Wyck wasn’t sure why Quinn had insisted on partnering with him to find the Nephilm, but he was certain three was more to it than this research of hers. Something else was at play and it wasn’t just the Seal she hosted. He’d thought telling her the truth of who he was, what she was, would be enough to make her never want to see him again.

Alas, it hadn’t turned out that way and now he had another problem to deal with—his feelings.

He shouldn’t have agreed to let her help him, given the seriousness of the situation. Quinn was a distraction. He didn’t doubt her ability to take care of herself, she’d more than proved her skills were adequate there. No, the threat came from the fact he found her beautiful, alluring, tempting, despite his wishes not to. Worse, after healing her, his thoughts had been plagued with all sorts of sexy images of them together. He hadn’t been with a woman in centuries and he’d certainly never wanted a female like Quinn. His past sexually interludes had been limited to women who knew the score, partners who dealt in sex like other dealt in cards—quick, efficient, with little to no fuss and little chance of cheating. There’d been no fuss, no muss, no emotions involved.

Wyck suspected making love to Quinn would be all fuss, all muss, and exquisitely enjoyable. He shouldn’t want her, yet he felt drawn to her like a siren’s call, irresistible and deadly. She lured him to temptation. So much so he’d spent the day and a half she’d slumbered away the effects of her injuries watching over her, instead out looking for the half-breeds as his Scion duty demanded. There’d been no reason for him to stay. His earthly apartment had the most advanced security available. There was no logical reason for him to have stayed.

Except that he hadn’t been able to leave her side.

He’d removed her shoes, then her lab coat. She hadn’t stirred, not even when he’d inspected her weapon. The ornate silver blade had been blessed with holy water. He suspected she’d sought guidance from a priest at some point. She’d mentioned the Nephilim buying out the lab she worked for then stealing her research.

No wonder she wanted them gone, same as him.

Something in common.

While she’d slept, Wyck had fought the urge to coil her red hair around his fingers. He’d yearned for her to open her eyes so he could peer into their depths again. She had stunning deep emerald green eyes surrounded by long dark auburn lashes. He’d wanted her to awaken and speak to him again, so he could ask her if she felt this strange connection between them as well.

But he’d done none of that.

Instead, he’d slept on the sofa in the living room or tried to anyway. Relaxing had been impossible, knowing she was in his bed.

She was a beautiful distraction.

Now, Quinn walked beside him through the night, tall, graceful, regal. Wyck glanced at her and found her watching him. The streetlights dimmed the bright emerald of her irises, but he still remembered their color vividly.

“How well do you know Atlanta?” she asked as they turned a corner and headed down another road. They were going back toward the plaza in front of the lab where they’d fought the Nephilim. She’d insisted on returning, though Wyck could have told her it was a dead end. Wherever the half-breed had disappeared to, he wouldn’t return anytime soon.

“Pretty well.” He’d been around since the beginning of time and had lived in Atlanta off and on since the turn of the century. Still if her thinking she knew more about this city and what happened here than he did and it kept her around, he wouldn’t argue. He wasn’t ready for her to leave.

Wyck fell behind a step and watched the sway of her hips beneath her slim black pencil skirt. The material fit snug against her shapely bottom and hugged her curves in all the r right places.

He shook off the errant thoughts. Whatever she looked like, it had nothing to do with him. She was his Seal’s host and therefore under his protection. If he did let her out of his sight now, she might go after the Nephilim on her own and could end up hurt. He was doing his Scion duty by keeping her with him. It had nothing to do with his attraction to her. Then there was the fact he still needed to make sure that this wasn’t all some sure and she wasn’t colluding with the enemy.

Wyck shuddered. If anyone discovered he fancied a possible traitor, he would be in serious trouble. Having relations with a mortal was one thing. Falling for an ally of the Nephilim was another.

Possibly ally.

Ugh. Such reasoning wouldn’t last two seconds with Divinity or his Scion commander. If either of them thought he’d entered into a liaison with a half-breed sympathizer, he couldn’t say he was only doing his Scion duty.

Nope. Quinn was strictly off limits.

He caught up to her and met her gaze. She looked away and turned. Her reactions confused him. Several times, she’d done something similar, as if she feared he’d read too much in her gaze. Realization dawned. Perhaps she was attracted to him too. Perhaps she felt the same desire he did.

They entered the dark park and he remained close by, lost in thought.

“Take a look at this.” She touched his arm, jolting him back to the present. Her fingertips brushed his wrist and awareness tingled through his skin, forbidden yet so enticing.

Quinn crouched as best she could near the scorched circle where the Nephilm had vanished. She touched the burnt earth, as though trying to read something in the lingering ashes.

“Picking up a signal from the mothership?” he joked, trying to lighten the tension between them, then reconsidered. The last thing he needed was for her to think he was flirting. Heaven knew he was susceptible enough to her, as evidenced by what had happened on the threshold of his apartment. If he closed his eyes, he could still feel her fingers in his hair, stroking his scalp. Talk about divine. She’d pushed him to the limit with such a simple, small touch.

It was all very wrong, yet felt so very right.

“No.” Quinn snapped, giving him a flat stare. “This wasn’t anything man-made that did this.”

Tell him something he didn’t already know.

“It wasn’t another Nephilim either. This sort of thing isn’t possible for them. I know what they’re capable of, and this isn’t it.” She looked up at him, gaining his full attention now.

Wyck knelt beside her and held his hand over the dirt too. Pale light filtered down from his palm to cover the entire circle. The ash swirled and lifted, drifting into the beam them disappearing. He concentrated. It was always difficult to test samples in this manner. If he lost focus, he would have to start all over again, and he didn’t want to waste his strength on a second attempt. When he had collected enough of a sample, he fisted his fingers and the light blinked out.

“What did you do?” Quinn’s eyes were wide in the low light.

“Magic.” He grinned and straightened, wiping his palm on the rear of his jeans.

“Liar.” Quinn stood toe-to-toe with him, meeting his gaze. She really was beautiful, especially when she was annoyed. Fire flashed in her eyes and her jaw was set, ready for a fight. Her bravery and tenacity drew him like a bug to a zapper.

Not a fate he should strive to emulate.

Wyck sighed. “Fine. If you must know I’ve sent the soil to the heavenly labs for analysis. Perhaps they can find something.”

“Heaven has a lab?”

“We have all sorts of technology, far superior to what everyday humans use. After all, we’ve perfected it for an eternity. Plus, our Scion duties are easier with access to a database of supernatural phenomena we can check when needed. When I’m not on a mission, I help keep it updated. Makes the whole capture and smite thing way easier.” Wyck bit back a grin at Quinn’s disappointed expression, like she’d finally seen behind the veil and spied the real Oz. “What? Just we’re heavenly beings doesn’t mean we’re not addicted to our gadgets as much as the next creature. Besides, even my excellent mind can’t hold all that knowledge at once. Scions can’t see and know everything. Only Divinity has that privilege.”

“Wait. You’re telling me God’s a woman?” She raised a single auburn brow. “I mean it makes sense. Woman are far better multi-takers. It’s scientifically proven…”

As she spouted endless data and figures, Wyck’s blood burned hot with desire. He’d always been a sucker for a beautiful mind and fought the temptation to silence her with a kiss.

“There are some things you don’t need a lab to discover.” Wyck reached out to touch her but she backed away. He sighed. Maybe he was wrong about their mutual attraction. Maybe he shouldn’t care. Maybe he should call it quits and forget this silliness before things got even more complicated.

“Listen, Quinn—” He froze. His Scion senses went berserk. She turned toward him just as he tackled her to the ground. “Get down!”