Forbidden. Part 23

"Aye."

"What if he doesn't agree? Won't he just keep searching for me himself? And if he hears me sing-won't that be a pretty big clue that I'm his Halfblood?"

Alec fiddled absently with his chopsticks. "Just because you can sing, Claire, it doesn't prove anything. He has to see your aura, and that only generates when you use one of your unique talents-in your case, visions."

"Oh."

"Give me a chance to talk to him, all right? I have high hopes that this will work out."

"Okay." Claire popped a shrimp tempura roll in her mouth and savored its delectable blend of flavors. When she'd finished chewing, she said, "Why do we have to wait for Vincent to come back, anyway? Can't you just call or text him?"

"Well, conventional means are out, because of the Fallen. And telepathy is not an option, at least if I wish to remain hidden."

"You mean if you log on, the Grigori Council will know where you are?"

"Instantly. Anyway, for all I know, Vincent's already here and just hasn't made his presence known yet."

"So, you don't know where he's staying?"

"No, I mean, he could be right here. In this room. At this very moment. And I'd have no idea."

Claire stared at him. "What? Can he turn invisible?"

"Sort of. But his talent is far more versatile. He's a master of illusions."

"Illusions?"

"He can make you see and feel whatever he wants, just by projecting it into your mind."

"Are you serious?"

Alec nodded. "He could be anyone or anything: our waiter, the woman at that table over there, or the bamboo plant by the front door. If he wanted, he could make us think the walls were bleeding, or that we were sitting in a cabin in the Alps eating fondue."

"Holy s.h.i.t," Claire said, nearly dropping her chopsticks.

"And since he's telling you what he wants you to see, he can hide his aura when he uses his powers, making it impossible for even most Grigori to detect him."

"That's scary."

"It can be. It can also be fun. Vincent used to amuse me as a kid by taking me to impossible places in my mind, like the top of Mount Everest, the bottom of the ocean, or a crater on the moon. Hanging out with Vincent can be quite an adventure."

"Wow. Like what Merlin did for Arthur, before he was king."

"I suppose so."

"Very cool ... but I still say: scary. I'm glad you trust him."

"He was my parents' best friend, and kept their secrets-even after they died. Then he took me under his wing until I was ready to go out on my own. He's promised to keep my secrets, and I'm certain, by extension, he'll agree to keep yours."

For the second time that day, Alec's quiet confidence allayed Claire's fears. She fell silent for a moment, remembering everything he'd told her about his parents. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but how did your parents die?"

"They were murdered by the Fallen."

"Oh my G.o.d." No wonder Alec saw the Nephilim as so dangerous, Claire thought. "Were you there?"

Alec nodded almost imperceptibly. "It was a Sat.u.r.day evening. I was playing chess with Vincent. We lived so far off the beaten track, I have no idea how they found us. My parents were just returning from a moonlight stroll. They were attacked at the front door, dead before they even knew what hit them. I'd be dead too, if Vincent hadn't spirited me away in time."

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago."

"Were you really, actually, ten at the time?"

"Really, actually."

Claire did a computation in her head. "So you've been on your own, living like a monk, doing that horrible job-for over a hundred years?"

"Aye."

She reached across the table and laid her hand on his forearm, squeezing it tenderly through the fabric of his shirt, aching with empathy for him. "I'm sorry," she said again.

"Don't be. I channeled my frustration and rage into my work for years. And now I'm done."

After dinner, Alec snuck Claire into the service elevator of the building next door and took her up to the roof, twenty-three stories above.

"This is one of my favorite places to come and think," Alec said, taking her gloved hand and drawing her to the wall at the building's edge.

The roof was nothing special in and of itself (just a big, gray, open expanse dotted with air-conditioning ducts) but Alec had promised her that the view would be spectacular, and it was.

Below them, a million lights twinkled through the darkness, from downtown in the east all the way to the pitch-black ocean in the west. The only sounds were the wind in her ears, the hum of the AC units, and the drone of the city far below. People as tiny as ants scurried along the sidewalks, while red and white lights pulsed from the halting flow of traffic on the streets and freeways.

"It's beautiful," Claire said softly.

"In the past, I loved to watch the people down below. Now I like it even better, because I'm one of them."

"Let's make sure you keep it that way."

Alec drew her into his arms and held her close against his chest, his handsome face and dark blond hair bathed in moonlight. "That's my plan."

Claire's stomach fluttered at the look in his eyes, which was infused with emotion. Alec lowered his head and brought his lips close to hers. "Ready?" he murmured softly.

Claire nodded, her heart jumping. As she wrapped her arms around him, she closed her eyes, willing her mind to stay in the moment and reciting her mantra. But at the first touch of his mouth on hers, all thoughts fled like leaves on the wind. She became immersed in the exquisite joy that spread through her as his body pressed tightly against hers. It was wonderful. Magical. Effortless. Visionless. She felt as if she was floating.

I love you, she thought, her heart so full, it seemed as if it might overflow or burst from her chest. You are my universe. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If only she had the nerve to say the words aloud.

Even though she couldn't read Alec's thoughts, even though he'd never given voice to his feelings, she sensed from the way he'd looked at her and the way he was holding her that he felt the same way. In his arms, she felt both strong and desirable for the first time in her life.

When Claire opened her eyes and met his gaze, she couldn't help but smile, which inadvertently interrupted the kiss. The breeze brushed through her hair, and she felt her skirt fluttering against her legs. How can that be? Claire wondered, with the part of her mind that could still think. How could the wind pa.s.s through the low wall beside them?

In her peripheral vision, she suddenly caught sight of something strange-the rooftop was several yards below them.

Below them?

