We finished our meal, casually getting to know each other a bit better. It felt more like a polite job interview than a date, because we had been around each other a handful of times over the past few days. He didn’t press me on anything in particular, and seemed to be purposely keeping the conversation on surface topics, not trying to dig into my past, my association with Roland, or even me personally — like one normally does on a date.

It was entirely professional, even if it was strained — on my end. He seemed completely content with the conversation, which was baffling, because I had expected flirting, arrogance. Instead, I was enjoying myself.

I had read up on Temple before heading over here. He was known for depraved parties, raucous public intoxications, and alleged trouble with the law that he always seemed to skate from. Even some trouble with the FBI. Then something hit me. Gunnar, the man who had been here. That name had been mentioned with the FBI a few years ago when Nate had been accused of something. Gunnar had taken the fall for it, and had been released from the Bureau over it.

“Do you work for the FBI?” I asked lightly, not wanting to ruin the mood, but curious.

Nate grunted. “No way. Gunnar used to, but was forced into early retirement. He works at Shift now, but he and Ashley also run a business on the side.”

I had been wanting to bring up Shift — the name of the school he had recently founded. “He’s a werewolf. So is Ashley. Do you work for them?” I was having trouble piecing together the news articles with what I had seen of the man before me.

Nate blinked at me, but I didn’t know if it was because of my observation or my question. “You know that from three minutes of conversation with them? Must have run into werewolves in the past to be able to pick up on that.”

I shrugged. Ashley’s teasing comments had confirmed my initial instincts, but he was right. I had known a few wolves from bad dates.

Nate set his fork down, leaning forward on his elbows. “I don’t work for Gunnar. He doesn’t work for me. We’re old friends. He likes to mother me. And Ashley likes to mother him. They’re engaged.” He watched me, waiting for any other questions I might have.

“Okay,” I finally said.

He nodded. “Now, you wanted to know why the wolf was killed. I wasn’t able to get confirmation, but I do have a theory. Let me back up a bit so it all makes sense.” I nodded, sipping my own drink. It was quite good, this absinthe. Strong, but refreshing. “Gunnar and Ashley swung by to check on me early this morning since I didn’t return to St. Louis after the auction. I told them about the chaos and the strange looking werewolf. They didn’t believe me about the wolf so they tracked his pack down to see if I was lying. That’s how they learned about the sale with the vampires. These strange wolves were very open about talking to Gunnar and Ashley, probably because he’s the Alpha of St. Louis, and although different, they are still kind of in the same gene pool. It should be noted that they repeatedly warned Gunnar and Ashley to get out of town, before they got in over their heads.” Nate met my eyes, underlining the significance. I nodded. The wolves were scared of something. But what the hell could scare a pack of wolves?

“The pack had originally planned to sell a broken piece of a spear to the vampire at the auction, but the Nephilim’s murder messed that up, because everyone freaked out, feeling they had been set up.” I blinked in disbelief. Had Roland known about this? That a second piece of the spear had been at the auction?

Nate continued. “The wolf and vampire you met made peace after the auction, and completed their exchange. When Gunnar finally tracked the wolf from the auction down, he found him dead, brutally killed by a jagged piece of wood that may or may not resemble a broken broom handle.” I nodded distantly, following the chain of events, and struggling to hide my amazement. I felt a faint frustration that his friends had been working behind my back, but at the same time, this information was crucially important. “I told you this already, but since we didn’t know why, Gunnar went back out to the wolf pack.” He paused, taking a drink. “They were gone. Every one of them. They took the same advice they gave Gunnar and ran. Wolves don’t do that.”

“I’ve never heard of a pack of wolves running. Ever,” I agreed. “We’ll just have to ask the vampires what happened. Then kindly ask them for their piece of the spear.”

Nate smiled at that. “You told me you were attacked by the Demon outside the church…” I nodded. “And Father David was also attacked.” I nodded again, watching him. “I’m thinking they ran from a third party, not the vampires. I think the Demon hunted that wolf down, and finding him without the spear, killed him. And the rest of the wolves fled. I can think of little else that would cause an entire pack to flee their homes. The Demon would have recognized the wolf from the auction. It makes sense. To me, anyway.” He turned to me, waiting for my opinion.

