“Oh, I understand.” Not without a fumble. Cue my mind conjuring up all sorts of visions of Rennie and me together in bed.
“Great.” He fiddled with the collar of his shirt. “I went to the Egyptian division of the Royal Occult Bureau to consult their library and ask the help of an agent.” He growled. “It turned out my choice wasn’t wise. Bloody Oliver. He’s one of those agents who can cleanse or restore memories, as you have unfortunately learnt.”
“Forget Oliver. Tell me about the Unnatural.”
His long eyelashes fluttered down his cheeks. “I believe it’s a lamia.” If he was expecting a big reaction from me at the mention of the name, he’d be disappointed.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“I’m not surprised. It’s very rare. It’s a creature indigenous to Libya. No one knows what it looks like. It takes the shape of the person who’ll ignite the fiercest emotion or desire in a human.”
“I don’t understand.” Our knees touched again, and I didn’t move my leg but stared boldly at him.
“Do you remember the man who attacked us? You described him as tall with short hair. I saw a lean man with a bald head and sharp teeth. The lamia appears to look different to different people because we don’t find the same things frightening, exciting, or attractive.”
“Oh.” I slouched back. “So when I see Sandro...”
He gave me a sad smile and gazed at the floor. “I believe he embodies the perfect qualities you like in a man, from his looks to his voice and manners. Your ultimate love interest.”
Why did the explanation shoot guilt into my heart? “Not necessarily.”
He gazed up, his throat working. “You saw a handsome, kind man, though.”
Yes, but it was before I met Rennie. “But another person, looking at him, will see a different man.”
“Yes. The lamia has a certain degree of control over its features, though. When it wants to charm someone, it will become a charming person for everyone who looks at it, a sort of ideal personality that would satisfy the average person. Sometimes, it can deliberately transform into someone and keep the appearance for a few minutes. It’s complicated.”
“You didn’t seem very charmed by Edward when he introduced himself to us.”
He pointed a finger at his eyes. “Men with green eyes are more resilient to the Unnaturals’ power. That’s why there are so many green-eyed agents at the bureau. Edward didn’t charm me, but I didn’t suspect he was an Unnatural either.”
“But how does a lamia kill?”
“A kiss.” His gaze dipped to my lips for a moment that was long enough to set my body on fire.
“But”—this was embarrassing—“I’ve kissed Sandro many times, and nothing has ever happened.”
He glanced at my lips again. “It’s not clear how it works, but a lamia is capable of destroying a human with a kiss. What remains of the human is a glob of silver gelatine.”
“Mrs Francis!” I’d been so bold with my parents, but the thought of ending up like Mrs Francis, like a blob of goo on the floor, sent a chill down my back.
“Yes. When you found the silver substance, I knew we were dealing with an Unnatural. I didn’t know about the lamia. But I don’t believe it wants to kill you. It had several opportunities to kill you, but it didn’t do it.”
I’d kissed a creature who reduced people to gelatine. “Then what does it want?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s obvious it was the lamia who seduced the real Edward Morrison. He wants to be ravished by you, and the lamia took your shape.”
“Goodness me. I don’t know how that makes me feel.” I shook my head. “So the Scot who attacked Mrs Francis...”
“It was the lamia, taking the shape of her wildest fantasy.”
“The Scot on the cover of her book.”
He nodded. “It all fits.”
We remained in silence while the gondola slowed its pace.
“Do you think it’s still on board theSS Florentia?” I asked.
