“Too complicated for a fast dance.”
He set me into the snow and held me close in a classic stance, one hand on my waist, one cradling my fingers. “Then we’ll dance slowly. Put your arms around me.”
No! “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
We moved gently through the snow. “Things are chasing me.” Which wasn’t strictly true, but considering the circumstances, brevity was a virtue. “They’re called reeves. They are undead. Their hair can tangle you up and hold you like a lasso.”
“I don’t know what they are.”
“They are piloted by a tall creature who wears a white habit like a monk. He has tentacles. His name is Bolgor the Shepherd. I was told he’s a Fomorian.”
“I don’t know him, either.”
Damn it, Saiman. “What would a sea-demon want in our world?”
“What we all want: life.” Saiman leaned in close, his lips nearly brushing my cheek. His eyes drew me in, and I knew that if I looked too long into them, I would forget why I came here.
“This Shepherd’s hunting a young girl. Can you research why?”
“I could, but there is too much magic. I can’t concentrate. I would rather dance. It’s a magic time, Kate! Time of the gods.”
The thought of mentioning money briefly popped into my head. But then he always gave me a discount, both because I had once saved his life and because he found me entertaining. He wasn’t that interested in money even during normal time, and right now he was simply too far gone.
“Morrigan is somehow involved. And a cauldron,” I said.
His face was alarmingly close to mine.
“The Celts have a liking for the cauldrons. Cauldrons of plenty. Cauldrons of knowledge. Cauldrons of rebirth.” His breath warmed my cheek. His hands were warm, too. By all rights he should have been freezing.
“Cauldron of rebirth?”
“A gateway to the Otherworld.”
He tried to dip me, but I resisted and he smoothly turned the dip into a turn.
“Tell me more about it.”
“You should ask the witches. They know. But ask later. After the deep magic wanes.”
“Why?”
“Because if you leave, I’ll be bored again.”
Oh crap. “Tell me more about the witches. Which coven should I ask?”
“All of them.”
He slid my hand onto his shoulder. I pulled back, but he already held my shoulders, hugging me tight to him. His huge erection pressed against me. Great, just great.
“How can I ask all of the covens? There are dozens in the city.”
“Simple.” Honeyed breath washed over me. “You ask the Witch Oracle.”
“The witches have an oracle?” We had slowed down to mere shuffling now. I shuffled backward, heading toward the end of the roof where the ledge lay.
“In Centennial Park,” he said softly. “There are three of them. They speak for all the covens. I hear they have a problem they can’t fix.”
“Then it’s best I go to them.”
He shook his head. “But then I’ll be all alone.”
“I have to go.”
“You never stay.” He turned his head and kissed my fingers. “Stay with me. It will be fun.”
I noticed the ice building around us. If this kept going, we would be encased in an igloo in a matter of minutes.
“Why is the ice growing?”
“It’s jealous. Of the vampire!” He laughed, throwing his head back like it was the funniest thing.
I knocked his hands off my shoulders and jumped off the roof.
I landed in a crouch on the ledge and slipped. My back slapped the ice. I slid, rolling down the narrow path. I dug my heels into the snow, grasping at the wall to slow myself down, but my hands slipped. I hurtled along the path, helpless to stop my fall.
The end of the ledge flashed, feet away.
I ripped a knife from its sheath and stabbed it into the ledge. The momentum carried me forward and I jerked to a halt, my legs suspended over the edge. Carefully I flexed my arms and slid myself back onto the ledge, trying very hard not to think of the bottomless chasm yawning at my feet.
Derek grabbed my shoulder, pulled me up, and neatly deposited me on the carpet within the apartment. “Some expert,” he growled.
“Yeah. Last time I come here.” My brain finally realized that I wouldn’t be falling from fifteen stories and impersonating a pancake on the ground. I scrambled to my feet. “I owe you one.”
He shrugged. “You had it anyway. I just sped it up a bit.”
The vampire met us as we untied our horses.
“You dance very well,” Ghastek said.
“Not a word. Not another bloody word.”
Chapter 14