“Well, either he’s got something else up his sleeve, or he’s only planning to save his son. Because he can’t use Vi’s soul, right?”
“Aye. She had nothing to do with his death and putting him in Erebus. Yours is the only soul that has the power to free them, and maybe you’re right. He’ll use it for his son.”
That was something she could understand, empathize with. But what could his other options be? What could her other options be? With something—no, someone—like Cadan to fight for, she couldn’t come out of this battle on the losing side. Especially not with Vi’s life on the line. She had to believe there was a way out.
“Cadan, I need to see Andrasta. I’m going to ask Esha to send me south.”
“I just got you back. Doona be runnin’ away from me now.”
“I’ve got to see her—she’s my patron goddess. I called her to me once before. It was the night before the battle. Right before you abducted me.” She turned her head in time to see him grimace. “I have to ask her what’s to become of me. And she might have ideas.”
“All right. What do you need?”
“A hare. And I need to go alone.”
Chapter 32
Warren leaned against the kitchen counter in Esha’s flat, trying to keep his eyes off her where she stood talking to Cadan. They’d sent Diana through Esha’s portal just moments ago and she would be returning here once her mission was complete.
In the meantime, he’d be staying here with Esha to await her return. Memories of their last encounter and the dreams that she haunted had kept him awake at night.
Gods knew he’d tried to ignore her these last ten years, but with her appearance in his office last week, now he couldn’t stop noticing her. He’d suggested her addition to the Praesidium because it was a wise tactical move for the organization. But it wasn’t something that he should have done for his own sake.
He’d done it anyway.
He watched Esha squeeze Cadan’s shoulder in comfort and the gesture made him grit his teeth. Jealousy? It was ridiculous.
“I’ll be back soon,” Cadan said. “Call me if Diana returns before I do.”
Esha turned back to the room and her gaze stopped on him. “Why are you looking at Cadan like you want to tear his head off?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. Gods, now she was noticing that he was acting crazy. “I wasn’t. Where’d he go?”
“To check something at the university. He didn’t explain.” She strolled into the kitchen and hopped up onto the counter across from him.
It was bloody hard to keep his eyes on her face. Not only would he be alone with her now, she was sitting so close he could smell her. Damn it. He really needed to get himself together. He was a mess over her. A soulceress.
Her kind were dangerous. He had every right to be wary of them. In fact, he should be staying the hell away from her. The hell he’d gone through as a result of tangling with another soulceress was directly responsible for the celibacy that she was threatening. He could only imagine what a mess he’d be in if he actually slept with her.
“Can I ask you something, Warren?” She swung her long legs. Back and forth, back and forth. Like a metronome to which he wanted to keep his eyes glued.
He dragged his gaze up to hers. “Is it about going to Diana and interfering?”
“Damn it, you know I had to do that. And I didn’t screw anything up!”
He frowned, then flattened his mouth to wipe it away. “Nay, you dinna.”
“That’s right. And that wasn’t my question.” She hopped down off the counter and stepped toward him so that she stood right in front of him.
Her eyes glinted gold in the light and her lips were a red that drew his eyes. He swore his mouth actually watered at the scent of her, so close and so lovely. His mind was starting to fog.
“Your question?” His voice was rough, embarrassingly so.
“Why are you hot and cold with me?”
“Hot and cold?” He swore his brain was shutting down and it was making a ball of panic rise in his throat.
“You know, you used to avoid me on campus, but then you invited me to join the Praesidium.”
“That’s just good business. You’re good at what you do.” It reminded him of what she was. Of why he needed to be wary. He felt his face harden.
“See,” she said. “There it is. Your face changed. You were looking at me like you liked me, like you wanted me, and now you’re looking at me like I’m a snake in your garden.”
“I doona know what you mean.” But he did. She’d nailed him. The hot and cold of what he wanted from her and what he knew he couldn’t have. She made him want to chuck his celibacy out the window.
“I think you do. I think you like me.” She raised a hand to his neck and a shudder wracked him.
“You like that. I can feel it,” she said.