Shadowed(68)

“But I thought you liked bears. You said they were your…your spirit creature?” He raised his eyebrows at her in question.

“Spirit animal,” Nina corrected him as she began to buzz his cheeks and chin. The Kindred clippers were amazingly fast and quiet. “But that’s just magic and superstition, really.”

“There’s more to magic and superstition than you think,” he murmured. “Maybe the bear thing is the reason you can…can touch me.” His deep voice was slightly hoarse.

“Maybe,” Nina said softly. She put down the clippers and picked up the razor. “You’d better stop talking now. This thing is sharp.”

He made a deep noise of assent and closed his eyes as she began to shave him more closely. Nina was fast and careful, but as she began to clear the black stubble from his cheeks, she saw something that startled her. Reddix had scars. Two long, white, deliberate lines ran parallel along the left side of his strong jaw. It looked like someone had cut him there on purpose—as though he’d gotten into a knife fight with a sadist who knew exactly what he was doing and had wanted to disfigure the big Kindred in some way.

“Hey,” she said softly, running one fingertip along the cruel white scars. “What happened here?”

“Nothing.” Reddix jerked away from her touch and sat up quickly.

“Who did that to you?” Nina asked. “Why would anyone—”

“I told you, it’s nothing,” he growled. “Here, give me the razor. I’ll finish myself.”

“No.” Nina stepped back, holding her hands up in a gesture of peace though foam from the razor dripped down her wrist. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Not offended,” he said tightly, but the closed, guarded look was back in his eyes.

“Just let me finish,” she said quietly. “I promise I won’t ask any more questions.”

“Fine.” He settled into the chair again, but there was a tension in his broad shoulders that hadn’t been there before. Nina’s heart squeezed in her chest. She wished he wasn’t so secretive. That she could find a way to make him open up.

The only thing you need to find is a way home, eecho, whispered Mehoo-Jimmy’s voice in her mind. Nina knew it was true, but she couldn’t help wanting to get behind the wall Reddix had built around himself. She had a feeling if she could just breach that barrier, she could help him…heal him.

But first he would have to let her in.





Chapter Eighteen



“Still no sign of the emergency beacon?” Liv asked.

“Afraid not.” Kat sighed and settled herself on the couch beside Sophia. They were in her suite today because she had all the wedding planning materials there. Not that she felt like planning much of anything right now. “They’re not sure where the ship Reddix stole landed,” she said.

“Baird went to check it out, and he says the wormhole they went through is really unstable,” Liv said.

“What does that mean?” Sophia asked, eyes wide.

“Well…that they might not have landed at all,” Kat said quietly.

“Oh, no.” Sophia looked like she might cry. “But Kat, I was there when Sylvan talked to her grandma—that little old lady—that Mehaw…”

“Mehoo-Jimmy,” Kat interrupted. “I know. I heard all about it.”

“She was so upset, and I don’t blame her,” Liv said grimly. “What’s wrong with Reddix, kidnapping that girl? Everybody knows that’s not how you claim a bride.”

“Well, Lissa says Saber isn’t entirely sure claiming her was his intention,” Kat said.

“What else could he want her for?” Sophia asked and winced as she put a hand on her rounded belly. “Oh! The twins are kicking.”

“Mine aren’t yet, but I’m sure they will be soon,” Kat said. “I just hope they don’t start when I’m walking down the aisle with Deep and Lock.”

“At least not so your grandma can see,” Liv murmured, a ghost of a smile on her face.

“Exactly. I’m already getting fatter. This wedding needs to happen soon.” Kat sighed.

“It will,” Sophia promised. “The planning is going great, isn’t it?”

“It was until this whole mess with Reddix kidnapping that poor girl,” Kat said grimly. “Lissa was helping me a lot, but now I haven’t seen her in days. Every time I call her or try to go see her she says she has a headache and needs to be left alone.” She shook her head. “It’s not just about the wedding—I’m getting really worried about her.”