6
“Aprocurer of magical items?” Jacques raises his eyebrows.
“Yeah,” I say, and set my computer down on the coffee table. I roll my neck and blink a few times to refocus my eyes. The guys just woke up and I filled them in on everything…which isn’t much. “I ran that name through the system and didn’t find anyone who matches Lyra’s description. In the city, that is. Steven Miller is a really common name, though…too common, if you ask me.”
Jacques sits next to me on the couch, tucking his wings in close to his body. Having his body up against mine feels good. Warmth rushes through me and I inch closer. Jacques leans in, slipping one arm around my shoulders. I rest my head against him and my eyes fall shut. I never did get that nap.
“I didn’t get anywhere with that number on the card. It was probably for a burner phone too. Whoever that guy is…I won’t be tracking him down.”
“But you think he’s the same one interested in you?”
“It makes sense,” I answer. “And how many magical procurers can there be? I mean, there are a handful of people who collect occult items. But they call them just that…occult items. They don’t necessarily believe the things have real magic.” Jacques sweeps his hand down my arm. I twist, angling myself toward him. He leans down, bringing his hand back up to push my hair back so he can kiss me. My heart lurches in my chest and my eyes flutter shut. The frustration I was feeling over the stupid name on the card melts away the second Jac’s lips touch mine.
“I needed that,” I say when he breaks away.
“I know,” he tells me, and goes in for another kiss.
“Ace?” Gemma calls from the kitchen. “The chicken is still frozen. What else do you want for dinner?”
“Pizza,” Thomas suggests. He’s in the kitchen, most likely raiding the pantry.
“I second that,” Gil says.
“Me too,” Hasan agrees.
“Fine,” I chuckle. “Pizza it is.” I phone in an order and am told that the delivery service is running a bit behind. Gemma offers to go get it, and the twins jump on a chance to leave the house, saying they’re going with her in case anything tries to go after her.
“I’ll keep watch,” Hasan says once the others leave.
I reach for my computer again, opening it up to show him the camera views. “You don’t have to.”
He narrows his eyes at the images on the screen. “I can see better than that.”
“I know,” I agree. “But if anything comes close, we’ll know. The motion sensors will go off.”
Hasan doesn’t look convinced. He pushes his broad shoulders back and shifts his gaze to Jacques, expecting him to protest against technology and insist we find an army to stand guard.
“It’s better than nothing,” Jacques says, eyeballing the computer screen skeptically.
“I’ll do one round and check the perimeter,” Hasan says, seeming satisfied.
“Okay,” I say with a laugh, and then point to my computer. “I’ll be watching.”
Hasan leaves and then the house falls silent. It’s cooler tonight and I opened up all the windows downstairs to let in the evening breeze.
“You’re tense,” Jacques tells me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I know, and I’m trying not to obsess. It’s just….” I trail off and let out a breath.
“I’m tense too,” he confesses. “And I’d be even more so if I were in your shoes.”
I close my eyes and relax against him again. He leans back, pulling me with him. With his grand wings behind him, we don’t fit on the couch together very well. Letting out a sigh, Jacques tries to resituate. I know he’s more than ready to be human again.
“Maybe I’ll ignore all this creepy stuff and focus on breaking the curse.”
Jacques laughs softly. “We have time to worry about the curse later. But this so-called creepy stuff is another story. I want to find who’s behind it as much as you do.” I can hear the venom in his voice. “And make them pay for doing this to you.”
I tip my head up and look into his dark eyes. “I love it when you get all protective on me.”
