look forward to it."
I wouldn't—if only because in order to tell a story about hunting a dark spirit, I'd actually have to do it. I headed out to the kitchen. The smell of frying steak filled the air, and I took a deep breath, savoring the delicious aroma. My stomach rumbled happily. "Don't suppose you're cooking one of those for me?"
She glanced pointedly at the two waiting plates of buttered toast. "I'm vegetarian, remember?"
I grinned as I plopped my butt on the kitchen counter. "Hey, you're going on a date with a stallion tonight, so miracles can definitely happen."
She snorted. "Not twice in one day, they won't." She studied me for a minute. "Did you sort out your shit with Azriel?"
"No, because he isn't around."
"He's always around, and you know it."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is? The fact that you're scared of your own feelings?"
"Ilianna, stop, okay?"
She sighed. "Between you and Tao, I'm going to end up gray before my time."
I frowned. "Why? What have you seen?"
She hesitated. "Nothing."
"Yeah, like that sounded so convincing." I studied her for a minute. "So what, exactly, did you see in Tao's future?"
"Nothing. Nothing but flames." She stared at me, and all I saw was her fear. "I think we're going to lose him, Ris."