“Uh-huh. Once more, please…in translation.”

He leaned down to my ear. “I’d like…no, I would love for you to be my partner, Paige. In my work, in my life, everything. I know you have your own aspirations, and if you don’t wish to share my life quite so completely, I understand. But if you do, you are more than welcome to play as large a role in my investigations as you want.”

I smiled up at him. “You may regret saying that.”

“No, I don’t think I will. Is that a yes?”

“It’s a ‘we need to discuss this more, but I’m definitely interested.’”

He grinned then, a grin so broad Benicio did a double take from across the room.

Lucas noticed his father’s reaction and laughed softly. “He probably thinks I just proposed.”

I tried to glance over at Benicio, but another couple blocked my view.

“We’d better hurry over and set him straight,” I said. “Before he has a coronary.”

“No, he looks quite pleased,” Lucas said. “I believe he’ll be disappointed when he learns I didn’t propose. He’ll have to wait for that. I know better than to push my luck. I’ll give it some time before I take that plunge.” His grin broadened. “At least a week.”

I laughed, but before I could respond, he checked his watch.

“Speaking of time, we’re late for our rendezvous with the others. We should go—”

“I’ll go. Your dad’s not letting you out of his sight tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

“Then I’ll track down a couple glasses of champagne for your return.”

We disengaged and I slipped from the dance floor.

I found Jaime alone in our agreed meeting place, a nook between the kitchen and the bathroom hall.

“Sorry I’m late,” I said. “The others get tired of waiting?”

“More worried than impatient,” she said. “Elena didn’t like us all hanging out here where we can’t see what’s going on, so I nominated myself for the job. Not like I can do much else. If I try following them around, I just get in the way. I’ve had stalkers, but never quite developed a talent for it myself, and all four of them are pros.”

“Hunters.”

She shivered. “Yeah, well, I try not to think about that. Werewolves, uh, they only hunt animals, right? The four-legged variety?”

“Pack wolves, yes. Other werewolves…you take your chances.”

“Uh-huh. Well, there’s nothing to report. No sign of Edward. No Natasha, either. I think I’ve seen the last of her. Which leads me to something else. I’m really not doing any good here, Paige. If you think I’m helping, I’ll stay, but if not—”

“If you want to leave, that’sfine.”

“No, no. Well, yes, I want to leave, but for a reason. I’m thinking I might be more help if I keep looking into thisritual, call some more people, see whether I missed something. I could go back to the hotel room with Jeremy and Savannah, make my calls, and help them man the control center.”

“Manning the control center, hmm?” I said with a grin. “Sure, that sounds like a plan. Go for it.”

“I didn’t mean that,” she said, reddening. “Seriously, I think I’d be more use checking out this lead, don’t you? Okay, the control center probably doesn’t need extra manning. Maybe I should make the calls from our hotel instead—”

“No, go stay with Jeremy. That’s safer all around, and you can bounce ideas off him. He might not know much about necromantic ritual, but he’s a smart guy and he’s very easy to talk to.”

“He is, isn’t he? I mean, for a werewolf, and an Alpha werewolf at that, you’d expect the guy to be all high-and-mighty, brawn-over-brains, but he’s not, and he just seems like such a—” She buried her hands in her face with a moan. “Oh, God, I’m too old for this shit.” She peeked up at me. “Lack of sleep. It’s lack of sleep…and emotional trauma. I’ve been traumatized by this vamp-spook, and I’m not thinking straight.”

“Exactly.”

“Right. So, I’ll just go over there and start making my calls. If Jeremy can help, that’s great, but otherwise, I’ll just do my thing, and he can keep Savannah company. He’s great with Savannah, isn’t he? I mean, other guys would tell her to go off and play a video game or watch TV, but he pays attention to her and—” She inhaled and exhaled. “Okay. Fine now. Leaving now. If you need me, I’m heading straight to the hotel.” She paused. “Well, after I swing by my hotel room for a quick shower—I think I spritzed myself with your hairspray earlier and I’m all sticky. So I’ll shower, change my clothes, and then head to their hotel.”

“Got it,” I said, biting my cheek to keep from smiling.

“First, I’ll find Elena and tell her I’m taking off. She seems nice. We haven’t really talked, but she seems nice. Down-to-earth.”

“She is.”

With that, Jaime left, and I headed back to the party. I found Lucas near the buffet tables, holding the promised champagne flutes.

“Your dad hasn’t shanghaied you yet?” I said.

“He’s heading in this direction, but keeps being way-laid by other guests. In light of my new strategy for paternal relations, I am not using the situation as an opportunity to initiate a game of hide-and-seek, but standing firm and allowing him to make his way here, however long that may take.”