“You’ll never find anyone else who can teach you the things I can,” he said. His voice had deepened and grew quieter. Sexy.

It was a good thing there wasn’t a bed nearby or she might have collapsed into it. She swallowed hard. Whispered, “You’re going to miss the shit out of me.”

He didn’t have many tells, but he had one big one—that muscle in the hard line of his jaw when it bunched. “Text me tonight when you decide to stop,” he growled. “I want to know where you’re staying and how you’re doing.”

She nodded. “You text me when you make it back to the office.”

“I will.” He muttered something under his breath and swooped in for another fierce kiss. Then he bent to pick up the bag and thrust the strap into her hand. “Go, damn it.”

Turning, she strode back to the Subaru. This time she was the one who walked away, but she still felt raw and empty, like she was leaving a vital organ behind. Setting the bag on the passenger seat, she climbed in the driver’s side and buckled her seat belt as she looked back at the path.

He still stood there, watching. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t leave until she did. Lifting one hand, she started the car, pulled out, and drove away without a backward glance.

This isn’t goodbye, he had muttered. Although it should be.

The sensation of Josiah’s mouth lingered as she drove through the city streets. It only faded when she reached Interstate 20.

She had a week and a half to get to New Orleans, which meant she had time to kill. And she had a teacher to find. Should she check the centers of the Elder Races demesnes? That would take a huge amount of driving since they were scattered all over the US.

She ran through all seven demesnes in her mind. The seat of the Wyrkind demesne was in New York City, the Elven demesne in Charleston, and the Dark Fae’s demesne was centered in Chicago.

There was also the Light Fae demesne in Los Angeles. Demonkind, like the Wyr and Nightkind, consisted of several different types of creatures that included goblins and Djinn. Their seat was based in Houston. The Nightkind, including Vampyres, controlled the San Francisco/Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest, while the human witches demesne was based in Louisville.

She knew from her research that witches were considered part of the Elder Races due to their command of magical Power. Heading for that demesne would make the most sense, but the dream woman had told her to follow the signs.

As she approached the entrance ramps, the westering sunlight hit a bank of clouds just right and illuminated a feathery line of fiery light. Well, damn if that didn’t look remarkably like an arrow. It pointed straight toward the setting sun.