Standing so close to Adrian was overwhelming and dangerous; heat radiated from his arm on mine. There was this static, a crackling in the air, that always seemed to happen whenever the two of us got close. The baby hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and it surprised me that my skin longed to make contact with his. I dared to glance at Adrian, and judging by the look on his face, he felt it too.

“Did you see Kris and Domenico?” Vlad’s presence broke the connection. All the yearning vanished into thin air. “I think we should find them.”

Adrian picked up on the real reason for Vlad’s concern. “You just don’t like the idea of them being alone inside a bar for too long,” he teased.

Vlad’s mouth turned into a straight line, confirming Adrian’s words.

I looked up at the two tall figures in front of me. “I can’t see them from down here. You guys are tall—if you can’t see them, why not call Kris?”

Adrian took his phone out of his pocket. “Actually, it’s still too early for a party. Perhaps they are still wandering Ermou Street. Don’t worry, Dom won’t do anything inappropriate in public places.” Adrian paused. “Voice mail.”

We scoured the bar and then made our way through the crowd to find Kris and Domenico near the back, sitting at a round table for ten. I greeted Kris with a tight hug; it felt like a long time since I had last seen her, although it had only been yesterday when she had picked me up from jail. She looked breathtaking in a shimmery blue dress with her hair up. Domenico stood behind her. I said, “Dude, you lucked out with this one for your soul mate.”

“Thank you, Avery. I agree entirely,” Domenico said with a strange formality.

Kris gave me a look, and I realized that this would be the first time Vlad would meet his sister’s soul mate. I took the hint. I nudged Adrian, motioning him back toward the bar. “Let’s get some drinks. I think I’m going to die of thirst if I don’t get some water ASAP.”

And I wanted to talk to him alone. Adrian called to the bartender and ordered our drinks while I scoped out a place for us to sit.

We found a spot at the bar proper, and I looked around, making sure no one could overhear what I was about to say. It was taboo to talk about breaking the soul-mate bond, but I somehow felt like Adrian might agree with me, considering the heartbreak he’d experienced.

Adrian passed me a glass of water before downing one of a number of shots he’d ordered. Maybe if he was a bit tipsy he’d be more forthcoming about any secret documents the Hellenicus might have stored somewhere.