“Let me see,” Takoma said. Spencer had been keeping up the tightly placed look-away ward for most of the day; it was a relief to let it go. Takoma splayed his fingers over the heated skin on that side of Spencer’s throat, seemingly satisfied with the marks he’d left. “You haven’t tended to these.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“I’ll give you another dose of the potion I brought you before a little later. I don’t want your agency asking questions.”
“How thoughtful.”
“Haitao was in front of your building for quite some time this evening. Were you at work late?”
“When people say being a federal agent is exciting, they neglect to mention the number of reports you have to write.”
Takoma smirked, turning away and gesturing for him to follow. “If you didn’t work for them, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Yeah? And what would I do? Go back to the Mage Corps?” Spencer asked as he followed Takoma back into the foyer.
“You’d have a place with me.”
Takoma said it so casually, but it was like a knife slipping between Spencer’s ribs, straight to his heart to make it skip a beat. Spencer swallowed thickly, mouth suddenly dry. “You know you can’t turn me.”
Magic users couldn’t be made into vampires. The magic in their souls prevented such a transition, though that didn’t stop them from joining Night Courts as human servants the way William had done.
Takoma glanced over his shoulder as they entered the foyer. “You wouldn’t be the first human lover I’ve taken over the years. I’d care for you as long as you lived and be thankful for the time we had.”
They crossed over to the other wing of the house, through another, smaller living room, past a dining room, and into a large, professional-grade kitchen. Takoma rapped his knuckles on the countertop of the kitchen island. “Take a seat while I make you dinner.”
The kitchen island had three barstools tucked on the outer side; Spencer sat down on one. A wine fridge must have been on the opposite side because Takoma reached down and opened a door, coming up with a bottle of red wine that Spencer knew was expensive based on the label alone. Nadine had schooled him on good wine years ago, and that was a lesson Spencer didn’t mind sticking to.
“What are you making me?” Spencer asked after Takoma poured him a glass.
“Spaghetti aglio e olio.”
“You know, I find it hilarious that people still think garlic will keep vampires at bay.”
Takoma snorted as he pulled out the cookware he needed from cabinets and food from the nearby pantry and fridge. “That belief never originated from this continent. Unless the food or water is blessed, it has no sway over my kind.”
Ever since the Battle of Samhain, there’d been articles about the uptick in people finding religion again, with many people praying to newly discovered old gods. Spencer believed in them, sure—he’d fought beside many of them, how could he not—but that didn’t make him religious. He still knew that objects carried in faith could burn a vampire though, prayers having always been a defense against the damned. Spencer hadn’t ever worn any growing up and didn’t see that changing.
“Your kind doesn’t need to eat regular food though.”
“My human servants do. Some live here to guard us when my Night Court sleeps in our heart during the day.”
“Any magic users other than William?”
“A few.”
Takoma didn’t give out any names, and Spencer didn’t push. “Wade said there’s been no ransom call for Alyona.”
Takoma didn’t pause in chopping the garlic, his knife skills impressive when paired with supernatural speed. “I’ve had my people looking for her in the places the Cascade Coven thinks they own, but there’s been no sighting. I’m being kept informed. Haitao made it clear he didn’t want me searching tonight.”
“And you actually listened?”
“I know when not to make myself a target if it helps my Night Court.”
“Speaking of Night Courts, what about the Spokane Night Court? Any chance they might have taken her?”
“Rufus knows I’d raze his Night Court to the ground if he tried. He wouldn’t have risked his livelihood by overtly kidnapping Alyona.”
“He still sent his people after me.”
