“The two trucks are licensed to a local shipping company. We know they were stolen, but our seer said there’s a direct connection between the drivers and our quarry. She said he’s here everywhere she looks. The drivers disappeared. We collected what evidence we could find, swabbed the steering wheels, and now we’re searching through law enforcement databases to see if we can find a match.” His mouth tightened. “Milaya, you need to reconsider. You’re a corroborating witness.” His fists opened and closed while frustration twisted his features. “Right now my magic is more depleted than it has been in decades. I can’t protect you.”

“I didn’t ask you to. I thought you were dead.” At his expression, she rubbed her face and reached for patience. “I didn’t return without taking precautions. This time you’re going to have to trust me.”

*     *     *

Josiah stared at her in angry incredulity.

The time when he had pressed against her had been all too brief. Every raw, stressed cell in his body screamed for more contact. But as desperate as he was to touch her again, he had to confront this reckless, dangerous naïveté.

“You’ve gotten a couple of months’ training under your belt, so you think you can handle whatever might come your way?” he said harshly. “I never would have guessed you’d be that naïve.”

“I’m not!” Anger made her eyes flash with blue fire. “Give me some credit here.”

The door opened, and Frank and Rubio walked in warily.

Frank said, “Everything okay, chief?”

Josiah rounded on them, his expression savage. “I’m not finished.”

“Too bad, because I am,” Molly said. She looked at Frank. “I contacted you, and I’ve just spent several hours cooperating with you fine gentlemen and answering your questions.”

“Actually, that’s not quite true.” Frank raised his eyebrows and scratched at his chin with a thumbnail. “We still have a few questions you’ve refused to answer.”

“Is that so?” she snapped. “Tough shit. You don’t have cause to hold me. I’ve done nothing wrong other than leave my affairs in a mess, which may be irritating, but it’s not illegal. I’m not responsible for spoon-feeding every detail of my private life to you, especially when it doesn’t have any relevance to your case.”

“Says you,” Rubio remarked.

She glared at him. “And it’s not my job to speculate about what may or may not be going on. That’s your job.”

Verbally, she was on fire, but Josiah suddenly realized how dark the circles were underneath her eyes, how brittle the damp sheen was in her blue gaze. She had been through hell these past few days.

He needed to take her in his arms again so badly he had to turn away.