Reckoning: A Fallen Siren Novel by S.J. Harper Page B

with Seamus O’Malley?” Kallistos drops the sponge back into the tub, then moves to lean against the counter.
    The better to watch my face. I swallow a sarcastic retort and, shaking my head, begin, “Not exactly
with
Seamus. Zack and I stopped at Hodad’s to grab a late lunch. Asa Wade showed up.” Kallistos’ vantage point proves to work to my advantage, too. I see no indication that he recognizes the name. “He’s Zack’s old pack master. They have a history. Bad blood between them. Seamus showed up and diffused the situation.”
    “Zack involves you in werewolf affairs now?” His tone is sharp and disapproving.
    “I’m actually more concerned with what I learned from Seamus about vampire affairs,” I reply. “He had a warning. For you.”
    Kallistos’ arms are now crossed in front of his chest. “A warning? What did he say?”
    “That Asa came here with Philippe Lamont.”
    A flash of wariness widens his eyes.
    “You didn’t know,” I add.
    He shakes his head. “It’s not true. I don’t believeLamont would enter my territory without permission, without going through appropriate channels. Besides, he’s being watched. If he’d come here, I’d know. I haven’t maintained power for this long by happenstance. I know who my enemies are and I keep close tabs on them.”
    “Seamus seems pretty certain it was Lamont with Wade. He thinks you may be in danger. He believes that Lamont is here to foment unrest between the factions who oppose the Blood Emporiums and those whom you rule. If it is Lamont, wouldn’t the fact that he hasn’t made his presence known to you prove Seamus’ point?”
    He snaps up the handset for the phone and dials. He speaks into the receiver. “When did we last hear from Gideon?” He listens. After a moment, he says, “Find out why he hasn’t reported in. I want Lamont’s current position.” He waits. More seconds tick by. Concern mars his brow.
    “What is it?” I ask.
    Kallistos holds up his hand. “Call me as soon as you have word.” He hangs up, then reaches for a towel, holding it open. “My man didn’t answer.”
    I step out of the bath. His arms, strong and certain, wrap the towel around me. For a moment I lean into him. “What does that mean?” I ask.
    “I don’t know. But I aim to find out.”
    He tilts my chin up. My eyes meet his.
    “I can take care of myself, you know. Been doing it for a long time. You needn’t be concerned.” He smiles. “Someone might mistake that concern for caring.”
    “You know I care.”
    “Which reminds me . . .”
    He takes my hand and leads me back out to thebedroom. On the center of the moss green coverlet is a black velvet box, a little longer and wider than a deck of cards.
    “It occurred to me after you left this morning that I haven’t been expressing myself very well. This is probably going to come as a surprise to you, but I’m a bit rusty when it comes to negotiating the great relationship gauntlet.”
    “So you bought me jewelry?”
    Kallistos picks up the box. “No. Not jewelry.” He appears to measure the weight of the box in his hand. “For months I’ve been asking you to move in with me. I realized today how that must sound, as if I’m asking you to give up something of yourself—your freedom, your privacy. That isn’t my intention. I don’t want you to have to give up anything, ever. Not for me. I can be difficult to access, to understand. I’ve been with thousands of women, but how many have known me? What I’ve been trying to do, Emma, is invite you in. Not just into the penthouse.” He opens the box. “Into my life.”
    The box holds a hotel card key attached to a short gold chain, one that resembles an old-fashioned watch fob. He holds it out to me.
    “Keep your place. Come and go as you please. Commandeer a closet and one side of the medicine cabinet. Or continue to have room service bring you emergency toothbrushes and steal my shirts. I don’t care.”
    “Yes, you do,” I