His gaze rose, the sapphire depths filled with a strange mix of concern, excitement, and hunger. It was the latter I definitely didn’t understand. “This is the symbol of the Libertine, the organization we believe is behind Luke and Stephan’s current adventure.”
I would hardly call it an adventure, but... “So who are the Libertine when they’re home?”
His gaze met mine, the concern stronger. “They are the Society’s dark counterpart—and they will kill you to get this shard back.”
ChapterEight
“They’ve already tried to get it back,” I said evenly. “They failed.”
He raised his eyebrows. “The man mountain you ran into?”
I nodded. “Two of them ransacked our apartment.”
“You need to move out of that apartment. They will hit you again, and again, until they get it.”
“We are protected?—”
“Not against these people, you’re not.”
I frowned. “If they would go to such lengths to retrieve it, I take it my guess was right, and we can use it to trace the location of the mage or sorcerer who used them.”
“If it holds enough resonance, yes. And had you placed it into evidence, it would likely have already disappeared by now.”
“The Society have the best protections available.”
“And the Libertine have the best countermeasures, including spies within all organizations.”
“Has Sophie suggested there are spies up here in Brisbane?”
“No, but we cannot discount the possibility.”
I studied him for several seconds. “Canyoutrace said resonance?”
“Yes.” He hesitated. “Though in this case, it would be better if I didn’t.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because, as I said, I sometimes walk in the shadows, and there are those who would recognize the reverberation of my presence. It could possibly warn them that we are on their trail.”
Which was the truth, as far as it went, but I couldn’t help but think there was another, more personal reason involved, one that had something to do with the darkness that haunted him whenever he mentioned his father. “But you can recommend someone who could run a trace in your place?”
“Yes.”
“Then that is what we will do after dinner.”
A smile teased his lips, briefly lifting the shadows from his expression. “I must admit that is not what I’d hoped we’d be doing after we finished dinner.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t ‘dance’ on the first date. Not that this is one, of course.”
“Of course,” he agreed with lazy amusement. “What of the second?”
“No.”
“Third?”
“Unlikely.”
“Ah. Well, I do like a good challenge.”
