Then he lifted his head.
For a fleeting moment, she wanted to ask him to do that again . . . until she met his eyes. Dark embers burned hot with desire to do far more than kiss her.
His cell phone buzzed again and he released her face. “You better leave now, while I’ll still let you.”
His gaze dropped to where she twisted his shirt in her grip.
She let go and jumped back. The blasted meeting! Had the majik he’d used on her wiped out brain cells?
To be fair, evenshecouldn’t blame her lapse of attention on the majik. “If I’m late—”
“Don’t be,” he warned. “You can make that mile in plenty of time.”
Fast as her heart slammed the wall of her chest she should have been able to take a giant leap and land in the park, but she didn’t have that ability either.
Storm walked with her to the stairs that led to the upstairs parking deck facing the CNN building. He told her, “See you soon,” and took off up the steps, disappearing into the dark.
Evalle continued on in the opposite direction. She had nineteen minutes left to cover the length of the parking deck, cross the tracks and reach Marietta Street, then zip down to Woodruff Park . . . in the opposite direction.
Piece of cake. She could make it easily without breaking a sweat because of her Belador speed, but she’d have to be careful not to allow a human to see her.
She’d still arrive in enough time to see Tzader and Quinn.
Frigid air rushed past her face and arms. Out of survival instinct, she paused to determine what energy had approached her.
Unintelligible words murmured and hissed through the chilly whip of air.
Ah. A Nightstalker trying to make contact with her.
One she didn’t know. These ghoul informants traded intel on supernatural activity for ten minutes of human form. All it took was a quick handshake with someone who wielded power, like her, for the ghoul’s form to solidify.
But this one hadn’t yet mastered basic communication skills without being in a corporeal form. Evalle could burn twenty minutes she didn’t have just trying to figure out how to communicate with the ghoul.
A sense of duty thumped at her conscience, but she said, “I can’t help you right now, but I’ll send someone else soon who can.”
The minute the energy quieted she took several steps and hit another wall of cold air.
This Nightstalker swirled around Evalle’s face, temporarily blurring her vision. He whispered in a wobbling voice, “I have a warning. Shake now.”
She hated passing up a chance for information if something significant was going down in Atlanta.
Especially if they knew anything about another Alterant turning from human to beast.
But even an experienced Nightstalker could take time she no longer had to share. That’s why she liked to work with one Nightstalker named Grady, whom she could make get to the point when necessary.
But Grady hung out over by Grady Hospital, the origin of the nickname she’d given him, and she couldnotshake hands with him anytime soon again.
Not after helping him out last night.
What could have the ghouls down here so stirred up? This couldn’t wait, but she had no business slowing down to spend time on something she had no control over.
She’d tell Tzader.
Pushing past the cold zone, she called him telepathically.Z? You at the park?
Where are you?he snapped at her.You got something more important to do than make this meeting? You know how close you are on time?
Yes! Give me a little credit.
