from now on, and Michel will be your partner."
I nod, trying to keep my expression professional, but of course, the notion of being Michel's partner makes my heart beat a little faster. He'd called me his 'Adept' and I wonder if there's a disconnect between what Ed thinks and what Michel thinks about my relationship to him.
"During the summer, you'll work for us. In the fall, you'll study once more, and work only part-time. You can use our resources to help find who killed your mother. In fact, we're hoping you succeed because her case is still cold."
Terri takes up the narrative. "Now, just a few things to get straight about the SCU," she says. "We rely on the utmost secrecy and work off the books. We're both clandestine and black. Our cases, if revealed, would cause widespread panic and threaten the very fragile truce between vampires and mortals. Now, to the difficult part," Terri says. She turns to Michel and nods. "Agent de Cernay has to read you, make sure that you're not working with or under the influence of any rogue element."
"What?"
"As representative of the Council, he has to certify that you're not in league with the enemy. Just let him read you, briefly and then he'll show you how to witness."
Uh oh . He's going to read me?
All I can think of is that he'll know I have a translated copy of the manuscript and he'll freak on me.
"He's already read me," I say, hoping to prevent this. "He knows I'm not involved with anyone."
"I know, Eve, but this is a formality. It won't take long. Just relax and follow his instructions."
Michel pushes his chair back and panic rises in me as he leans over me, his hands on the armrests of my chair.
"Do you have to do this?" I say and cringe, pulling away from him.
"Relax Eve," he says softly. "You have nothing to fear from this or from me."
With his face just inches from mine, I can smell his scent again – sandalwood. It reminds me of him being so close in his office, of the feel of his body against mine when he lay on top of me on my couch, of his kiss and already, my body warms from the thought. He takes one of my hands in his and of course, a thrill runs through me at his touch – a thrill of fear and of desire. I try to blank my mind, closing my eyes, pressing my lips together.
"This won't take a minute," he says, his voice a little breathless, as if he's already felt my desire for him. "Look at me, Eve." I open my eyes. "First, I'll check to see if you're compromised. Then you can read me, see my last illegal kill because that's what you'll do when you witness. Try to concentrate."
Of course all I can think of is how beautiful his eyes are. I try to focus on the color – they're so blue – pure blue. Soft blue. I think to myself that he shouldn't be so beautiful, that a vampire should look feral, evil, dangerous. I think of anything but what I don't want to think about. But that just brings up exactly what I don't want to think about and my heart aches for him. I try to blot out the images that pop into my mind's eye but fail – I see him on the altar with the vampire above him, then him back in the castle, the women trying to undress him.
His grip tightens on my hand and he blinks rapidly. When he inhales sharply, I know then that he knows . He releases my hand and stands up, his body stiff, his hands fisted.
"Excuse me," he says and walks to the door.
"What's the matter?" Ed says but Michel ignores him and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
Oh, damn …
"Let me," Terri says and stands, removing her glasses and following Michel out the door, leaving me alone with Ed. He turns to me.
"What happened?"
I cover my eyes for a moment, horrified that this happened. I had no idea that he'd be expected to use his telepathy on me and would find out I'd read the manuscript.
"Eve, what happened?" he says again. I take my hands away and bite my cheek to keep control over my emotions.
"I don't know."
Ed frowns and leaves the room as well. I sit alone
I nod, trying to keep my expression professional, but of course, the notion of being Michel's partner makes my heart beat a little faster. He'd called me his 'Adept' and I wonder if there's a disconnect between what Ed thinks and what Michel thinks about my relationship to him.
"During the summer, you'll work for us. In the fall, you'll study once more, and work only part-time. You can use our resources to help find who killed your mother. In fact, we're hoping you succeed because her case is still cold."
Terri takes up the narrative. "Now, just a few things to get straight about the SCU," she says. "We rely on the utmost secrecy and work off the books. We're both clandestine and black. Our cases, if revealed, would cause widespread panic and threaten the very fragile truce between vampires and mortals. Now, to the difficult part," Terri says. She turns to Michel and nods. "Agent de Cernay has to read you, make sure that you're not working with or under the influence of any rogue element."
"What?"
"As representative of the Council, he has to certify that you're not in league with the enemy. Just let him read you, briefly and then he'll show you how to witness."
Uh oh . He's going to read me?
All I can think of is that he'll know I have a translated copy of the manuscript and he'll freak on me.
"He's already read me," I say, hoping to prevent this. "He knows I'm not involved with anyone."
"I know, Eve, but this is a formality. It won't take long. Just relax and follow his instructions."
Michel pushes his chair back and panic rises in me as he leans over me, his hands on the armrests of my chair.
"Do you have to do this?" I say and cringe, pulling away from him.
"Relax Eve," he says softly. "You have nothing to fear from this or from me."
With his face just inches from mine, I can smell his scent again – sandalwood. It reminds me of him being so close in his office, of the feel of his body against mine when he lay on top of me on my couch, of his kiss and already, my body warms from the thought. He takes one of my hands in his and of course, a thrill runs through me at his touch – a thrill of fear and of desire. I try to blank my mind, closing my eyes, pressing my lips together.
"This won't take a minute," he says, his voice a little breathless, as if he's already felt my desire for him. "Look at me, Eve." I open my eyes. "First, I'll check to see if you're compromised. Then you can read me, see my last illegal kill because that's what you'll do when you witness. Try to concentrate."
Of course all I can think of is how beautiful his eyes are. I try to focus on the color – they're so blue – pure blue. Soft blue. I think to myself that he shouldn't be so beautiful, that a vampire should look feral, evil, dangerous. I think of anything but what I don't want to think about. But that just brings up exactly what I don't want to think about and my heart aches for him. I try to blot out the images that pop into my mind's eye but fail – I see him on the altar with the vampire above him, then him back in the castle, the women trying to undress him.
His grip tightens on my hand and he blinks rapidly. When he inhales sharply, I know then that he knows . He releases my hand and stands up, his body stiff, his hands fisted.
"Excuse me," he says and walks to the door.
"What's the matter?" Ed says but Michel ignores him and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
Oh, damn …
"Let me," Terri says and stands, removing her glasses and following Michel out the door, leaving me alone with Ed. He turns to me.
"What happened?"
I cover my eyes for a moment, horrified that this happened. I had no idea that he'd be expected to use his telepathy on me and would find out I'd read the manuscript.
"Eve, what happened?" he says again. I take my hands away and bite my cheek to keep control over my emotions.
"I don't know."
Ed frowns and leaves the room as well. I sit alone
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