My heart accelerated. Was Xumi using the same species we’d run into during our exercise?That might be helpful. Jacques is trying to track where Xumi has gone.
A pulse of something powerful zinged through the link—Matt’s opinion of Jacques could use some work. But all he said was,How is the horny bludger?
My lips twitched.Still horny. He’s weak, but doing well.
His attention was suddenly pulled away, and then he said,Gotta go, Angel.
Matt—I swallowed and opened my heart to him, sending him everything that I held inside.
The answering pulse robbed me of breath, and then I had to let him go. I didn’t realize my face was wet until Cara put her arm around me.
“We’ll find them, Anna. And get them out.”
I could only nod. “I might have something for Jacques. A species Xumi uses as guards is the same as one we saw on our exercise.”
Her brows rose. “That is promising. Can you describe them to Jacques?”
“Yes. Their eyes are distinctive.”
She smiled. “Are you up for trying to reach Sebastian too?”
“Okay. He’s harder than Matt. He’s better at shutting me out.”
Cara grimaced. “Sebastian likes to be in control,” she admitted. “And your link to him is still developing. But try.”
I closed my eyes again, and reached.Sebastian! Are you there?
I thought I touched him, just the briefest surge of energy. But then, he vanished. As though he’d turned his back on me. I centered myself, and tried pushing again.Sebastian. Dammit, if you can hear me, answer.
I swore I heard crickets, but it was probably my brain providing commentary. No Sebastian.
I opened my eyes to her concerned gaze. “I thought I had him, for just a moment. But nothing.”
She patted my arm. “If he had the information he needs, he’d be open to the communication. We have to trust that he knows what he is doing.”
“Does he?” I asked.
She smiled as she rose and helped me to my feet. “Sebastian always knows what he’s doing,” she said. “Now let’s go see the Satyr.”
Mari handed me Trix’s leash, proclaimed she required a shower and a few hours’ sleep before classes started, and left us at Cara’s level to continue onward to the fifth floor.
A part of me longed to go with her, for at least the shower part. But I went with Cara to her quarters. Where, I discovered, Jacques had set up shop.
The Satyr looked totally recovered, with no trace of his near-death experience. At some point, he’d shed the flowing blouse for an earth-colored shirt, and his pants no longer had bloodstains.
He’d also been reunited with his pet—Sparkle’s nails clicked on the counter as she examined the fruit bowl. She chirruped at Cara.
“No, sorry, but I am out of kumquats,” the Watcher told her.
The bird uttered a long, growling noise before shaking motes of ash from her feathers. She then started sorting small berries from the larger types of fruit, barely chewing them before swallowing.
Jacques leaned over Cara’s table, which was covered in maps, bits of paper, and scribbled notes. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. But a huge smile lit his face as he looked up and saw me.
“Ma belle!” the Satyr gushed as he advanced on me, but Cara stepped in between us.
“Tell me you won’t take advantage of the fact none of her mates are here,” she said.
He pouted. “Mon amie, would I do that?”
