Page 76 of The Seeker
He cleared his throat. “My room is past hers, so…”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Roch nodded. “So you two…”
“Don’t have any interest in discussing it.”
“Fair enough.”
Both men stood in the narrow hallway, nodding silently.
“Did you call Maarut?” Rhys asked. “About the Grigori?”
“Yes. He’s going to check with his contacts about any unexplained disappearances, and he’ll also get in formal contact with the New Orleans house.”
“Good.”
“Is Meera going to share what kind of magic she used on them?”
“That’s up to her.”
“She’s like a damn Grigori magnet, isn’t she? All that power. She keeps a tight rein on it, but when she lets it shine out…”
“Yes, I’m sure they’re drawn to her.” Heaven above,everyonewas drawn to her. Humans, Irin, Grigori. Meera could probably have songbirds circling her like a cartoon princess if she wanted them.
“She spends a lot of time at the haven,” Roch said.
“And?”
His expression was solemn. “They’re drawn to her. You telling me they haven’t been drawn to her this whole time? Why haven’t they come to the haven?”
“The wards are powerful.”
“So powerful they’re not even attracted to the borders?” He shrugged. “Maybe. And maybe something else was keeping them away.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.” Roch tapped his fingers against his leg. “It’s worth thinking on. But what she did in the forest tonight… I’ve never seen anything like that. Have you?”
Rhys shook his head.
“That’s why her parents let her live in New Orleans by herself, isn’t it? Because they knew about… whatever that was.”
“You’d have to ask them.”
“Right,” Roch said. “But you knew.”
Rhys took a breath. “Whatever Meera has shared with me, she’s done for her own reasons or out of necessity. I would not consider it an insult that she is cautious sharing things with you. She has cause to be private.”
“True.” Roch glanced at Meera’s door. “I care about her.”
“As do I.”
“Yeah, I know you do.”
Rhys truly hated feeling transparent. He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “What time tomorrow?”
“Early. I’m starting to feel like this is a wild-goose chase. I don’t want to be stuck in that bayou any longer than necessary if something’s coming for the haven. I’d like to be out of Lafayette by six in the morning.”
