Ancient Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress #1)(15)

“Are you all right?” Aidan asked.

“Fine, it’s just been a really long day. Trying to find things with my mind is really draining,” I lied. “Can we visit the monks? I need a bit more information.”

“Yes. We’ll take my plane.”

His plane? He had a freaking plane? I didn’t want to get on his plane. I wanted to use a transportation charm and get there now, but I’d used my last one in the temple earlier today.

If the monks lived in Ireland, his plane was my best bet. I could catch a commercial flight, but then I’d have to ask where exactly they lived, and by the time I got there, he would most likely be there already.

It looked like I wouldn’t be sneaking off on my own after all. We’d do this together, and I’d figure out the rest later. And I didn’t hate the idea of hanging out with him, even though I knew it was a bad idea.

“All right. When can we leave?” I asked.

“Tonight. There’s a bed on the plane.”

“A bed?” He had a plane with bedrooms? I quirked a brow at him, suspicious. “For?”

He grinned. “Sleeping. Just sleeping. You’ve got to be beat after destroying the temple in Murreagh.”

“Good. Don’t get any ideas.”

He put up his hands. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I want that date first.”

The look he gave me was pretty obvious. He liked what he saw. I blushed. I really wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee with him under different circumstances, even though it was a really dumb idea. If I hung out with him too long and got into a situation where I had to use my power, he was strong enough to suspect what I was.

I stood. “Business only, pal. But let’s get started. Ireland’s far away.”

Aidan paid our bill, which I had no problem with. I was on the clock now. It wasn’t a date. He met me by the door, dwarfing me with his size.

“I’m going to grab a bag, okay? Wait here.”

He looked like he wanted to offer to come up to my place, but no way was that happening. I ran out before he could say anything.

The scent of rain was on the air as I raced down the sidewalk and let myself into my building. Nix burst out of her apartment door as I ran by.

“What’s the deal with Aidan Merrick?” She followed me up the steps. “You suddenly start dating one of the richest, most powerful hybrids in the world and don’t tell me?”

“We’re not dating,” I said as I let myself into my apartment. She slipped in behind me, and I locked the door. “He showed up with a job about a scroll.”

“Scroll? What’s inside it?”

“It could tell people what we are.”

Nix stepped back, her eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. And Aidan said someone else is after it, too.”

“That’s weird. Right after you ran into a demon who knew we were FireSouls? Too much coincidence.”

“I know. That’s why I’m going to go get that scroll and destroy it. I might need you to make a forged version if there’s time. Without the information about us.”

“Yeah, no kidding. But this is nuts.” She shook her head. “I talked to Connor and Claire. They both think he’s cool. And I really liked him.”

A bit of the tension faded out of me at the news that Connor and Claire trusted Aidan. Connor was a better judge, as he was all Hearth Witch, but Claire’s opinion was good too, considering she had a bit of Hearth Witch in her. Hearth witches were really good at reading people’s intentions. Something about protecting hearth and home. And because Aidan had been in their shop and they lived in the back, their powers had been amplified when they’d assessed him.

I couldn’t trust him one hundred percent, but he had the stamp of approval from Connor and Claire. He was probably safe.

Until he learned what I was.

Something I wasn’t going to let happen.

Nix peppered me with questions as I threw a couple changes of clothes into a small duffle. I had no idea how long we’d be gone, but I hoped not more than a couple days.

“Right, I’m out of here,” I said when I was done.

We left my apartment and headed down the stairs.

“You’ve got your charm if you need me,” Nix said at her door.

“Yeah, thanks.” I hugged her and turned to go, but a thought popped into my head. I spun around. “Hey, will you go ask Dr. Garriso about the scroll and call me if you learn anything?”

Dr. Garriso was our contact at the local museum and a scholar of all things magical history. We usually consulted him with questions about the artifacts we found. I loved his book-filled office but didn’t have time to go see him now, and he really preferred to speak in person.

“Yeah. Good idea!”

“Thanks.” I turned and took the stairs two at a time, hurrying to meet Aidan. As excited as I was to see him—which was so dumb, I knew it was—I still patted the dagger on my right leg. Old habits and all.

Aidan stood across the street, leaning against the big SUV I’d noticed earlier. Most of his body was in shadow, but it was hard not to notice his height or the breadth of his shoulders. How was it fair that one of the strongest supernaturals in the world was also built like a world-class athlete and looked like a model?