Please stop talking.
The ball in his throat bobbed, swallowing down whatever retort that’d come to mind.
“Where’s Lynx?” I asked, trying to change the subject. “Did he find anything?”
“Out patrolling,” was all Saros said, but his temple throbbed. He was looking at a small screen hidden underneath the counter, cords plugged into a series of inputs. A panel had been pulled to the side that matched the rest of the interior. He set it back into place before turning to me. “He’s combed through the houses on the lane. Now he’s working around the cul-de-sac. Hasn’t spotted anything yet.”
He grabbed a cushion, helping me get Aspen out of the ring sling. When the witchling nuzzled his shoulder, Saros stiffened at first, as if stunned. Then he slowly made little circles on Aspen’s back before laying him on the cushion next to me.
“So what do we do?” I asked, unfastening the ring sling and handing it over to him. He worked through the material, meticulously removing the wires without ruining the fabric. “Just sit around and wait?”
“Well, you will go home once I undo your wire and get this little witch to bed.” Clearing his throat, he nodded at my top. I unbuttoned the black lacy blouse I’d dared to wear for the blackout bash, knowing I was willing to part with it if needed. Then I unsnapped the fasteners of my nursing bra, pulling it down enough so he could start disconnecting the wires.
Lynx had placed the ones across my chest earlier, my skin flushing beneath his touch. Now as Saros got past unweaving the ones connected to my bra, he paused, hovering where the wires had been taped to my breasts. You would have thought they were two explosives he was worried would detonate at any moment—which I guess in some way he wasn’t completely wrong.
Then I remembered why: his gift worked via touch. “Do you have gloves or something? Does that help?”
“Unfortunately not.”
So his Recollection was more like my Desire. Only within our control to a certain point.
“Sorry there wasn’t much useful stuff I got tonight. But maybe you’ll see something I didn’t?” I offered, trying to help him find a time to focus on since he said he could pinpoint and see memories that way, otherwise he’d have a free-for-all with my past. Not that I was worried he’d see something bad, but I also still couldn’t get a clear sense of him. There was always something brewing in his eyes, but it fizzled out before I could look closer.
“I wouldn’t say it wasn’t useful.” He finally skimmed the corner of one of the pieces of tape, avoiding scratching me as he used his nail to peel it off. If he was seeing a memory, he didn’t show it. “People are always more interesting when they don’t realize who’s listening.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, wanting to keep his attention on my face so he wouldn’t notice the swell of me beneath his touch or the veins that were starting to look angry and purple. I’d need to feed Aspen or pump soon.
“Take Aurora for instance.” He removed the last few pieces of tape, not saying a word, then untangled me from the wires. “She’s always sweet as pie to Lynx, batting her lashes and showing off her kindness.”
“And?”
“She is quite threatened by you.” He chuckled, seemingly pleased with that thought. I guess he wasn’t a fan of her either.
“You think she knows about Lynx and I?” I grimaced. What if she had seen or heard something? Jade and Ivy had indicated she knew everything that happened in the neighborhood. If she was interested in Lynx, that would definitely put me high up on her hex list. “Wouldn’t that be bad for you guys and your cover story?”
“I doubt she knows anything, but she has eyes.” His gaze darted away, like looking at me as he spoke right now would be too painful. “A beautiful woman who’s self-sufficient, building things for herself…that’s a threat to her delicately crafted ecosystem.”
I cocked my head, enjoying his discomfort a little too much. “Did you just call me beautiful?”
His eyes were still averted, but he gave a nonchalant shrug. “I may have.”
“I think you did.” Reaching out, I lifted his chin to face me, stilling when he jolted at my touch. I dropped my hand quickly, realizing my error. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Saros. I wasn’t thinking. I just—”
“Relax, Midnight.” He brushed it off as if it’d never happened. “We’re cool.”
We’re cool?
“Okay,” I said, trying to will back the tinge of disappointed confusion threatening to coat my words. “I should probably get Aspen home.”
Just then, the coffee machine kicked on, as if on its own, sending Saros to his feet. He sprang over to the panel, ripping it off its hinges and scanning the screen. Concern etched his brow, eyes searching for something. When he found whatever he was looking for, he popped his earbud back in. I could just make out Lynx’s shape in the neon green-and-black night vision video playing for us.
Saros’s face fell before his lips pressed back into their usual line. The expression ripped the air clear from my lungs, my mind racing with all the worst-case scenarios.
“He thinks he found something.” He reached into the cabinets where he stocked extra syrups and coffees, pressing something to release a set of leather cuffs.
I’d seen the contraptions before on the supernatural cop shows I used to throw on. They were imbued with physical powers, ones that had been donated by those with gifts useful to the government. It made it possible for them to lift heavy objects, subdue criminals, and—worst case—execute on site.
He strapped one around each wrist, clenching and unclenching his fists a few times. “You head home. I need to go meet him.”
