She straightened. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s probably not. In the interim, I have three vampires here at Angels’ Point.”

She thought of Adrian’s home, Angels’ Point, a compound in Anaheim Hil s that served as headquarters for all Sentinels. It was only a few minutes’ drive from Gadara Tower, where the archangel Raguel based his operations. And where Trevor had been taken.

But he probably wasn’t there now. He’d likely been absorbed into Raguel’s network and dispatched to wherever a soldier medic would be the most needed. Raguel had his own battles to fight, after all . still . . .

“I’l head down,” she said, glancing at the clock. “I’l see you around two.”

“We’ll be expecting you.”

Siobhán hung up and wondered what she could wear. Her usual military style wouldn’t be appropriate if she was going out in public. “Where are you going?” Aurelia asked.

“To the Point to pick up some vamps.”

The Sentinel’s face brightened. “I’l come with you.”

“Great.” She headed toward the door. “We’ll take off in fifteen.”

* * *

Siobhán turned off the main road and began the drive up from the city into the hil s where Angels’ Point waited. The distance between sprawling hil side properties widened the higher they climbed until they reached a wrought-iron gate bisecting the road, cutting off further public access. On a rough-edged granite slab on the shoulder was sandblasted the words ANGELS’ POINT, which might have seemed welcoming if not for the gatehouse and the big lycan in human form who stepped out of it. She was able to recognize what he was straightaway because of his size—too large to be aerodynamic—and his electric green eyes, which came from the demon blood that coursed through his veins.

Knowing they needed to learn from their previous mistakes, she lowered the window of the Mitchel Aeronautics SUV she drove. “Hi,” she greeted him. “It’s good to see you. I’m glad you’re here.”

He blinked, clearly startled by the unusual courtesy from a Sentinel.

“Thank you for coming back,” Aurelia piped in.

“Uh . . . okay. Sure.” Looking bemused and wary, he disappeared into the gatehouse and the gate began to open. He offered an awkward wave as they passed him.

Siobhán drove the mile distance to the house, her eyes searching the hil side for lycans in lupine form and seeing only a few instead of the dozens that would normal y dot the landscape.

Rounding the circular driveway, she parked in front of the entrance to Adrian’s home.

“I still can’t get over how different this place is without the lycans,” Aurelia said as she hopped out of the passenger door. “It’s so empty and quiet.”

That’s the way Siobhán had felt since Trevor left, but she kept that to herself, turning her attention to the house instead. The residence scaled the side of the cliff in three tiers, each with its own wide wraparound deck. Distressed wood siding, rock terraces, and exposed wooden beams enabled the house to blend into the hil side.

Angels’ Point had appeared in numerous architectural magazines and been the focus of a television special on extravagant ecofriendly homes. It was all part of Adrian’s strategy and message to the vampires— I’m here. Take me on.

One half of the double-door front entrance opened as they approached and Damien fil ed the threshold. His handsome face was impassive as always, his eyes watchful and his aura as dark as his inky hair. He was an angel well worth having at your back . . . unless you pissed him off. He was ruthless in everything, from the strength of his friendship to the ease with which he cut down his enemies.

“Siobhán. Aurelia,” he greeted them.

“You have a lycan at the gate,” Siobhán said.

“More and more straggle in every day. It seems not everyone was unhappy with the status quo.”

“And how’s Adrian?”

Damien’s head tilted to one side, considering. “Hmm . . . Settled, I’d say.”

Adrian had been conflicted over his love for aeons. Being “settled” was a gift—for him and for all the Sentinels. “That’s good,” she said. “The timing couldn’t be better.”

“It surprises me to hear you say that. Lindsay is a huge vulnerability.”

“I know.”

“Siobhán has her own mortal,” Aurelia interjected. “She understands Adrian better than we do.”

“I know she does.” Damien’s gaze stayed on Siobhán’s face as he held out his hand and summoned an envelope.

Taking it from him, she broke the seal. There were photos of Trevor’s sister and her family inside, including shots of his namesake. “You got them. Thank you.”

“Go ahead and deliver that,” he said evenly. “The vamps are still on their way from Anza, so you have some time.”

She frowned, confused.

“Malachai told me about your situation,” he explained. “I understand you need to see the man. You need to make sure he’s doing well and that he doesn’t remember you. So go. When you’re done perhaps you’l become settled, too.”

“Thank you, Damien.”

“I’m learning to adapt to Sentinels and their mortal quandaries.” A slight curving of his lips made her realize the impact Lindsay was having on everyone. “Trevor Descansos won’t know you,” he warned. “Be prepared for that.”

Her breath caught as comprehension hit. “You’ve seen him.”

She saw it in his eyes and wondered what Malachai had said about her “situation.” Whatever it was, Damien had taken the trouble to see for himself that Trevor’s mind had been completely wiped of all trace of her.

Damien gestured for Aurelia to enter the house. “Descansos is leaving California today, Siobhán. Raguel’s going to put him through med school.”

“Good. That’s good.” That meant Trevor’s life was back where it had been before he was taken—at least as much as it could be considering his former friends and family believed he was dead. She heaved out her breath. “I won’t be long.”

Aurelia offered an encouraging smile. “See you when you get back.”

Was it possible to truly go back? Siobhán wondered. Back to the Sentinel she’d been before she’d found the one mortal capable of making her feel . . . human? Did she even want that?

Perhaps there was no going back for her.

Chapter 9

Siobhán couldn’t believe she’d forgotten how impressive Gadara Tower was. Located on Harbor Boulevard south of Katel a, the gleaming glass skyscraper was the headquarters of the archangel whose territory encompassed all of North America.

As she stepped out of the elevator car that had brought her up from the subterranean garage, Siobhán noted the gold-veined marble floors and the congestion of the lobby, which proved the health of Raguel Gadara’s many business interests. The hum of conversation and the industrious whirring of the glass tube elevators lent an energy to the sun-drenched space.

Fifty floors above her, a massive skylight invited the warmth of the sun into the lush atrium and kept spirits high. Raguel had become a master at manipulating human emotion over time, a skil that ensured that his real estate, hospitality, and entertainment empire was always newsworthy. She went straight to the reception desk, offering a smile to the young man who greeted her enthusiastical y. During the drive over, she’d decided it would be best not to see Trevor at all . He was on a good path, one that would ensure he was kept safe and comfortable. There was nothing to be gained by seeing each other again, except pain and regret for her.