But it meant we weren't going anywhere flash, so it was just as well I'd opted for a summery look rather than a glam one.

I parked beside his car, then walked around to him. His arms wrapped around me and drew me close, his kiss warm and welcoming.

"Hmmmm," I said, after a while. "That was nice."

"It was," he agreed, dark eyes shining down at me. "And you look very pretty."

"Thanks." I looked past him, studying the black rooftop. "What happened to the red Ferrari? I was rather partial to that one."

His sexy grin had my knees going all weak and funny. "Or partial to the things we did in it?"

"Damn right."

He laughed and let his grip slip down to my arm before entwining his fingers through mine. "The six-month lease was up," he said, leading me toward a waiting helicopter. "I decided a change was in order so you didn't get bored."

"Not even I could get bored with making love in the seat of a red Ferrari."

"Ah, but if you've never made love in the seat of a black Porsche, how do you know you won't like that better?"

I grinned. "And to think I used to believe you were a staid old vampire when it came to sex."

"Not staid. Just not too adventurous until I know and trust my partner." He hesitated, and his expression became a little more serious. "I talked to one of the councilors. He reluctantly agreed to a meeting, but only under certain circumstances."

Having to meet set conditions was annoying, but I guess I could understand his caution given someone out there seemed intent on wiping out the Melbourne council. "And what might those circumstances be?"

"That it happens tonight, and it takes place somewhere outside of Melbourne."

Disappointment fluttered through me. But I could hardly complain about our dinner date being compromised when I'd asked him to arrange this. "So why his rush?"

"Because many of the remaining councilors have decided to high-tail it out of the state until this has all been sorted out."

But not Dante, I bet. He just didn't seem the type that would flee at the first sign of trouble. "A mass evacuation might only succeed in driving our killer underground."

"A point I argued when it was mentioned. His retort was that he preferred his head to remain attached to his body."

"What is the greater council saying about it?"

"I doubt they know just yet, but they wouldn't approve." His gaze swept me, a heat I felt rather than saw. "You look tired."

"I am a little," I admitted. "It's been a stressful few days."

"Work wise? Or is there another reason you're stressed."

It was lightly said, but we both knew what he was really asking. Just as we both knew if I gave him the answer he was seeking, it would spoil our evening.

"Working on two cases that have the potential to blow up in my face is reason enough to stress," I said, honestly enough. "And you said you didn't want to know how things might - or might not - be progressing with Kye."

His smile was rueful. "I'm discovering that not knowing is almost as hard as the knowing. It appears I have a very vivid imagination when it comes to you and that wolf."

I stopped and swung him around to face me. "When I do something with Kye, it'll be because I have to, not because I want to. Fixate on that - and the fact that you have my heart - rather than anything else."

"Easy for you to say." He leaned forward and kissed me again, softly and quickly. "I fell in love with a werewolf once before, and she broke my heart when she met her soul mate."

"But as you keep reminding me, I'm half vampire. The two halves of my soul have very different needs." I touched a hand to his face, letting my thumb brush lightly over his sun-warmed lips. "And I don't want to think about Kye any more than I need to, so can we please get into the helicopter and get something to eat? I'm starved."

He laughed, and the tension in him eased as suddenly as it had risen. He tugged me forward again. "Just as well I ordered a large picnic basket, then."

"So where are we going?" Not that I really cared given no matter where we ended up, I'd still be in the company of a seriously sexy man.

"A friend of mine owns a large plot of land in the Mountain Bay area, and it has views right out over Eildon dam. It's stunning at sunset, and perfect for a picnic."

"Lovely."

"If everything goes according to plan, it should be." He stopped next to the helicopter and helped me in, then climbed in beside me. After making sure my belt was done up right and handing me the ear protectors, he signaled for the pilot to take off.

I might still have my stupid fear of heights, but it was an exhilarating ride none-the-less - even if I spent half of it with my eyes squeezed shut. And I was damn glad when we landed safely and I was able to get out onto solid ground.

The view made it all worthwhile.

His friend's property was situated on a hill, and had stunning views right across the water and the mountains beyond. And the silence - it was almost eerie after having grown so used to the constant hum of the city.

Quinn grabbed the picnic basket and a blanket from the back of the helicopter, then walked down the hill a little. I took off my stilettos and followed him. As he spread the blanket over the grass, the helicopter took off.

"It's going to pick up Leon," he said, obviously noticing my surprise. He glanced at his watch. "We have just over an hour to eat and chat."

Which is exactly what we did. I even remembered to ask him about Risa.

"Certainly." His response was so quick I raised my eyebrows. He smiled. "I sensed her power the very first time I saw her. She needs training, and there's few enough of us around these days to do it."

"You told me the Aedh were extinct."

"I lied."

Surprise, surprise. "Bet you didn't think it would come back to bite you on the butt."

"The minute I saw Risa, I knew it would." He shrugged, then gave me a cheeky smile that wiped away the wisps of my annoyance. "The priests no longer exist. The Aedh do, however, although they are scarce and scattered. But there have always been more males than females, so there are more of us half-breeds than full-bloods."

"So why don't the fathers hang around to teach their offspring?"

His smile was almost cold. "Because the Aedh are not human in any sense of the world. Family is an alien concept to them. They sow their seed, then leave. It is done out of necessity rather than desire."

My eyebrows rose again. "Necessity?"

"When the Aedh's life span is coming near its end, they become fertile and will breed. If there is no female Aedh available, they find another source."

Meaning anything female, human or non-human, obviously. "So if the dads don't hang around, how do their offspring learn? How did you?"

