Page 103 of Soul Sucker

Ella turned to meet his gaze. “And how would you know anything?”

“I talked to Vadim this morning.”

“About what?”

“I think you know.”

She rolled her eyes. “What is this? High school? If you have something to say, just spit it out.”

“Vadim stayed over with you last night.”

“Yeah, he did.”

“He smelled like you this morning.”

“That’s because even though I tell him it makes him smell like a girl, he uses my shower gel and stuff. What exactly are you getting at?”

“You’re dating him.”

Ella started laughing. “Dating Morosov? Hell no. I’d rather date you. At least I’d know where I stood.”

“There’s something going on between you. I see it in my Fae-Web.” Alexei’s web flowed out and meshed with Liz’s. “Yeah, there’s definitely something going on. Your fates are linked.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.”

Alexei’s expression darkened. “There’s no need to be sarcastic. You have no idea what Vadim Morosov is capable of, do you?”

“No, and I don’t want to know. He’s a pain in the ass.”

“He’s dangerous.”

“Right.” She went to get up and Alexei put out his hand.

“I’m serious. That incident, when the pair of you were stuck in the elevator together last week? Thatincidentthat no one else knows anything about, including the security cameras?”

“What about it?”

Alexei sat back in his chair, his silver eyes glittering. “Did it occur to you that Vadim might have orchestrated the whole thing?”

“Why on earth would he want to do that?”

“Think about it. He saves you, you’re grateful, he gets in your pants.”

She tried to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach. “You think he’s that desperate? Have you looked at him?Seriously?”

“If it makes him look good, he’d do it. Underneath that bland exterior he’s as ruthless at getting what he wants as any Fae.”

Ella stood up and pushed in her chair. “It’s a great theory, but there’s a massive flaw in it. I’ve already asked Morosov to hook up with me, and he turned me down flat.”

“I thought you didn’t sleep with your colleagues.”

“I was drunk. He put me to bed and left me there. I’m glad he did. It would’ve been awkward otherwise.” She glanced over at Liz. “Shall we do lunch?”

Liz rose, as well, ignoring Alexei. “Sure. I’ll get us some sandwiches, and we can eat here.” She linked arms with Ella and together they walked out.

Over lunch, she managed to keep chatting with Liz, but it was an effort when her mind was dealing with a hundred possible scenarios. She had to assume that Alexei didn’t know what had really happened in the elevator or he would have gone for the jugular, not sought information. Would Vadim want to mate with her so badly that he’d arrange such an elaborate stunt? She couldn’t see why he’d bother when he was obviously as unprepared for the mating call as she had been.

But what if he wasn’t? What possible advantage could mating with her give Vadim? Ella considered his aversion to Otherworld. By allying himself with her was he escaping a more dangerous fate on the other side? Hadn’t that letter mentioned that the lucky bonded mate was eligible to live in either world? Another more insidious thought surfaced. What if they weren’t really truly mated and Vadim had set the whole thing up simply to get her through the case alive? According to Alexei, Vadim was both ruthless and powerful. Unfortunately she now knew that was true.

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