Page 69 of Feathers and Scales

He grimaced. “The link. I felt your need to help him, and then you did. How is that possible? You may have transported a laptop, but healing someone is something else.”

She clenched her jaw and took her arm from his. “I need to get back to my research. Keep me updated about Simon and the news on the Archfiends.”

Turning before he could protest, she headed back inside.

Serephina hovered over Izzy’s human form that lay on the chaise and undressed Izzy’s body down to bra and panties.

“Excuse me! What are you doing?” Izzy asked, arms crossed.

Izzy had made it a habit to stay close to her body when in the library. Serephina had threatened to write something on Izzy’s forehead on more than one occasion to make her take a break. It seemed like the woman ate six times a day, and she expected Izzy to do the same.

“Daxton wanted you in hiking gear, so I’m dressing you.” Serephina struggled to slip a green tank top over Izzy’s arms.

A jolt shot through Izzy straight to her curling lips. She calmed her expression. “What entitled you to not consult me before you stripped me?”

“This is quicker than just arguing with you.”

Izzy attempted to still her shaking fingers. She would not be excited at the prospect of spending time with Daxton. “Do you know what is on his agenda?”

“He didn’t say, but I’m sure you can guess.” Serephina sounded exasperated as she dressed a tan button-up blouse over the tank top.

That man was obviously up to no good.

Serephina eyed a pair of cargo pants, and Izzy bit the inside of her lip. Body buzzing with longing, she couldn’t resist the urge to return. Connecting spirit to human flesh, she opened her eyes and stuck her hand out to Serephina.

“Hand them over,” Izzy said.

Serephina startled back a step but gave Izzy the pants. “You must want to go, huh?”

“Hardly.” She pulled the pants on, and they fit snugly around her waist. “This is a faster way to get rid of you.”

Serephina huffed. Izzy lay on the chaise and concentrated back on her spirit. The bands of energy connecting her spirit to her body strained and radiated heat when she tried to pull away.Not this again.Her chest tightened.Why is this so hard?

Separating from her body had been nothing more than a thought, but after the intimacy between her and Daxton, it felt like pulling her feet from mud. A blue aura bolstered her once yellow energy strands in her Spirit Cavity—the link to Daxton.

She yanked free and rose from her body in spirit form. Her spirit ached, limbs heavy in an unfamiliar way. The spirit connection strained against her mind, tugging at her to return.

“Seriously? You left your body already?” Serephina stepped out of her way.

Izzy plopped onto a nearby chair, wedged her finger into the book, and spread it wide.

Serephina sighed. “I know you act like your friend almost being murdered isn’t a big deal, but it is. Please, just try to enjoy yourself.”

Izzy waved in acknowledgment, eyes on her book as Serephina’s footsteps faded. She wanted to stay away from Daxton for a while longer until she could process her inability to shut off her emotions around him. She cursed and forced herself to continue reading.

Not long after, Daxton’s presence filled her mind, and his spicy capsaicin-like scent wrapped around her. She turned to watch him stride into the Archives.

Dark denim hugged the musculature of his legs. The straps of his backpack stretched the shirt taut over his broad chest. A damp sweat spot in the center of the gray T-shirt clung to the mounds of his pecs. A dangerously sexy combination.

Her heart jumped as her perusal reached his intense expression.

His bronze eyes tracked over to her unconscious body lying on the chaise. His lips quirked.If he thinks that just because I’m dressed, I’m going with him—he’s going to be gravely disappointed.As he strode closer to her unconscious form, his warmth drew her spirit, but she held her ground.

“Do you have an update on Simon and the Archfiends?” she asked, keeping her voice even.

“Simon is safe with Raz. The other Rogues are gathering information on Agent Yuller to see if we can track the Archfiends down that way. I was working with Jamal this morning to hunt down their trail.”

He bent down and brushed a strand of hair from her human body’s face.