Page 106 of Twilight Destiny

Kincaid nodded. Unfortunately, at the moment, no one knew where to find the hunter.

“We need to know if Luca retains his magic, or if his spirit is merely residing in a new shell. If he cannot work his magic inside the hunter, then killing the hunter will kill Luca, as well. If he retains his power, he will merely flee the hunter’s body before it dies.”

“So, if his spirit leaves Rhinehart, is there a way to trap him inside a new body? Or catch him between one host and the other?”

“Perhaps. I will study the matter further. Thus far, my grimoire has revealed no answers. I may have to consult someone familiar with exorcisms as I have never performed one. Is there anything else?”

“No. Sorry I bothered you.”

“There is the usual charge for a visit.”

“Yeah, I thought there would be.” He rolled up his shirt sleeve while she went to fetch a container. He would have given a pint of blood to know what she did with it.

When she returned, he bit into his left wrist and held it over the bottle until it was full.

“Until next time, Jake Kincaid.”

He nodded. “Until then.”

Saintcrow was waiting for Kincaid on the porch when he returned to Blair House. “You’ve been to see the witch.”

“Yeah.” Kincaid relayed what Izabela had told him. “Any idea where Rhinehart is?”

“No. I tried calling his cell phone. No answer.”

“We should go by his house. Maybe his wife knows something.”

“I doubt it, but we have to start somewhere. You’re afraid he’ll come after you.”

Kincaid shrugged. “I’m more worried about Rosa.”

“We’ll go in the morning. Around eleven.”

Kincaid checked on Rosa after Saintcrow left. He stood by the bed for several minutes, just watching her sleep, listening to her slow, even breathing, the steady beat of her heart.

Murmuring, “Dream of me,” he brushed a kiss across her brow, then sought his lair in the basement.

Rosa woke slowly, wishing that Jake was beside her. Now that Luca had reared his ugly head again, their wedding had, regretfully, been put on hold. She still couldn’t believe that the necromancer wasn’t dead. How could anyone—anything—have survived that spell? And if that hadn’t killed Luca, what on earth would?

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she sat there a moment, wondering when Jake would rise and what she would do until then. Staying inside seemed like the wisest thing to do. And then she remembered she had lots of boxes to unpack.

“No time like the present,” she mused aloud. “And I’ll get to it, right after breakfast.”

She was in the kitchen, putting silverware in a drawer, when Jake came up behind her and nuzzled her neck.

“Hey, beautiful,” he murmured.

“Hey, yourself.” She turned in his arms, lifting her face for his kiss.

He pulled her close, his lips moving evocatively over hers, stealing the strength from her legs and making her heart beat faster. When she felt his tongue stroke the side of her neck, she turned her head, giving him access to her throat, sighed as warmth spread through her, like a flower opening to the sun.

Murmuring, “Thank you, love,” he sealed the tiny wounds. “I needed that.”

“Oh? Why?”

“Saintcrow and I are going hunting.”

“In the middle of the day?”

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