I found myself nodding. It did make sense. The Demon had one piece from the auction, and could be systematically going after anyone else who had a piece.

“Looks like we’re going vampire robbing, then. Before the Demon decides to.”

“I’m glad you agree, because I have a plan to get your Cruci-stick.”

“So do I. And it doesn’t include a sleazy dress,” I scowled.

“Sleazy? Did you even look at it?” he asked, smiling. I shook my head. “It covers more flesh than the dress you wore at the auction.” He waved a hand. “The dress wasn’t for tonight anyway. It was a contingency plan. I would have sent it to the church, or your home, but thought this would be less invasive. It matches a tie I have picked out, if it comes to that. A disguise if the opportunity arises. That’s the only reason I picked it up. I’ll tell you about it later. Unless plans change and another one pops up.” He shrugged absently.

I watched him curiously. At first, I had thought it to be some kind of bribe, or him bragging about his money, trying to impress me like some cheesy romance movie. But he didn’t look remotely confounded at my reaction. Sure, he looked amused, but I sensed nothing flirtatious about him. He seemed genuinely honest about the garment.

He flashed me a grin. “Although I would recommend hanging it up so it doesn’t get wrinkly. Just in case we do need it.”

“I suppose it’s a ten-thousand-dollar dress, complete with expensive jewelry?” I asked drily.

He frowned. “I think the dress was fifty bucks. Ashley picked it out on her way over. And you can get your own damned jewelry. I can critique jewelry, but I have no idea how to pick it out ahead of time,” he admitted, watching me curiously. “Did you think I was trying to bribe you or something?” He leaned back in his chair, frowning. “Well, I guess I can see that,” he nodded to himself, holding his hands out at the suite. “This is all a disguise, as are most things I do. It’s expected of me. And if I deliver what is expected, no one pays any further attention. Like I told you earlier. If someone like me showed up, went to McDonalds, and rented a room at the Holiday Inn, we would have reporters all over the place. More so than now, anyway,” he muttered with a grimace.

And he was right. There had been a horde of reporters and journalists outside the hotel when I had arrived. Luckily, they hadn’t thought I had anything to do with Nate or they would have molested me for a story. “Want to hear my plan?” I asked.

He leaned forward, grinning like a shark, listening as I shared it with him. He began to laugh, and then nodded. “I like it. And you have someone to cover for you?”

“Yep.”

He clapped his hands. “Good. The manager thinks I’m hosting a small party up here with Madame Upchurch, Gunnar, and Ashley. It’s one of the reasons I had them stick around until you got here, so that Richard would see them here still.” He glanced out the window, then turned back to me. “Looks like we better get started.”

I nodded, but wanted to add one thing. “No more assistance from your friends, although I appreciate it.”

Nate studied me, then finally nodded. “I never intended them to help. They did that on their own, out of curiosity with the mutant wolves. They’re good at sniffing things out. He did warn me that they aren’t just wolves. He didn’t know what else, but he wanted me to warn you. In case they come back.” I nodded, wondering if Roland would know anything about that. “If I have advice, I want you to really listen to me. My friends are not without their skills, and sometimes that could help us achieve a goal with a lot less risk. Promise me that you will at least consider it if I bring it up.”

I finally nodded, conceding. But I could always decline the help. After listening, of course. I wanted his help, but the more strangers helping us out, the more uneasy I grew. Because relying too much on Nate’s help wouldn’t help me in the long run. Because eventually, he would leave, and I would be the one to pay the consequences of anyone we pissed off together. I needed to do this my way. Not out of stubbornness, but to let the monsters of Kansas City fear me, and not just Nate Temple and friends. I wondered if he understood that.

Satisfied with my agreement, he guided me back into the penthouse and out of the kitchen.

I left the package with the dress on the floor, a subtle statement. He rolled his eyes.

Instead of taking the elevator down, he inserted a key, and pressed a button for the roof. I frowned at him, but didn’t speak. Trust. I needed to give him a little.

