Page 42 of Sapphire Flame
I’m here.
For a moment, she couldn’t think. Even his telepathic voice had a low rumble that afflicted the back of her knees. She forced herself to take another breath.I need to see you. Um…there’s been a development.
Same here.
His response surprised her.Really?
Yes. I’ve been trying to find out more information about the presence you mentioned. In fact, I’m with a warlock right now who thinks he can help figure this out. Would you be willing to see him? Consult with him? It would mean a certain level of engagement, but he might be able to confirm and perhaps even identify your stalker.
For a second, she was disappointed, not in seeing someone else as well but that Grant had a specific reason to want to see her as opposed to just wanting to see her. She was being foolish.I’m at Agnes’s chapel in her compound. We’ve still got some time before dawn. Can you come now?
He wanted you to come to his place.
She thought for a moment.It’s safe here, Grant. Agnes’s compound is like a fortress.
You’re right. It is. Let me see if he’s willing to travel.
She waited as he spoke to the warlock. When he came back on, he said,Neil, the warlock I mentioned, is willing but he doesn’t have a lot of time, so we’ll need to get to it.
I understand.She didn’t exactly, but she could work with whatever was going on.
We’ll be there in a few. Also, we’re flying in. It might be best if you let Agnes know we’ve been invited. She knows both of us.
I’ll alert her. I’m sure there won’t be a problem. But if she has a concern, I’ll get right back to you.
Okay. We won’t be long.
Natalie felt Grant disconnect. She realized her heart was pounding in her chest. She’d even broken a sweat. She glanced at the back of her hand and there it was, the beginning of her wolf, a sliver of iridescence in a strip across the back of her right hand.
She showed it to Talya who seemed surprised. “That’s really something and so beautiful.”
“I suppose it is.” She forced it away, however. For whatever reason, she didn’t want Grant to see her wolf-sign. The whole thing embarrassed her.
She contacted Agnes telepathically and received permission for the men to come into the compound and join them at the chapel. Agnes said she would let the guards at the front gate know they were coming.
Agnes took no chances when it came to her well-protected compound. She had several guards constantly patrolling the area as well as a high-tech electronic surveillance system. A grid covered the cottages that formed a large U-shape at the back of the property so that no one could even fly over without her system being alerted.
Once Agnes confirmed the guards had been informed, Natalie turned back to Talya and told her what was going on, including that a warlock would be joining them.
Talya’s auburn brows rose. She was a beautiful woman and getting healthier by the moment. “You say his name is Neil? Is that his last name?”
Natalie shrugged. “I have no idea. Why?”
Talya’s lips quirked. “I think the asshole’s name was Neil.”
“Oh, dear.” But Natalie grinned.
“I should stop calling him that. After all, it was only his opening lines that made me think bad of him. Like I said, once he got real, that’s when he almost seduced me, though I didn’t tell him that. He has a unique look, too. Wavy black hair, thick to his shoulders. His features are very striking, and he has unusual gray eyes. You’ll have to tell me what you think once he gets here.”
“I will.” Natalie searched Talya’s face. “He got to you. I mean, he really did.”
“Yeah. After that initial encounter, I had vivid dreams about him. I even wondered if he’d used a spell on me. But after a while, it all faded. I have thought about him, though. The thing is, I’ll probably excuse myself once they get here. I’d leave now, but I’d like to see Grant again, get a feel for him myself in case you want to talk later. Though I confess I’m a bit used up.”
Natalie was surprised by her reaction to these relatively innocent comments. What shot through her mind first was that she did not want Talya ‘getting a feel’ for Grant. She knew what Talya meant, but the words themselves conjured very different images.
She finally said, “I’m not sure what all is going on with me, but it might be best if you kept your distance from the wolf.”
Again, Talya’s brows rose. She nodded slowly. “I’ll make a point of it.”
