Page 91 of Valkyrie Unknown

“How did you…? Why do you have those?” Callie’s question saved me from my meandering thoughts.

“I draw what pops into my head.” Zeke was already letting his guard down if he admitted that. Why did he trust her when Azzie and I didn’t?

The front door opened behind us, and I glanced over my shoulder. Lugh? My brain switched into instantcuriously alertmode.

Why was he here? So far, he’d insisted Azzie not know who he was, and there was no way this was a coincidence.

“I’ll be right with you, Sir.” Enid’s light mood changed when she saw him, and she stood straighter. Exuded a more professional air.

Callie’s fingers twitched near her purse again, wiggling as her hand drifted closer to the bag, then away. She dragged in a deep breath through her nostrils and took a step toward the door. “I’m sorry to bother you. Thank you for your time.”

“Wait.” Zeke reached for her arm as she strode quickly away, and she flickered, his hand passing through her.

She could teleport. Did she know that?

She walked out the door, and when I chased her onto the sidewalk, she was nowhere to be seen. Who the fuck…? I headed inside to find Zeke staring at the hand that had failed to grasp Callie, and Azzie scowling at the door.

“She’s gone,” I said. Such a strange encounter. “Is she a regular, Enid?”

Enid’s attention was no longer on us, and she took a step toward Lugh. It was that kind of nervous twitch that implied she’d rather end our conversation and begin one with him. “Never seen her before. She was in here a while before you came in, browsing through all the books.”

“You didn’t think that was odd?” I struggled to wrap my head around the encounter.

“I run a bookstore. I love books. I think it’s odd when peopledon’twant to spend hours staring at the weird things I’ve discovered over the years.” Enid wasn’t looking at us anymore. “I didn’t realize you were coming,” she said to Lugh. “I’m just wrapping up.”

This wasn’t the kind of adoration that she talked about Davyn with. She was treating Lugh like he had the power to make or break her.

He did, but he tended to hide that, and I doubted she saw it in as literal a way as I did.

Lugh offered a warm, non-threatening smile that didn’t hint at any of the deception underneath. “It’s all right.” He sounded friendly. Kind. “Admittedly, I have a second reason for being here right now. I was hoping to meet Azrael.”

Azzie twitched her fingers closer to her waistband and her holsters, and she didn’t return the smile.

At least Lugh wasn’t going to try to pretend this was a coincidence. He extended his hand in Azzie’s direction. “It’s a pleasure.”

She stared at the offering then turned her gaze to his face. “Me? I’m not Az— that word you just said. I’m Abbey.” She pulled off sounding oblivious perfectly.

Lugh didn’t look fazed as he dropped his hand again. “I see. I apologize for the intrusion. I thought this might be the least intimidating way to meet you. In public, surrounded by friends.”

I hadn’t told him we’d be here this afternoon, so he had some other way—magical or otherwise—of tracking her. And I suspected he’d picked a moment Davyn wouldn’t be around on purpose.

Smart.

“I’m not who you think I am,” Azzie said. “But I’m sure whoever you’re looking for doesn’t believe that stalking is non-intimidating.”

“You’re right, of course. I’m Lugh.”

Zeke crossed his arms. The name had come up in some of their conversations about visions Azzie’s mom had. Her mother insisted Lugh and Azzie would meet several times, but it was never clear if he was friend or foe.

“Uh-huh,” Azzie said.

If Lugh had chosen to show himself, I wasn’t going to pretend I didn’t know him, or that we weren’t friends. I could still keep his intentions for her to myself. “He is who he says. Though I’m as suspicious as you are as to why he’s here.”

Lugh chuckled. A deceptively endearing sound. “I’d explain, but it seems this isn’t the woman I’m looking for.”

“Please. He’s—” Enid looked at him. “Do you mind if I explain to them?”

He nodded. “Probably best.”

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