He smiled at my obvious impatience. “I know where the vampires are holed up. I can get us there quickly, and without the gaggle of reporters knowing I even left the hotel.” He winked at me. “Alibi, remember? Gunnar may or may not have let slip that I was thinking of opening a chapter for my school here. To the reporters. Loose-lipped werewolves,” he feigned annoyance. “You should confirm your alibi before we go,” he said, as the elevator whisked us toward the roof.

I nodded slowly, wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. Why were we heading to the roof? But I pulled out my phone to text Claire, and tell her my plan was a go.

I finished my text, and followed Nate onto the roof as the elevator door opened.

A set of comfy-looking lawn furniture stood in the center of a flat section of the roof, a bottle of wine and two glasses resting on the table’s surface. I frowned as Nate walked up, deftly opened the bottle, and then poured a little into each glass. He held one out to me as he took another. He also had pink lipstick in one hand. “Put a little of this on first,” he said, reading the bottle of wine with a grunt of regret.

“What the hell is this?”

He sighed. “Distraction, remember? I had the manager bring all of this up here, because I hinted to him that at some point after my meeting with everyone tonight, I was hoping to dazzle Madame Upchurch with my charm.” He held out the glass. “Paint your lips, and then take a drink. For luck. And so any curious eyes can see that we did indeed spend a bit of time up here.”

I took the glass hesitantly, put on a bit of lipstick, just enough to leave an imprint on the rim when I took a sip, and then tossed the lipstick off the roof with a meaningful glare at him. He laughed, and then lifted his glass. I did the same. We clinked lightly, and each took a sip. I stared down at the glass in surprise. This was very nice wine. Judging by the look on his face, he looked disappointed that he couldn’t sample more, and his previous sigh of regret when reading the bottle made much more sense. But he took both our glasses and set them carefully on the table. I noticed that the base of the glasses actually slid into a holder of sorts built into the table, as did the bottle itself.

So that the glasses wouldn’t tip over in the wind.

I frowned at him suspiciously. “You must have done this a few times before. I’ve never seen any drink coasters like that before.”

He shrugged, holding out his hand. “Do you trust me?”

I shook my head, folding my arms as I studied the roof. There were no zip lines or anything. No parachutes tucked away, so what the hell were we doing up here?

He faced me, squaring his shoulders, as his eyes danced with mischief. “I want to show you something. I think you’re strong enough to do it yourself. Unless you and Roland already know it, but I doubt it. I only figured it out by accident. Ever heard of Shadow Walking?”

I frowned, then shook my head.

“I’ll show you how. It will allow you to go almost anywhere you want in a blink. Wizard thing. Academy secret.”

“I thought you hated the Academy…”

“I do. That doesn’t mean they don’t know some handy tricks. Tools, remember?”

He winked. And then with a sharp crack in the air, he was suddenly gone. I had felt a moment of him harnessing his magic, and even recognized the steps he had taken to do… whatever he had just done. Had he made himself invisible? I crouched warily, my energy sticks flashing into existence in my fists as I stared at the spot he had been standing. He cleared his throat.

Directly behind me. Without thought, I released my sticks and duplicated what he had done before disappearing.

There was a loud crack, the world flashed dark for a moment, and then I was suddenly back on the roof, only ten feet away from where I had been standing, ten feet further from the throat that had cleared behind me, and I was facing a very surprised Nate as he spun to face me.

I gasped, staring down at my chest in wonder.

Nate laughed excitedly. “Quick learner, indeed. You just Shadow Walked.” His eyes twinkled. Then he glanced down at a digital watch, not something I would have expected on him. “Right on time. Now, want to do it again? This time, I’ll drive.” His grin was much darker this time, hungry, and ready for violence. I nodded back, not realizing at first that I was also smiling back as I walked up to him, holding out my hand.

My fingers tingled as they touched his, but not just from magic.

A hint of danger. A splash of anticipation. And a pinch of controlled fear tinted my grin.

Then the world winked out, and we were gone, leaving an empty roof and a couple of wine glasses.