His arms tightened around me, and Alexander spoke from the doorway. “Are you okay?”
I nodded my head with my face pressed into Doryu’s chest. “I’m okay,” I said.
“I’m sorry, I can’t understand you with your mouth covered,” he said.
Turning my head, I repeated myself.
Alexander had nothing but concern written across his face. His long dark hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and several pieces of hair had fallen out to frame his face. “Do you want to spend some time here with Doryu? He might be able to give you a connection you’ve missed from your Sárkány heritage.”
“Stay here?” I asked. “What about the Kelly situation?”
“She’s under surveillance. There’s nothing that can be done tonight.”
“Did Dumadi talk?”
“Not a word. I’m beginning to think he’s in the dark about the Leyak. We’ve yet to learn the scope of their population, where they’re all living, or any sort of plans. He seems ignorant, or he’s very good at ignoring the methods we’ve used to extract information from him.”
“Can the witches help?”
He sighed. “Cindy has been trying, but we may have to involve a scarier species. Maybe the Yama can scare it out of him. They can make him feel like he’s dying and crossing over into hell.”
“That sounds horrible, and effective.”
“Whatever happens, it won’t happen tonight. We need more time to save those babies. Plus, we’ve been narrowing down which scientist would be qualified and willing to help. We will have to kidnap him or her initially, but we want them to stay with us willingly.”
I was glad to hear that. Maybe he was trying to change the rules of the Unseen.
Still, I wasn’t sure if I should stay. “I don’t know,” I said.
“For my part, I’d love to have you here.” Doryu tightened his arms around me. I still hadn’t pulled myself out of his embrace.
“I think my body is deciding for me,” I said.
Alexander raised one eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Not like that!” I exclaimed. “I feel comfort in his hug. Maybe I do need to be connected to a Sárkány for a while.”
“Then that settles it,” Alexander said. “Sleep well. I’ll bring you a change of clothes for tomorrow, something similar to what you wore today?”
I smiled at him. “Yes, please.”
CHAPTER TEN
Alexander left the apartment, and I excused myself to go after him. I wanted to talk to him about our previous night.
“Alexander, wait.”
He was about to climb the stairs, but paused and turned. “Did you change your mind?”
“No, I thought we should talk a little bit about what happened last night.”
“Were you not pleased?” He started to look a teensy bit offended.
“I was, very much so, that’s not what I mean.”
“Then what?”
“I mean, if I’m staying here with Doryu… I have no plans to sleep with him, but I’m an adult, and I might change my mind. If I do, how will that make you feel?”