"The priests used to gather the offspring to raise and instruct. While they are no longer around, there are still teachers. Most are half-breeds like myself."

And yet his dad had been a priest, so he'd not only known him, but his sister. I frowned. "If your dad was at the end of his lifespan when he conceived you and your sister, then how did he teach you?"

"Because an Aedh's lifespan can be measured in centuries, not mere years. I was ten when he died. The other priests taught me after that." He hesitated. "It is quite possible that Risa will live for several hundred years, although the human part of her will ensure she ages normally until she hits her mid to late twenties."

Then Risa was one lucky girl. Imagine being naturally stuck at that age? Humans would kill for that sort of DNA. "So why haven't the Aedh teachers been in contact with Dia?"

"Because I'm here, and it falls to me."

"Meaning Aedh don't trespass on another's patch?"

He hesitated. "There are other half Aedh in this city - I believe there might even be a few full bloods. But I am the oldest, and I've trained as a priest. The task is mine."

Huh. And here I was wondering how he'd cope with the possibility of a child in the house, and all along he'd been waiting to step into Risa's life to help raise - and teach - her. "Will Dia ever find her Aedh? Or is he more than likely dead?"

"That I can't tell you." He motioned to the plates in front of us. "How about you concentrate on eating rather than giving me the inquisition?"

I'd rather keep asking questions, but I knew him enough to realize I wasn't going to get any more out of him right now. So I did as he asked. Once the food was gone, I filled my wine glass and rested back against his chest, watching the sun fill the sky with ribbons of red and gold as it set over the hills. It was one of the most peaceful and restful moments I'd had in ages.

So, naturally, fate threw a spanner in the works.

The sharp ring of the sat phone made me jump. "Someone has less than perfect timing," I muttered, scooting away from Quinn so he could dig the phone out of his pocket.

He glanced at the number, then said, "It's Jacques," before answering it.

Jacques was the helicopter pilot. I frowned and glanced at my watch. It was nearly nine, so ideally he and the helicopter should have almost been back here by now. Maybe our reluctant councilor had decided to back out of the arrangement at the last moment.

Quinn made a few short sharp comments, then hung up.

"What's wrong?" I asked, even though I had a fair idea from listening to his side of the conversation.

"Leon just became the victim of a drive-by beheading." His voice was grim. "Jacques saw the attack and immediately called the Directorate, but it happened so fast he wasn't able to help the councilor out."

I raised my eyebrows. "If it was a vampire who took him out, then we're dealing with someone fairly old. The sun isn't fully down yet."

"Jacques said it was definitely a vamp who killed Leon - his skin went pink when he opened the side door of the van. There was someone else driving, but he couldn't see who." Quinn shoved the phone back into his pocket. "From what I can gather, the vamp wasn't in the sunlight for long."

"But hacking someone's head off with a saw isn't quick."

"The killer used a sword, not a saw. Apparently Leon was walking towards the helicopter when the van appeared. He jumped out of its way, but the van stopped. The next thing Jacques saw was Leon on the ground and the sword swinging. Jacques got the plate number."

Which was probably useless, given the van would more than likely be stolen or rented. And the renter would no doubt have used a false ID - unless he was a complete moron, but these killers seemed way too intelligent. "If he was taken just before he climbed into the helicopter, that suggests he was already being watched."

"Or that they're monitoring phone conversations and knew about the meet." He drained his wine and glanced at his watch. "Jacques is only five minutes away. I wouldn't mind betting Jack will call soon."

That was a bet I wasn't about to take. The clatter of the approaching helicopter began to invade the serenity. Quinn rose and offered me a hand. I clasped his fingers and let him pull me to my feet.

"You know there's no chance of any of the councilors agreeing to talk to you now," he said, tugging me closer then wrapping his arms around my waist. "I very much doubt they'll even talk to me after this."

I knew one councilor who'd be more than willing to talk to me, but I had a fair suspicion Dante would require payback of the sexual kind, and I really didn't want to indulge him that way. There was something about the man that irritated me. But maybe it was just the fact that he used his sexual glamor without restrictions while we werewolves were threatened with all sorts of punishments if we even flirted with the idea of using our auras.

I wrapped my arms around Quinn's neck and pressed even closer. His body was warm and hard against mine, and despite my tiredness, a little part of me wished we'd done more than simply eat and talk. "Why would the councilors refuse to talk to you? It's not like you murdered Leon or anything."

"No, but the mere fact he took my call, and then a few hours later winds up as the next victim, will spook the rest."

"But how would they know about the call? And why would they think you're involved anyway?" I shook my head at the thought. "I guess, given the situation, that they'd be viewing molehills and seeing mountains, but surely they'd realize a cazador could probably find less obvious ways of killing."

He smiled and pressed me a little closer, so that I could feel the smallest of muscle movements. It was a very pleasant sensation. "Most of those on the Melbourne council don't know my history. Only those on the greater council do."

The clatter of the helicopter was louder and, over his shoulder, a black speck was becoming visible. My brief time of peace was coming to an end, and right now I resented that.

I hated the thought of having to go back to the long hours of investigation and the freaks that killed. But most of all, I resented having to go back and face Kye.

Because I very much doubted he'd wait until tomorrow lunch to see me again.

I pushed the tremor that was part anger, part anticipation aside, and said, "You're not going to get into trouble with the greater council for helping me out, are you?"

His smile was warm, yet there was something very cold in his gaze. It was a quick reminder that my luscious, warmhearted vampire was a very old - and very dangerous - being. "There is only three who would - or could - reprimand me. And given the situation, I doubt they would dare."