"Rephaim wants to trust you."

"Which means that he does not," Kalona said.

Shaunee did meet the immortal's gaze then. She waited, but didn't feel like he zapped her or anything. Actually, he just looked like a hot older guy with wings who seemed sad. Real sad.

"I should go," he said, and began to turn.

"Do you want me to tell Rephaim anything for you?"

He hesitated and then said, "I came here because I have been considering our common enemy, Neferet's new creature."

"Aurox," she said.

"Yes, Aurox. From what my other son told me, the creature has the ability to change form into a being that resembles a bull."

"I haven't seen him do that myself, but Zoey has," Shaunee said. "So has Rephaim." Kalona nodded. "Then it must be truth. This means Aurox has been infused with power from an immortal, and to manifest as it has, with such a complex and complete disguise, the power used to create it had to be mighty indeed."

"That's what you want me to tell Rephaim?"

"In part. Also tell my son that power of this magnitude had to have taken a great sacrifice. Perhaps a death that was close to those in your group."

"Jack?"

"No. That boy was sacrificed by Neferet to pay her debt to Darkness for imprisoning me and forcing my spirit to the Otherworld." Kalona's voice was bitter-his anger just barely under control. "That is why I know Aurox's conception must have been the result of a death-as was my torment.

Look to the sacrifice and you may discover evidence against Neferet. Causing her destruction would be more possible were she at odds with the High Council."

"I'll tell Rephaim."

"Thank you, Shaunee." Kalona said the words slowly, hesitantly, as if he was unused to the taste of them. "And tell him I said I wish him well."

"Okay, I will. Hey, uh, I think you should get a cell phone."

The winged immortal's brows went up. "Cell phone?"

"Yeah, how's Rephaim supposed to call you if he needs to talk to his dad?"

Shaunee thought Kalona almost smiled. "I do not have a cell phone."

"I guess going to the AT&T store is pretty much not an option for you."

"No." His lips tilted up even as he shook his head. "I'm not sure what I would do with my wings."

"Very true," she said. "Uh, how about a laptop? You could be on Skype."

"I do not have a laptop, either. Young fledgling, I am living in the woods on a ridge southwest of Tulsa with a flock of creatures who should not exist in the modern world. I do not have, as you would say, computer access."

Shaunee was nonplused. "I could get you a laptop. All you need is one of those remote satellite connection things and a power source, and you'll have Internet anywhere-even in the woods southwest of Tulsa. You can find electricity, can't you?"

"Yes."

"So if I got you the computer stuff, would you call your son?"

There was no hesitation Shaunee could see. "Yes," he said.

"Okay, good. Take this." She reached into the little chain mail Rebecca Minkoff shoulder purse that was her current favorite, pulled out her iPhone and threw it to Kalona. The immortal caught it without even blinking. "I'll call you when I have the laptop and stuff."

"That's very generous of you."

"Don't get emotional," she said blandly. "My parents have money. I'll just spend some of it. It's no big thing."

"I wasn't speaking of the money. I was speaking of the generosity of the friendship you are showing to my son." Shaunee shrugged. "He's a friend of a friend-that's all. And don't get me wrong. I want my phone back."

"Yes, of course," Kalona said. Then he really smiled and Shaunee thought she'd never seen anything so amazing and joyful and totally beautiful.

"Thank you, Shaunee. This time I mean it with my whole being-and that is, indeed, rare for me."

"You're welcome. Just be nice to Rephaim. He deserves a good dad."

Kalona met her gaze and she felt him look through her eyes to her heart and soul. "As do you, my fledgling friend. Fare-thee-well." Then Kalona turned and left her, exiting through the broken doors. Shaunee could hear the beat of his massive wings as he lifted into the dark evening sky.

For a long time afterward she stood there, heating the pile of broken tiles with her flame, and thinking ...

* * *