“You were raised as a human,” he said. “You have a tulpa, and you were an untrained mess when you got here. Conah was working with what he had.”

I smoothed strands of hair off my sweaty forehead. “I was willing to move on and let it go, but he’s hiding something else from me. I know he is.”

“It’s in Conah’s nature to protect,” Azazel said. “Sometimes, he can be overprotective. It’s why he and Kiara work so well. She’s willing to surrender herself to him completely. With Kiara, he need not worry because he can predict what her responses and reactions will be, and he’s confident that she’ll allow him to guide her. But with you, there are no assurances.”

“Yeah, well, sorry, being a puppet doesn’t appeal to me.” I glugged more water and then stood. I was done discussing the topic. “So, are we going to train or not?”

Azazel stood, his huge body dwarfing mine. Even with my five-seven height, I was forced to tilt my head to look up at him.

He studied me through thick lashes. “Run.” There was a delicious rumble to his voice that had the prey inside me wanting to surrender. “I’ll give you a five-second head start.”

Fuck.

My parkour skills were improving. I’d managed to evade Azazel for a good five minutes before he’d snagged me out of the air and pinned me to the mat with his huge, taut body. Having him pressed to me, legs tangled with mine, the back of his forearm at my throat, and his intense gaze locked on my mouth was probably the highlight of my day.

How sad was that?

But like the last time, he’d jumped off me like I was made of thorns. Now back in my room, showered and fresh, my mind kept going over those few moments when we’d been full-body touching.

I picked up my hairbrush. It looked different, newer. Iza must have cleaned out the hairball wrapped around the bristles. That imp was too good to me. I tugged it through my damp hair and then strapped on the new comm. It had been on my bed when I entered my room, along with Conah’s distinctive scent. The fact he’d been in my room when I wasn’t here made me feel weird. Had he snooped? What if he’d found Errol? Had he compared sizes? To be a fly on the wall for that one.

My gaze slid to my bedside table. Maybe I should hide my vibrating toy. I mean, I wouldn’t want anyone to get an inferiority complex.

I smoothed a hand over my hips encased in skinny jeans. Yep, I was wearing skinny jeans, and no, they didn’t threaten to tear when I sat down. Whooo. I twisted to check out my butt in the full-length mirror. Peachy. Cora and I weren’t headed out for a few more hours, but there was no harm in trying shit on.

The off-the-shoulder black blouse exposed an inch of my midriff and looked stunning against my silver-blonde hair, which I’d piled up in an artful messy do, leaving tendrils hanging to frame my face. The whole look said I didn’t even try but look how sexy I am. Shame I’d have to cover it all up with a heavy coat and boots when I went out. Senki was freezing all of the time. But it would be warm in the tavern, so I’d get to show off my outfit then.

I sat at my dresser and laced up my boots. At least the reaper team was okay. Sariah had messaged to say they were on patrol again in two days but on the south side this time. Dayna messaged back to say she’d spoken to Aunt Lara, and all was good at Deadside. Still, I needed to make up for my not being able to stay the other day. I needed to keep my connection with Deadside juiced up. There was no doubt in my mind that the power of Deadside had given me an edge when fighting the vamps the other day.

Iza entered the room in a whirlwind of excitement. She’d been like a ghost the last few days, or maybe it was me that had been absent. Either way, my heart lifted at the sight of her smiling face.

“Cora said you’re headed to the tavern tonight?”

I nodded. “You want to come?”

She smiled shyly at me. “I was hoping you’d ask. I can come as your companion.”

“You can come as my friend.”

There was something different about her today. A flush to her skin, a brightness to her eyes. Wait a fucking second. “Iza … are you in love?”

“Who’s in love?” Cor asked as she entered the room.

I stared at her solid form. “Cor …”

She wagged a finger at me. “Nope. Love first. And nice outfit.” She flopped on the bed with her completely solid form. “So, who’s in love?”

I tore my gaze from her and back to Iza, who was standing with her hands clasped in front of her. “We met at the market a few times. He works at the tavern.”

“In that case, we can’t wait to meet him,” Cora said.

There was a knock on the door, and then Mal’s voice drifted through the wood. “Dominus meeting in the lounge. Now.”

My stomach quivered at the thought of facing Conah again, but I took a deep breath. I contemplated changing back into my joggers and T-shirt, but fuck it, I felt pretty, and I liked it.

