Page 101 of The Shade of Things
I clenched my fists because he was making my point for me. He did care about so many people. He always had, and the fact that he didn’t see that even now meant he wasn’t ready for this. But damn, did I wish otherwise. “I’m honored you felt you could tell me about Delphine, but—”
Laurent jumped to his feet, muttering under his breath, and marched off.
“Hey. Where are you going?”
He stomped around in the kitchen before returning with his phone, which he stuffed into my hand.
It was open to a text exchange between him and Nav from last night.
Laurent: I’ve been very stupid about Miriam.
Nav: You think? Have you finally grown a pair?
Laurent: Have you returned Eli’s hockey shirt for me or is it still under your pillow?
Nav: *reverse peace sign emoji*
I handed him back the phone. “Is this supposed to prove something?”
He tapped the screen. “Oui. That I texted you because I was planning to ask you out.”
“Nope. Nowhere does it say that.”
Laurent reread the message. “It is clearly there.”
Men. Where had I left my shoes? “I still don’t think you should ask me now.”
“Why not?”
“This isn’t the right time.” It reminded me of how I’d told Eli that I loved him first. His response? “Thank you,” followed by an awkward kiss on my cheek when I longed for an enthusiastic affirmation to cue the explosion of hearts and dancing woodland creatures.
If Laurent meant to date me, I wanted that to be first and foremost in his head, not stemming out of a memory of his deceased family. That didn’t sound great when I replayed it, but it was what it was.
“Then when is the right time?” He followed me to the foyer. “It happened years ago.”
At the thought of putting my heels back on, my feet throbbed in protest, and I did so with a wince. “You need to grieve them properly, and I need to be done this business with Zev.”
“What are you talking about?” he said, exasperated. “I mourned them.”
“If that were true, you’d have moved on with your life. Gone back to your pack, I don’t know. You wouldn’t have become obsessed with killing dybbuks at great pain to yourself. You’re like a monk with a hair shirt and whip.” I held up a hand. “I’m not saying you have to stop, because you’re doing a good thing, but you said it yourself again and again. Your priority is killing dybbuks. When your priority is living, then you can ask me.”
He leveled me with a long look, then gave one of his infuriating French shrugs. “Alors, I rescind the question.”
“You’re an ass.”
“I will ask again at a more suitable time. Act surprised and delighted.”
I chuckled despite myself.
“Meantime, if you need my help finding the Ascendant, call me. I don’t give a damn about the promise. If BatKian gets mad that you roped me in, he can deal with me.”
Under his shirt, I gently traced the scar that the vampire had given him.
Laurent caught my hand. “This is different.”
I really had to get to the bottom of that dynamic between Zev and my boss.
“Yeah, it’ll be worse if you interfere with something he wants,” I said. “He’s trusting me, to a degree, and he has knowledge we don’t. I’ll find the Ascendant faster and be able to destroy it faster if I keep my enemy close. Sadly, you can’t be part of this because he can compel you.” I grabbed my purse, confused about its weight until the puzzle box clacked against my phone. Exhausted, I rubbed my eyes.
