Marney and Van Bam shared a long kiss. He towered over her and his embrace was strong and engulfing. She ran a hand over his smoothly-shaved head, down his neck, and felt the muscles of his shoulders and back. Van Bam placed one big hand gently upon Marney's cheek and with the other he pulled her tighter against his body. His passion was evident, but Marney was an empath, and she could sense that his mind was not fully focused on this stolen moment, the here and now, in her private room within the Nightshade.

She broke the kiss and frowned into Van Bam's brown eyes. 'What's wrong?' she said.

Van Bam sighed, and Marney allowed him to manoeuvre them to her bed, where they both sat.

'Is it the others?' she asked. 'Does someone know about us?'

Van Bam shook his head. 'If anyone does, they have not revealed it to me.'

'Then what, Van Bam?'

He took her hand into his. 'You have had a difficult time tonight,' he said. 'How are you feeling?'

Marney narrowed her eyes, feeling half-amused and half-irritated.

Van Bam's concern was genuine. Marney was an inexperienced agent of the Relic Guild, true enough, but he knew better than to try and mollycoddle her. He was deflecting, trying to circumnavigate something – a point he wished to make subtly, without upsetting her. But even an illusionist couldn't hide his emotions from an empath. She felt exactly what he was thinking now.

'You're not staying, are you?' she said disappointedly.

Van Bam chuckled and kissed her hand. 'No. Gideon has given Samuel and me a mission. He wants us to investigate the movements of Carrick prior to his death.'

'Now?'

Van Bam nodded. 'As soon as Samuel is ready to leave.'

'Why do you have to go? Samuel prefers his own company anyway.'

'There is truth to that, I suspect,' Van Bam said with a smile. 'But you know how Gideon is, Marney. His orders cannot be questioned, and duty always comes first.'

'Yeah, I know,' she said moodily.

And the truth was Marney really did understand how the Relic Guild operated, and she accepted it. But she was tired with controlling her emotions, of blocking what she felt. The night's work played heavily upon her, much heavier than she had allowed herself to yet acknowledge. She had hoped so deeply to be able to let her guard down while in Van Bam's arms – maybe to cry, maybe to laugh, or to just feel his body next to hers and know there was something other than the war against Spiral in her life.

Van Bam, apparently sensing how she felt, cupped her face. 'You saw what the contents of the jar did, Marney.'

She nodded.

'You know it was likely Genii magic.'

She pressed her forehead to his and squeezed her eyes shut. 'I know.'

'We have to know the identity of this Aelf that Carrick was dealing with,' Van Bam said warningly. 'There could be enemies of the Timewatcher within Labrys Town's walls.'

'Just go,' she whispered. 'I'll be all right.'

'Do not be so hasty.' He kissed her. 'You know, I had a surprise planned for you tonight.'

Marney felt his affection and managed a small chuckle. 'What surprise?'

'Ah, it is a secret that will now have to wait until we see each other next. For the meantime ...' He gave her a mischievous grin. 'I think Samuel will be a while yet.'

And he kissed her again, more soundly.

Marney could feel the rising heat of Van Bam's passion and she wanted nothing more than to share in it, to feel his skin against hers, and find the respite she craved from these dark days. But she could feel another presence now, standing outside the door to her chamber. Someone was eager to enter, but embarrassed to interrupt a private moment.

Marney broke the kiss. 'Too late,' she said.
Mentally, she thought to the loitering presence, You can come in now, Denton.

Immediately, there was a click, and the outline of a door appeared on the wall. Van Bam jumped to his feet and grabbed his green glass cane as the door swung inwards, and the big empath stepped into the room.

His voice entered Marney's mind. Sorry for interrupting, and then he addressed Van Bam aloud. 'Samuel's asking for you,' he said seriously. 'He's ready to leave.'

Van Bam nodded. He gave Marney a quick, disappointed look, and then strode from the room.

Marney pursed her lips at Denton. He was crushing his hat in his hands more than usual. Evidently, the meeting with Gideon had exposed extra cause for concern, and, just like Van Bam, he was struggling to find the right words to tell her. But unlike Van Bam, his emotions were cloaked and undecipherable.

'And what's wrong with you?' she asked with a sigh.

Denton pulled a face – a subtle approach to whatever he was withholding was impossible.

'Gideon has a mission for us,' he said. He shrugged, put his hat on and patted it down. 'Get your coat, Marney.' His grin was full-toothed. 'You're going to meet a Thaumaturgist.'

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