But it just might.
Ugh. She sprinted back for the bathroom, found what she wanted in the sink cupboard, pocketed the healing salve and potion, then rushed out.
Blaéz and Darci came down the grand staircase from their second-floor quarters. The warrior, also dressed in all black for work, had his arm around her and whispered something in her ear.
Darci laughed and playfully smacked his chest. “You—hey, Ely.” She smiled serenely as if they weren’t just having a moment. “Joining us for dinner?”
“Can’t. I’m going out.”
“Ooh, date?” She grinned, slipping out of Blaéz’s hold and hurrying down the stairs to her. He lifted an eyebrow, cobalt-blue eyes bright with amusement as he followed his mate.
“So, spill.” She hooked her arm through Ely’s as they descended the stairs to ground level. “Who?”
“No one.” Ely stifled a groan. “Unless you think my quick visit to see our Oracle before patrol is a date, then sure.” There, that would take care of it if anyone asked after her.
“Ah, well.” Darci sighed, eyes twinkling. “Should be fun. I haven’t seen Jaden in a while.”
Right. “See you in the morning.” Ely beat feet out of there before anyone else stopped her.
Once outside, she inhaled a deep breath of icy evening air, trying to calm the rampant pounding of her heart. Stars, she rubbed her brow, grimacing at the little white lie. But she did usually stop to see Jaden, just not tonight.
“Ely, a moment?”
Crap! She spun around to find Blaéz standing behind her. Worse, there was no smile on his face as he strolled closer.
Her stomach squeezed in trepidation. The only reason he would come after her so fast, he must haveseensomething. His precognition was unsurpassed.
Kira had mentioned once that he’d foreseen hers and Týr’s futurebeforethey’d even met.
While Ely came from Empyrea, a world steeped in otherworldly tales and magic, did she really want to know whatever Blaéz had seen? Gods, no.
“Blaéz—”
He shook his head. “While I might not like having this insight into anyone’s life when it occurs, I can’tnotsay anything. Not if it might help in any way. Just be vigilant out there in the coming days, all right? Because all I see is eternal darkness when I look at you, Ely.”
A cold shiver snaked down her back. It could mean anything. Precognition didn’t always reveal itself fully and wasn’t always straightforward.
“Given the life we lead, we always face some kind of danger,” she pointed out.
“Indeed…” He cast his attention to the still night and snowy grounds, frowning. “Just follow whatfeelsright. And be careful out there.”
Ely dragged in a deep breath, wrestling her unease into lockdown.
Eternal darkness?That usually signified death. Ugh, she wasn’t going to let herself dwell on the thought now.
“I’ll meet up with you, and we can patrol together for a while,” he offered.
Gods, no! “I’ll be fine.” She scraped up a smile. “If there is a threat, I’m sure I can handle it, or Gaia wouldn’t have thought me capable of being a Guardian.”
“True.” He laughed then, eyes gleaming, chasing away the concern in them. “Take care.”
She nodded and dematerialized before her knees caved, and she gave lie to her bravery.
* * *
The hours trickled past as Ely prowled the alleyways, not even a hint of sulfur around, probably too cold for those asshats hunting humans. And no sign ofhimeither, even though she’d practically trampled every inch of the backstreets in the Bowery, searching for him.
Recalling what Týr had said, regret compressed her chest in a vise. She didn’t want him to die. Her fingers tightened on the potion and salve containers in her coat pocket, aware she had to get these to him fast. She slowed her steps.
