“This occurred on city streets,” she reminded him. “It was in the dark of night, but that means nothing, especially here in Serpentine Bay. Now, Abel, tell me, what could halt a police investigation?” she asked but didn’t give him time to answer. She did it herself. “A powerful entity.”

“That might not be a good thing,” he noted quietly.

“It also might mean whatever is befalling you and Delilah, you’ll have mighty allies,” she retorted.

Shit. But he had to find a way to fuck Delilah so his mind wasn’t consumed with it and shit this simple was not lost on him.

“I have to focus on Delilah,” he told her, and she nodded.

“On that I would agree, my Abel. However, you haven’t been doing that either.”

“There are things you don’t understand.”

“I know you’ve waited lifetimes for her, and now that you have her, you’re acting surly and impatient. So I assume I can guess quite accurately at what is causing your impatience.”

Jian-Li, nor any of her line, were stupid. Usually this was good. Now it was aggravating.

“Do you have any advice on that?” he asked sarcastically.

“She’s here,” Jian-Li replied.

“I know that,” he bit out impatiently.

“She’s here,” Jian-Li repeated. “If she did not feel as you do, after the events of last night, would any sane female be anywhere near you?”

He shook his head. “She doesn’t feel as I do.”

“Are you certain?”

If she did, they’d be fucking right then.

So she didn’t.

“I am.”

“Guide her there, tian xin,” she advised quietly.

“She’s human. She needs time.”

“Yes,” she stated, still talking quietly. “But I’ll tell you this, she seemed very sure of herself when I saw her come out of my bathroom this morning. She was comfortable with me, Xun, Wei, Chen. Charming. Talkative. Amusing. She has hesitancy, which is understandable, but she was clearly embracing where she was in a way that’s remarkable and gave me great relief. Until you left.”

Abel’s heart tightened.

“The longer you were gone, the more confused and unsure of herself and this situation she became,” she continued. “And in the end, my Abel, she actually appeared in pain.”

Abel felt his spine straighten. “Pain?”

She nodded. “As if your continued absence caused in her what you’ve been feeling for centuries.”

“Fuck, I gotta get to her,” he muttered, making a move to leave.

“Think on The Biltmore,” she urged, and he looked back at her.

“I will.”

She gave him one of her satisfied smiles, mostly because he was doing what she wished.

He shook his head, lifted his hand and called, “Sleep well,” as he moved to the door.

“You too,” she called back as the door closed.

He was in his room in a flash.