Page 82 of Amber Gambler

More than that, should I? Reading him was an invasion of his privacy. Bash couldn’t help it. But I could.

“He’s like a glacier. Cold and unyielding.” The white film crept over his eyes as he reflected on Kierce. “At first, I thought he was shielded. That I couldn’t read him. He was that empty.” He blinked his vision clear. “Then you began explaining the physicality of relationships to him, and he thawed in slow degrees as his understanding grew. It was like…the polar ice caps melting.” He wiped a thumb over his bottom lip. “The depth of his hunger is staggering. The more he learns, the more knowledge he craves.”

Maybe I wasn’t terrible at reading men after all. Not Kierce anyway. Hadn’t I had the same thought?

“He hasn’t spent much time around the living in…a while…and he’s figuring things out as we go.”

“Are you sure you want a being that immense fixated on you?”

“Immense?”

“There’s more to him than what the eye can see, so much more, and I don’t only mean his glamour.”

“Can you see through it?” A surge of protectiveness rose in me. “His glamour?”

“No.” His eyes widened. “He’s shown you his true face?”

“Yes?”

“Frankie.” He straightened and checked to ensure we were still alone. “I’ve seen a lot of obsession in my line of work. Sex has a way of muddying even the clearest waters. I’m not sayingKierce is fixated or that he will become that way, but to awaken that depth of emotion in a person who doesn’t understand how to interpret or control it, one with that much power at his disposal…” He raked his fingers through his hair. “If there’s a power imbalance in a relationship, and the person on the lower end of the scale wants out, they might find they require assistance breaking off things.”

“You say that like you’ve got experience relocating people,” I joked, but it fell flat. “You’re serious.”

“Incubi and succubae can become addicted to specific donors. It’s our nature to hunt and feast on them, to finish what we start. But it’s dangerous to feed to completion where you live. Too many bodies would get us run out of town, and we would be forced to abandon our investments. Our clan is too large for an evacuation that size without casualties.” He lifted a shoulder then let it fall. “I monitor relationships with clients that toe the line of true intimacy. Anyone requiring assistance to disappear receives it at no cost. So, yes. I have the experience. I can make you vanish if you need to one day.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I meant it too. “Assuming you can bundle Matty and Josie into a package deal.”

“Of course.” He got a call and checked the ID. “I need to take this.”

As he walked away, I reflected on his reading of Kierce and questioned whether I was in over my head. It was impossible not to draw parallels between him and me and Josie and Armie. I saw how that ended. In death. Luckily, not ours.

“I found something.” Kierce stuck his head around the corner. “The half bath in the office is a false front. I sense a ward behind the wall, but there’s no clear means of accessing the space.”

“I have an idea.” I hated to leave him, but we required specific help. “Can you wait here with Bash?”

“Yes.” He hesitated. “Should you go alone?”

“It’s just to Bonaventure and back.”

“All right.” I could tell that didn’t make him any happier. “I’ll continue my examination.”

“See you in ten.” I rushed out of the kitchen to find Bash. “Keep an eye on Kierce for me.”

Outside, I jogged to the wagon and drove as fast as I dared to the cemetery. I hopped the fence, ran past the nightly promenade, made my excuses as I blew past friends, and kept going, enjoying the burn in my thighs until I reached the Heaven’s gate monument then spun a slow circle.

“Alyse? Farah?” I walked to the bluff overlooking the river. “We need to talk.”

Farah appeared with her hands tucked under her armpits and a shivering outline that telegraphed fear.

“Ian hurt Little, didn’t he?” Her chest rose and fell in panicked breaths she no longer required. “How bad is it? Did he kick her out? Will you take me to her? Can you help her?”

“Farah.” I lifted my hands, palms out. “It’s okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Little was fine the last time I saw her.” I let my arms drop. “I’m not here about her. I came to ask you for a favor.”

“Oh.” Her head fell back on her neck. “Thank God.”

“We’ve got a lead on Audrey, but I need a spirit to scout through walls for me.”

“I owe you big.” She pulled herself together. “Of course I’ll help.”

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