I don’t like that word at all.
I grab his hand and he pulls me to my feet. I fall into him and he plants a heavy kiss on my lips.
“That was wonderful, and I’m sorry it was cut short,” he says. “I have so much more planned for you.”
I start to say something when a bang goes off down the hall.
“Go, now,” Rhaz says to the firefluff.
Soot does two little twirls in front of me and runs for the bookshelf. I chase after him and he jumps against a little book at the bottom. It pushes inward and a door meant for a creature much smaller than me opens. Soot runs inside and I turn to look at Rhaz.
“Really?”
“It’s safe.” He shrugs. “That or them.”
I growl and get on my hands and knees. I hope he likes the view as I crawl into the dark hole behind his bookshelf.
seventeen
The IBMA
Soot’s glowing body lights up the small space between the walls. There’s a little bed of rubber-looking material that’s been knitted together, an empty bowl, and a bone that looks suspiciously like a human femur.
Soot pushes another button on the wall and the doorway snaps shut, encasing us in the little space together. I reach out, feeling the heat coming from his body. He leans into my hand and I wince as the fire touches me.
But it doesn’t burn.
It’s hot as heck, and I don’t reallywantto be touching him, but as I move along his body, petting like I would a little dog, he wiggles in silent pleasure. I pet him a few more times as I listen to what’s happening in the room beyond.
Rhazan takes several steps away from us, and then I hear the door swing open. There are low, muffled words, an exchangeof greetings, and then two sets of footsteps come back into the room.
“…report of a human here,” the other voice says. Could be a man or woman, the range was right in the middle.
Soot makes a little grunt, and I get my petting back in motion as I listen.
“Yes, my brother was here with his human mate. I apologize for not mentioning it sooner, but I have need of energy to ward my home against Skreet.”
“Skreet? Why is it here?” the IBMA agent asks.
“The establishment in the mirror realm has a new owner. She spilled sugar.”
The agent grunts. “And how do you know it’s a woman?”
Rhazan is quick to reply. “I went to the mirror realm of course, and secured the location. You’ll find several of my marks there if you want to inspect.”
“You saw this woman?”
“I did.”
“She saw you?”
“She did.”
There’s silence for a moment.
“Why haven’t I heard of this before?”
“She must not have tried to report it. I didn’t think it was of note.”