I looked at Cora. “We’ll talk about this”—I indicated her solid form—“later over a bevvy at the tavern.”

Her eyes widened. “Fee … do you think … do you think I can eat and drink?”

I froze, and we locked eyes. “I don’t see why not?”

Cora’s face broke into a grin. “Iza, babe. I’m gonna need you to make me a sandwich, a huge fuck-off sandwich.”

The lounge drapes were shut, blocking out the mid-morning sunlight. The fire was lit, and the lamps were on. I’d never seen the lounge like this in the daytime. The drapes were usually open and secured with ties to allow sunlight to bathe the room in buttery light.

I spotted Conah to my left by the drinks cabinet. My gaze dropped to his hands. He was clutching a mug. The same mug he’d grabbed in the kitchen.

Mal was lounging on the sofa in a relaxed pose, eyes half-closed, legs splayed, one hand resting on his bare abdomen because, of course, as usual, he wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes. Azazel sat forward on the single-seater sofa, the bars of his forearms braced on his thighs. His hair was loose and damp from the shower, but he’d tucked it behind his ears.

He was the first to look up at me. He raked me over, and his mouth tightened slightly, but not before I caught a flash of heat in the silvery depths of his eyes.

Mal spotted me next, and his brows went up slightly before his mouth curled in his signature lopsided smile. “Well, hello, sexy. If I’d known we were dressing up for the meeting, I’d have put on a shirt.”

Conah looked me up and down for a little longer than necessary. His gaze lingered on my bare shoulders and the column of my neck.

“Is this the new Dominus?”

I jumped as a fourth figure stepped out of the shadows on the other side of the room. His eyes were covered by dark round spectacles, and his skin was so pale it had to be bloodless. His hair was so dark it looked like the tousled strands were slicing into his pale forehead. He was tall and thin with cheekbones that looked like they were attempting to take over his face.

“Kristoff, this is Seraphina,” Conah said.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Seraphina,” Kristoff said.

His voice made my skin crawl and my scalp prick. “Who are you?” I shook my head. “Let me rephrase that. What are you?”

“Fee …” Conah admonished.

I ignored him and kept my attention on Kristoff.

“Direct,” Kristoff said. “I like that.” He reached up and slid his spectacles off his nose.

Dark pits stared back at me. Dark pits that screamed vampire.

I took a step back. “What the fuck?”

“Kristoff is on our side,” Conah said.

“As much as a vampire can be,” Mal drawled. He gave Kristoff a humorless smile. “No offense, Kristoff.”

“None taken,” Kristoff said. He put his glasses back on. “I am a vampire, but not by choice. I was turned half a century ago. Before that, I was a witch.”

“I didn’t know witches could be turned.”

“Any creature can be turned if it possesses the appropriate trigger in its blood,” Kristoff said. “I was unlucky, but I refuse to be ruled by bloodlust.”

“Kristoff has been an Underealm liaison for decades,” Conah explained. “He works for us.”

“With you,” Kristoff corrected.

Conah inclined his head. “Of course.”

“And I have information.”

“You’ve been tracking the Dread that attacked the Academy.” I looked from Kristoff to Conah and back. “Haven’t you?”

His smile was thin and cool. “Correct. I have reason to believe that they will be congregating in two days’ time, and I have a location.”

Conah set down his mug, and even Mal sat up with interest.

“How reliable is your information?” Azazel asked.

Kristoff fixed his spectacled gaze on him. “As reliable as always.”

Azazel nodded.

“Even though you refuse to share your sources,” Mal said slyly.

Kristoff let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.”

“Where?” Conah asked.

“The industrial estate on the borders of westside Necro. I’ll text you the coordinates. I’m not sure which building, though.”

“We’ll find it,” Azazel said.

“In that case”—Kristoff gave me a mock bow—“Conah, you may drop me home.”

Conah walked over to Kristoff, clasped his hand, and the two vanished.

I stared at the spot where they’d just been. That was it? He’d come here to tell us that? I mean, it was monumental information, but he could have texted Conah with it. Why come all the way here and have a meeting? Oh … The penny dropped.

I turned to the guys, hands on hips. “You wanted me to feel involved, didn’t you?”

Azazel snorted. “I told you she wasn’t stupid.”

“Never said she was,” Mal replied. “Conah and his idiotic gestures.” He canted his head and shrugged. “He’s trying to make it up to you.”