Free The Pawn of the Phoenix (The Memory Collector Series Book 2) by Jamie McLachlan

settle on Josephine. I have a moment to decide if I’m offended by her slight or grateful she didn’t touch me. I decide on the latter though I’m beginning to think I’ve just met another blocker I will come to despise.
    “These events are always so tedious.” Alyssa grabs a glass of wine from a server, and then looks at me deliberately. “You were a concubine, weren’t you? You must be accustomed to parading around idly.”
    And with those words I’m no longer uncertain. I’m thoroughly offended and despise her.
    “Oh, yes.” I quickly mask my fury behind a sheet of sarcasm. “When I wasn’t fucking, I was wasting away the hours prancing around naked or staring at the ceiling.”
    Taking my sarcasm in stride, she says, “Well, hopefully you’re providing more useful services to the detective. I don’t know why the Elite chose to elicit a concubine’s help rather than a blocker.”
    “Alyssa,” interjects Josephine in a warning tone. “Moira is more than capable–”
    “It’s alright, Josephine.” I give the other blocker a chilling smile. “Let her think whatever she wants.” My gaze flickers back to the Pleasure House Instigator. “If you’ll excuse me, I must return to my listless life. It was a pleasure to meet you again, Madame.”
    She offers me a parting congenial smile. “And you, Moira.”
    I don’t bother glancing at the Chief Blocker, yet I can feel her eyes on me as I walk away. She had deliberately provoked me with the intention I would lash out at her in irritation. What she hadn’t expected was for me to walk away without a fight. Her words and behaviour toward me wasn’t without purpose; it was an attempt to assess me. I have proven to be nothing of what she accused me of being and the realization perturbs her. For a brief moment, I wonder why before I decide I don’t care.
    After wandering through a crowd of people, I step outside onto the balcony. Though it’s dark out, the moon provides enough light for me to see the expanse of Mr. Harrison’s garden, and I imagine it’s beautiful in the day. The soft breeze carries the sweet fragrance of spring blossoms, and I lean against the balustrade, grateful for a moment of reprieve from the stench of cigar smoke and the rolling laughter of men. The night air is cool against my exposed arms, eliciting a shiver throughout my body. As I wrap my arms around myself, a familiar trickle of desire slithers toward me and curls around my waist, tugging me back ever so slightly.
    My lips curve involuntarily into a smile. “You should know by now you can’t exactly sneak up on an empath, Mr. Hayes.”
    “Is that so?” He slowly approaches me, his desire pressing more insistently against my spine. “What gave me away, Moira? And I thought you agreed to call me Icarus.”
    “Your emotions.” I turn to face him and draw out his name in an extended sigh. “ Icarus. ”
    “That’s better,” he says, pleased. “And what emotions did you sense?”
    “Desire.”
    “Am I that transparent?” He chuckles and continues before I can offer him a sardonic reply. “Ah, well, I was admiring you from afar. But, to be honest, I’d much rather admire you up close. Have you considered my proposal?”
    I think back to my seduction and fact-finding proposal to the detective. This could possibly be my chance. Besides, Mr. Hayes could prove to be the exact type of distraction I need to keep my mind from obsessing about the case or Keenan. Here is someone who desires me and isn’t afraid to admit it. He also won’t make any demands—unlike someone else I know.
    Icarus’s grin widens, as if he knows I’ve acquiesced.
    “Alright, Icarus, let’s see if you live up to your word.”
    He practically glows with satisfaction. “It would be my pleasure, and I promise I won’t disappoint you. I understand you now reside in Mr. Edwards’s townhouse, not the hotel. We’ll have to inform him you’ll be coming back to my place and not his . ”
    “You