I debated the merits of releasing his powers. On the one hand, he could be a powerful ally capable of helping me subdue the draugr. On the other, he was just as likely to try and kill me seconds after it was removed.
“What are you two talking about?” Caroline asked, her gaze shooting between us.
I gave her a brilliant smile. “Nothing important. Thanks for all your help, Caroline. It really saved me.”
She gave me a flat stare. “Stop lying. You’re not going anywhere until I get some answers.”
“I can give you answers,” Peter said, shooting her a charming smile.
“Quiet, you,” I snapped. “Caroline, I’ve got to go, and I can’t really explain everything.”
“Fine,” she said, standing and piling the books back onto the cart. “If that’s how you want it, I’ll just sit here while you go off having adventures. Again. Maybe I’ll see you in another four years.”
The sorcerer gave me a smile and propped his chin on his fist as he watched the two of us. It was so nice to have an audience for this.
“Caroline.”
“Its fine, Aileen,” she said. “I understand. You should get going. I’m tired and want to get to sleep before dawn.”
“I’ll try to stay in better touch.”
“I’m sure you will, though I won’t hold my breath,” she said.
I didn’t know what to say to that so I said nothing, stepping away from the desk and gesturing for the sorcerer to follow me.
“I hope to see you again,” he told Caroline, giving her another winsome smile before trailing after me.
“Do you have to act like such a creepy old man?” I muttered.
“I am an old man,” he whispered back. “Besides, your friend is hot.”
“And you will never see her again.”
He cast one last look behind us. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”
For my peace of mind and to avoid being totally creeped out, I decided to ignore that statement. I had a feeling forbidding him to have anything else to do with her would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
CHAPTER TWELVE
WHEN ARE YOU going to remove this?” Peter asked, sliding into the car next to me.
I shot him a glance as he fiddled with the knob that controlled the windows. He was like a kid in a spaceship, curious about everything and pushing any button he could find. He flipped through every channel on the radio then started through them again, changing the volume up and down at the same time. I cringed as it screeched and buzzed.
“Would you stop that?” I asked, slapping his hand away from the radio. “What is wrong with you? You’d think you’d never been in a car before.”
“It’s been a while. My method of travel is a little more immediate than this. This looks different than I remember. It’s amazing how fast humans have evolved this technology given their limitations.”
Yeah, we were just so challenged. I wanted to point out that most supernatural species started out as human. I gave the sorcerer a sidelong glance, wondering if he had. He certainly looked human enough.
My phone rang before I could respond.
“You know you shouldn’t mess with your phone and drive,” the sorcerer observed as I juggled the wheel and the phone.
“Thanks, I’ve never heard that one before.”
Brax.
Shit, I’d meant to return his call hours ago.
