Shadow Thief - Eva Chase Page 0,6
let you and the lesser beings there out because you didn’t deserve to be caged in the first place. You can go on back to the shadow realm now.”
Ruse blew another waft of bubbles into the air. “No can do. You see, we lost our boss.”
Snap’s cheerful expression dimmed at that comment. He downed the last of the banana like it was a shot of tequila.
“Your boss?” I repeated, knitting my brow.
As far as I’d gathered, the shadow realm didn’t operate with much social organization, let alone jobs and employers. There were higher shadowkind who’d come over to the mortal realm permanently and lived alongside humans with most of the trappings of mortal life, but this trio didn’t fit that mold. From Snap’s awe at the basic contents of my kitchen, I’d guess he’d spent very little time outside his own realm at all. Thorn’s formal way of speaking and outfit of tunic and trousers suggested any significant time he’d spent here had been a few eras ago. Ruse might have fit in all right, though his fitted shirt and slacks were more clubwear than work uniform, but he’d said our.
“We were brought together for a specific cause by another of our kind who suspected treachery was being carried out by certain mortals,” Thorn said. “The fate that befell him suggests he was right. On our third cross-over, he was ambushed by attackers well-prepared to combat our abilities. We were able to avoid the fray, but before we could track down him and them afterward, we were trapped by another party.” His face darkened, his head dipping.
“I did tell you I had a bad feeling about that building,” Ruse put in.
Thorn glowered over his shoulder at the other guy before turning back to me. “Techniques have changed since I last engaged much with mortals. They’ve become more… potent.” He sat back down as if over-burdened by that admission.
Snap gave a little shudder as if trying to shake off the tension of the moment and hopped off the counter. He reached into my fruit bowl on the table, the glow of curiosity coming back as he examined his finding. “What’s this one called?”
“That’s a peach,” Ruse said dryly. “They’re nice too.”
Snap took a bite and hummed delightedly. I did my best not to ogle the pale curve of his neck and that heavenly face as he held the fruit up to let the juice drip into his mouth. I might not have invited these guests, but I could be polite enough not to openly leer.
“Omen brought us together,” Thorn went on from his chair. He aimed his mournful glower at the dinner knife as if its dull blade offended him. “We can’t return without him. And if he’s right about the sort of people who captured him, many more of our kind are under grave threat.”
An uneasy prickle ran down my spine. Collectors and the hunters who supplied them didn’t normally deal in higher shadowkind. Too risky and too much effort required. If there was some kind of organized campaign underway to seize beings like these—if it was happening enough that some shadowkind were starting to realize… It didn’t bode well that none of the people I worked with had noticed.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “I can see why you’d feel that way. The last thing I’d want to do is get in the way of that mission. By all means, go off and search for him.” And I’d check with my contacts to see if they had any idea about the bigger picture here.
“We will of course continue our search,” Thorn said. “But we can see to it that you remain protected and aided in any way you require in the meantime.”
Three unexpected, monstrous house guests—not what I’d signed up for. “That’s really not necessary,” I said, holding up my hands. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Oh, but we owe you,” Ruse said in that smooth voice of his. I thought there might be a teasing note in it. “If it’s simpler for you, we could sink into the shadows to stay out of your hair.”
“Her hair,” Snap murmured. He looked from the partly-devoured peach to me and sidled close enough to lift a ruddy lock that had fallen across my shoulder. His head cocked as he rubbed it between his lithe fingers.
My pulse stuttered despite myself. Thorn might be ruggedly handsome and Ruse devilishly stunning, but up close, Snap’s divine face