Claire gasped. Looking down, she discovered that they were hovering in the air in each other's arms.

"Oh my G-" she began.

"Shhh," Alec cautioned swiftly. "I'm concentrating. You wanted to fly, didn't you?"

Claire's heart pounded wildly as she reveled in Alec's protective embrace. She held on to him even more firmly, soaking in the twinkling lights of the city all around them as they slowly began to spin.

And spin.

And spin.

Letting all her fears go, Claire brought her lips back to his.

twenty-six.

Alec hummed to himself as he closed his front door. He tossed his keys onto the coffee table, slipped his knife from his boot, and went through his usual coming-home ritual. Lock on the weapons cabinet: check. Under the sofa: check. Bathroom: check. Kitchen: check. Area secured.

He was still humming as he set his knife down on the kitchen counter and pulled a root beer out of the fridge. Popping the top off with his fingers, he started whistling.

He'd never been allowed to love before, but he knew that was what he was feeling now-what he had been feeling for weeks, ever since he and Claire first met. When they were apart, he thought of her practically every minute. When they were together, he never wanted to be anywhere else. And he knew that her happiness and safety were more important to him than his own. It was an exuberant feeling, love. He finally understood why people couldn't stop talking, writing, and singing about the emotion. He truly felt as if he was glowing.

Alec couldn't wait to see Claire again, to speak with her. Would it be too soon to call her right now, considering that they'd spent so much of the day and evening together? She'd said she was going shopping with her mother tomorrow to buy a Homecoming dress. But what about after that? They could make plans for Sat.u.r.day night.

His musing-and humming-were interrupted by the sound of his front door slamming open, and a familiar voice bellowing, "Will you please cease that infernal racket?"

Alec started in alarm, dropping his root beer bottle to the floor with a crash. Vincent strolled into the apartment and leaned against the kitchen doorway, clicking his tongue disapprovingly. "You're getting sloppy, Alec. Three locks on your front door, and you didn't even secure one of them."

Alec's face colored. s.h.i.te, he thought. He was getting careless. There was no excuse for it, no matter how distracted he'd been lately. Alec heaved a sigh and smiled grimly. "Good thing it was you, then. How was New York?"

Vincent opened the door to the fridge and rooted around inside, finally selecting a ginger ale. "Their new Watcher is tentative and susceptible to emotion-both cardinal sins in my book. One of the largest districts in the nation, and now it's in shambles. But let's not waste time talking about that. Shame you don't have any Crown Royal." He uncapped the ginger ale bottle and held it aloft. "Cheers!"

Alec grabbed a wad of paper towels and began mopping up the soda and broken gla.s.s on the floor, trying to gather his thoughts. He was about to have the most important conversation of his life, and he hardly knew where to begin.

Without offering to help clean up, Vincent strolled into the main living area and draped himself luxuriously on the sofa, feet on the coffee table. "So. Tell me. How did you fare in my absence?"

Alec rinsed his hands off, then dried them on a towel as he emerged from the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, he plunged in. "I've found your quarry," he said, hoping that his smile would appear more calm and confident than he felt.

"Have you?" Vincent sat up slowly, clearly trying to hide his eagerness. "Do tell. Was it the boy?"

"No, it's a girl ... but first, I need to say something."

"Be my guest."

"I've already a.s.sessed and debriefed her. She's not a risk."

Vincent chuckled. "Not a risk? Is she a Halfblood?"

"Aye," Alec admitted reluctantly. "Her family history syncs with the New York runaways. Her father disappeared shortly after she was born. And her aura-"

"Is it green?"

Alec nodded. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"Fabulous." Vincent looked excited. "Talents?"

"Mental. Primarily visions of the past, and an occasional hint of the future."

"Ah." Vincent nodded. "A psychic. Just as I'd feared, it's my old case after all."

"But she poses no threat to anyone."

"How can you say that? A Halfblood with psychic abilities who can see the future?"

"Hints of the future."

"Sure, now. But you know as well as I do, there's no telling what she might be capable of. The Fallen will be all over her in a heartbeat. They'll do anything to recruit her."

"They already tried-it was Celeste and her cretins. But I was there when they approached her. She's not the type to give in to the Fallen. I promise you."

"You promise me?"

"Aye. This one-she's an honorable person. She's had a difficult time of it up to now, and I hate to think what her fate might be if the Council gets ahold of her. If you could, just this one time, look the other way..."

Vincent stared up at Alec from his seat on the couch. "Let me get this straight. Even though I've been pursuing this case for years, even though our Elders would consider her a threat of the highest level, even though the Fallen sent one of their best recruiters after her-you want me to ... what? Walk away, sight unseen, and leave her alone? Report that I found her rather than you and swear there is no reason for concern?"

"Aye."

Vincent started to respond, then his jaw dropped and his eyes widened as a sudden realization seemed to dawn on him. "You've developed feelings for this Nephila, haven't you?"

Alec cringed inwardly, straining to maintain an unreadable facade.

"What, do you imagine yourself to be in love with her?" Vincent was incredulous. "A sixteen-year-old girl?"

Alec didn't trust himself to respond.

"I should have seen this coming," Vincent went on, shaking his head. "The way you were raised-your parents put impossible ideas into your head. When I found you here, I warned you not to do anything foolish. I hoped you'd come to your senses and see this absurd dalliance of yours for what it is: a mistake."

Alec swallowed hard. The conversation wasn't going the way he'd planned. He'd hoped to be able to admit the truth, that Vincent would understand, sympathize, and eventually support him. He saw now that he'd been naive-so blinded by hope that he'd allowed himself to forget Vincent's basest instincts. "I swear to you, I'll watch over her carefully. She won't be a problem to anyone."