The corners of Merrick’s mouth curved up. “Yeah, you’re going to do really well with her.” Merrick walked to the door and opened it. “Good luck.”
“This is an end to your hospitality?”
“It is,” Merrick said.
Nathaniel sighed. Being asked to leave was a suboptimal turn of events. “May I ask for a piece of advice?”
“You can ask.”
Merrick’s hard edges were showing. A ventala who’d been befriended by a fierce fallen angel was likely more wild and dangerous than the lions of the Coliseum. But what choice did Nathaniel have but to seek counsel when he recalled so little about the modern world?
“Kate is in the Etherlin visiting her friend, but I don’t want to join her there. In my place, where would you go while awaiting your memory’s return?”
Merrick narrowed his eyes, suddenly attentive. “What’s Kate’s last name?”
“I don’t know. Why would that be of consequence?”
“Is her friend a muse?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?” Merrick asked, becoming very still.
“She called her Alissa.”
After a moment’s silence, Merrick said, “Kate’s an aspirant. Her last name is Devane.” Merrick rested his hand against the doorframe. “Nathaniel, how would you like my help for the night? With me providing information and advice . . . and clothes from this millennium?”
“I would appreciate that very much,” Nathaniel said, suddenly wary. “In exchange for what?”
“For delivering a package.”
“As long as the package isn’t an instrument of malice or harm, I foresee no difficulty.”
Merrick swung the door closed.
Kate approached the Dome, which was headquarters for the Etherlin Council. A reimagined version of the iconic blue and white Greek buildings, the white stone had a slight shimmer from crystalline paint and the blue dome was rimmed with silver swirls around the base.
Kate had visited the Dome’s reference library once before with Alissa as a chaperone. When they’d left, Kate had turned in her electronic parking key card rather than the identical-looking key card to the library archives. The investigative reporter in her always resisted giving up access to any amazing source of information. Now having the card would allow Kate to do some reading without relying on Alissa, which was good because that might have been awkward since Grant and Alissa were involved and Grant likely wouldn’t approve of Kate’s research into Nathaniel’s history.
Nathaniel. His name roused memories of the kiss. Well, of both kisses. The one born of heat and frustration that had demanded her attention at the Etherlin gates. And the cooler, wistful one in the dorm room that she’d witnessed in the memory or whatever it was. A bond that ties us together, she reflected. How to feel about that? She wasn’t sure. Apparently the connection to him had been thrust upon her by chance when she’d found his ring, and that didn’t sit well. She didn’t want to be at fate’s mercy, just a plaything with which to be toyed. She pursed her lips. She’d never consented to a lifelong connection, but clearly one did exist. She would have to figure out a way to break it or learn to live with it. With the feel of Nathaniel’s body still fresh, it didn’t seem like such a hardship, but in terms of having him around, it was early days.
Down wide hallways of mosaic tile, she kept her head up and nodded at the security officers she passed within the Dome. In the hushed corridor that led to the locked collections, she showed her identification and held her breath.
The ES officer facing her was older. He had light hair and wolf’s eyes.
“This is an unusual time to be doing research. Aren’t you going to the holiday party?”
“Of course.” Which is why I’m in a hurry! I’ve got to go back to the guard post for my bags and find a ride to the Clarity Hotel since an alleged angel took off with my car. Then I need to check in and make myself presentable for what may be one of the most important networking opportunities of my life. Jeez, what the hell am I doing here trying to sneak in to look at thousand-year-old books? I’m a complete head case.
“Which books are of interest, and what’s the urgency?”
Damn. He wasn’t supposed to ask that.
“Actually,” she said, leaning slightly forward and lowering her voice. “A council member has asked for help with his speech, and I’ve agreed to help—very discreetly. It’s got a historical theme, and he suggested”—she rolled her eyes—“that maybe I should look in the original archives for some inspiration. He suggested documents by Tacitus,” she said, grasping for material that would cover Nero’s reign. Actually, what interested Kate most were the writings of whatever muse had lived in or near Rome at that time. Muses were keen observers and attuned to supernatural phenomena. If Nathaniel’s life on earth had begun during Nero’s time as emperor, a muse may have noted it. “And before you ask anything else, let me just say that that’s all I can tell you. If you’d like to turn me away, go ahead. Honestly, I’m really pressed for time, and I’d love to tell him that I couldn’t get past ES.”
The corner of the ES officer’s mouth curved toward Heaven. He tipped his head forward and said in a low voice, “Since no one called ahead to let me know you were coming down, I don’t think speech-writing is the reason you need to look at those books.”
Her heart thumped in her chest. If he called Grant or a member of the council and caused trouble, Alissa would not be pleased with Kate. She cringed inwardly at the thought. Alissa had been extremely good to her. Kate didn’t want anything to damage their rapport.