"Stefan? Come in." But he still didn't answer.
My phone rang, and I couldn't help the silly butterflies in my stomach when I answered.
"Hey, Adam," I said.
"I thought you'd want to know that Warren and Darryl made it out of the vampire den alive." I sucked in my breath.
"You didn't actually agree to their meeting on Marsilia's grounds?" He laughed.
"No, it just sounded better than saying they made it out of Denny's alive.
It might not be romantic, but it's open all night and set in the middle of a brightly lit parking lot with no dark places for skulking parties to ambush from." "Did they accomplish anything?" "Not exactly." He didn't sound worried.
"Negotiations take time.
This round was all posturing and threats.
But Warren says he thinks Marsilia might be after something more than just your pretty little hide--a couple of hints Wulfe let drop.
Marsilia knows I won't budge on you, but she might be willing to negotiate on something else.
How are you doing?" "The walking stick followed me here," I told him, because I knew it would make him laugh again.
He did.
And the rough caress of his mirth made my bones melt.
"Just don't buy any sheep while you're out, and you'll be safe." The stick that followed me home and, in this case, to Spokane had originally had the power of making every sheep belonging to its caretaker bear twins.
Like most fairy gifts, sooner or later it back-fired on its human owner.
I didn't know if it still worked that way, and I didn't know why it was following me around either, but I was getting sort of used to it.
"Any luck with your ghost?" Now that we were safely out of the attic, I could tell him about it without him speeding all the way over to rescue me.
If Blackwood had ignored me--mostly, anyway--he certainly wouldn't ignore the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack.
When I was finished, he asked, "Why'd it trap you in the attic?" I shrugged and wriggled on the bed to get more comfortable.
"I don't know.
Probably the opportunity just presented itself.
There are fae who cause mischief like this--hobs and brownies and the like.
But this was a ghost.
I saw it myself.
What I haven't seen is any sign of Stefan.
I'm a little worried about him." "He's there to make sure Marsilia doesn't send anyone after you," said Adam.
"Right," I said.
"So far, so good." I touched the sore spot on my neck.
Could that be another explanation? Could it have been one of Marsilia's vampires? But the sick feeling in my stomach told me that it wasn't.