Too risky, especially since I didn’t know what I’d do when I caught them.
So I slipped out the side entrance, my heart pounding. I couldn’t go to the dressing room—that was way too far away, and the guards stood between me and it. Magic sparked around them—no way I could get past all twelve.
Cover me! I asked the cats, hoping they could somehow read my mind. Or read the situation, at least.
Bojangles was still going wild, tearing down every towel and knocking every bottle of lotion off the shelves. Normal cat stuff, basically. It was highly effective.
I found a spare towel and wrapped it around myself, then tried to find my way out.
The baths were a maze, and I slipped through a garden and past a public restroom. It was in the ancient Roman style—just one long bench with multiple holes. There were a couple ghosts inside, each sitting on their throne, but no living humans. A ghostly quartet was in the middle of the bathroom, playing a cacophonous melody.
So weird.
“You! Stop!” The voice sounded from behind me.
I glanced back. Guard.
I picked up the pace, racing through the rest of the baths, darting into the men’s by accident, then veering out just as quickly. By the time I lost the guards and found a side exit, I was sweating and panting.
So much for getting clean at the baths.
The alley was dark and quiet, and I leaned against the wall, desperately trying to catch my breath.
Holy fates, that had been wild.
A demanding meow sounded at my feet. I looked down.
Muffin stood there, glaring. He had one of my boots gripped in his jaws. At his side, Bojangles held another boot. Princess Snowflake III had brought my T-shirt.
Just my T-Shirt.
Was that intentional?
Whatever. “Thanks, guys.”
Fortunately, I’d shoved my socks into my boots, so my feet were comfortable once I’d pulled those on. Then I tugged on my T-shirt and wrapped the towel around my waist.
“How do I look?” I asked the cats.
They looked at me dubiously.
“Lovely,” Lachlan said.
I turned to face the exit. Lachlan stood there, perfectly dressed and looking too damned good.
“I take it you had some luck?” he said. “I saw you dart into the men’s caldarium.”
“I had some luck. You?”
“Just seeing you in your towel. Which I count as fairly lucky.” His cold eyes weren’t so cold anymore. In fact, heat burned in their depths. The grin that softened his lips made me want to lean up and press my lips to his.
Bree was so wrong about him being cold. “Let’s go before we get caught. I can tell you what I found when we get back.”
He nodded, and we hurried through the darkened streets of Pompeii. Fortunately, we met no trouble as we made our way back.
Fabio hadn’t waited up for us, but the servant who opened the door got me some fresh clothes. At least I made a habit of not carrying identification with me, so there was nothing of value left in my jeans and leather jacket back at the baths.
Quickly, I changed into the new jeans—which fit amazingly well, surprisingly—then I joined Lachlan out in the sitting room where the servant had brought food and wine.
Exhausted, I flopped down and picked up a glass. I sipped, then scowled.
“It’s the old style,” Lachlan said. “Not to my taste, either.”
“This is what they drank in ancient times?”
“Yes. Fabio is a purist. Now tell me, what did you find? Because there was nothing in the men’s baths.”
Nothing but a whole lot of naked Lachlan.
Which was really not where my mind should be going.
I ate a bite of bread and cheese as I tried to recall exactly what the women had said. “I didn’t see their silver circle tattoos, but they mentioned you by name. And said it was hard to outsmart you and your goons.” My brows dropped. “Presumably I’m one of your goons.”
“You make an excellent goon.”
I wanted to chuck my piece of bread at him, but my tiny well of manners stopped me. This place was way too nice for me to be throwing food. “Anyway, there’s going to be a drop-off at a port tomorrow night. They’re making a portal, and I think the boss is coming to pick up the spell. A sorcerer had it, but now it’s going to its final destination.”
“Which port?”
“The one at Pompeii?”
“Pompeii used to have a port, but no longer. The sea line has changed. Now it’s just grass near some tourist shops.”
“Hmmm. Crap. Not Pompeii’s port, then.” Disappointment filled me.
“At least they’re unlikely to move the location of the drop. If they never said which port, they’ll probably doubt you can find it.”
“If they thought I was looking. They were just suspicious. They didn’t have any confirmation of who I am or what I’m after.”
“So we should try to find out which port and ambush their drop-off. It may be canceled, but probably not.”
“I bet it’ll have extra security, though.”
“Which means we should probably have some backup.”
“We can ask my sisters. And Caro, Ali, and Haris.” I frowned. “But first, we should find out which port. I’ll call them. Maybe someone else found a clue.”
He nodded. “Good.”
I touched my fingertip to the comms charm. “Bree? Rowan? Any luck?”
“What’s up?” Bree sounded like she’d just finished running a marathon.
“You okay?”
“Just polished off some demons. Getting my exercise in.”
“You and Rowan safe?”
“Better than safe. We might have a clue.”
“Had to kill some demons to get it, though,” Rowan said.
“Ain’t easy without magic,” Bree added.
“What’s your clue?” I asked.
“Found a mage with a silver circle on the back of his neck. He had a plane ticket to Rome, scheduled to leave tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, interesting.” My mind raced. Rome had to have a big port, right? “That helps.”
I told her everything we’d found.
“Excellent,” she said. “We’re headed back to the Protectorate now. I’ll ask Jude if any other teams have found something.”
“You read my mind. Thanks, guys.”
“Always,” Rowan said. “We’ll call by tomorrow morning, all right? Hopefully we’ll know which port by then.”
“Perfect.” I hung up and looked at Lachlan.
“That’s some good family you have there.”
“I’m lucky.” I ate a grape and watched him, realizing that I knew so little. “What about you? Family? Friends? Anyone you want to call in to help us tomorrow night?”
He shook his head. “I work alone. Besides Decker, who helps me occasionally. But as you know, he’s not available.”
“Trying to survive an abduction. Right. Of course.” I wanted to ask about family again, but he’d avoided the question. Mildred the ghost had said he had none, so the question was probably better saved for another time. “We’ll be fine with this team. And with any luck, we’ll catch them in the act. Get the spell, save your friend, and retrieve our magic.”
“You don’t seem to be too uncomfortable without your magic,” he said. “It’s not all gone, is it?”
I shrugged. “Maybe the curse missed me.”
His brows lowered. “What are you?”
“I’ve told you that plenty of times.”
“A garden variety shield mage?” He shook his head. “You’re not. Even if you had no other magic, you’d be special.”
“Yeah?” I had to admit that I didn’t hate hearing it.
He moved closer. “Aye.”
I drew in an unsteady breath. Was he flirting with me? Or trying to get info? Either way, I kind of liked it.
But he was dangerous.
The thing was, I didn’t really care right now. In fact, I liked it.
I leaned toward him, drawn by the softness of his lips. His cheekbones were sharp as glass, and his eyes hot as molten metal. The scent of him wrapped around me, capturing me in a haze of desire.
Lachlan leaned toward me, seeming pulled by a force that he couldn’t fight. His gaze dropped to my lips.