I cry out, my emotions overwhelming me because the memory's so real I feel as if I'm there in the moment, and tears bite at the corners of my eyes. Then calmness descends over me and my tears stop. He lets go of me and I almost fall back into my chair, Michel catching me, holding my shoulders. Soren goes back around the desk and takes a seat, staring at me over his steepledhands.
"So what is it about you that Michel likes so much, Eve? Is it your fair hair and hazel eyes? I think you remind him of someone he was once in love with." He looks up at Michel. "Danielle if Irecall?"
"Eve is her own woman," Michel says, and the hatred in his voice is so clear, I'm surprised that Soren doesn'trespond.
"Yes, and she has such a sweet mind to inhabit, doesn't she? Such a tragic past. So breathless for you, and yet fighting it with all her might, as if her life depends on it. And her life does depend on it, doesn't it, Michel? I can see why you want her. Is she that strategically important? Or can you just not bear the thought of me havingher?"
"I love her," Michel says and it sends a wave of emotion throughme.
"Oh, you love her, do you?" Soren says, his voice mocking. "She's not quite given in to you yet, has she? You haven't yet won her over, have you? She's still too fixated on finding her mother's killer. But give her time. She will be yours. You just can't wait to claim her, can you Michel? To claim hercompletely."
Soren smiles such an evil smile that I hate him even more ifpossible.
"I love it," he says and chuckles. "I love a good romance. Maybe one day, she'll have you both. Just like old times? She's attracted to him, too, you know. Even thought about it already, fucking him? But you already know that, don't you, Michel. It must just tear at yourheart."
"You're a bastard," I say, and I don't know what's gotten into me. I should be afraid of him but I hate him right now so much I can't holdback.
Michel squeezes my shoulders. "She didn't mean that," he saysquietly.
"I did meanit."
"Shh," Michelsays.
Soren seems amused more than angry, his arms crossed, a smile on hisface.
"To answer you, Eve, technically, yes," he says, "since my father and mother never married, I am a bastard but then, that kind of convention doesn't really apply to thegods."
"Gods?" I say, unable to stop myself. Michel squeezes me again and then he touches the skin on my neck with his hand and he must do something to my brain hormones because I feel a rush go through me. I can't speak, my eyes closing briefly from theintensity.
"Can we go now that you've seen her?" Michel says, his voicesoft.
I open my eyes and watch as Soren purses his lips and finally nods. "Yes, by all means. Go back to Boston. Train her in the secret arts of the Adept. I suspect you're going to have a lot of fun with her. She's not likely to obey very easily. But you should get her ready forwar."
Ed's been silent through allthis.
"If there's nothing else?" he says, rising up. "We have work to do before Eve and I fly toBoston."
Soren nods. "I'm on my way East as well," he says. "Are you taking the flight in the morning? I heard the Council jet had some mechanicalproblems."
"Yes," Ed ads. "Michel has to stay until the plane's been serviced because he can't leave during the daylight. Eve and I will take the 5:30 a.m.flight."
"Tell you what," Soren says, and his voice has this conspiratorial tone to it. "I've got a spare couple of seats on my plane, and you're all welcome to come with me tomorrow at a more reasonable time. I'm leaving around noon. We'll take you all toBoston."
"We're fine with the arrangements we've made," Michel says, buttingin.
"It'll save the Council some money. Come on," Soren says, smiling. "I'd enjoy thecompany."
Ed purses his lips and seems to seriously consider the offer. Is hecrazy?
"What do you think, Eve?" he says and turns tome.
I still can't speak, and just sitthere.
"It's my call, not Eve's," Michelsays.
"No," Soren says, his voice firm. "It's my call. Isn't that rightMichel?"
"You've seen her. That's what you wanted. Just let us go on ourway."