Page 42 of Broken Shadows

Aiden stills, then his eyes glaze as if he’s searching his mind for the answer to said question, then they refocus on me. My gaze flicks to the pulse hammering away in his neck. “Oh, right,” he says, the corners of his lips curling into a small smile. “I’m waiting for my hat. It’s getting embroidered. I’m so stoked bro.”

Ezra’s eyes bounce from me to Aiden, following our conversation with one ear while listening to the old woman with the other. My brother’s eyes dart to my hands, and my attention returns to the soft plushie in my fist. I hold the thing a loft and a crooked eyed chicken stares back at me from a fuzzy feathered face. Ezra mumbles to the woman, then pats the counter once and walks a few steps to Aiden and me.

“That’s what you’ve come up with, Brother? A fucking chicken?”

“Have you got any better ideas?”

“Naturally,” he scoffs and his familiar pale green eyes glitter. Ezra laughs, crowding me into an end cap of overly floral candles to my right. He winces as my fist makes contact with his shoulder but continues interloping on my personal space and reaches around me, shoving a dark purple plushie into my chest with a shadow. “You want this one instead.”

Aiden’s eyes ping pong between us like he’s watching a high stakes tennis match.

“Guys,” Aiden whispers loudly. “Put the shadows away. Humans, remember.” Ezra and I glance at him, then separate. Shit. I inhale deeply and tame the growl building behind my ribs.

“For once, Aiden is right,” I acknowledge.

Aiden’s jaw drops open comically and his eyes bulge. “I…I…wha?” he stammers.

Ezra twists toward me, then raises his tattooed hand in front of his mouth and speaks at regular volume. “Utoh, I think you broke him.”

My eyes narrow on Aiden, then every single muscle in my body tightens rapidly as he tips forward and traps me in a bear hug. “I knew you liked me,” he cries in my ear.

I release a dark growl. “Aiden. Get. Off. Me.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry. Like, for real dude,” he blurts while aggressively smoothing his hand down my hoodie like he intends to rid it of wrinkles.

I reanimate as an elderly male struggles to get Aiden’s attention. “Sir? Your hat is done.”

My legs twitch to life as I spin on my heel, then chuck the fucking bat shaped plushie at Ezra over my shoulder. “Pay for that. I’ll be outside.” The dilapidated bell tinkles weakly as I stalk out the door and seek some place to wait.

I sprawl onto a red bench across the street, the paint peeling in large chunks, then reach into my pocket and draw out a lighter and pack of cigarettes. Fire winks to life within my cupped palms, a rich orange glow highlighting my fingers. I take a long drag, spread my legs, and lean my elbows on my thighs. Exhaled smoke rises from my lips as wind curls into my hood and threatens to uncover my head. “Fuck,” I curse and tug it as far forward as far as it will go, my claws extending slightly and puncturing the fabric.They better hurry the fuck up.

As if the thought summoned them, Aiden and Ezra leisurely cross the street and stop in front of me. I glare at them beneath my hood. “Let’s go.” I stand, leading them down an ally and into a shadow formed by the clumped dumpsters and into the In-Between.

The scent of roses curls into my lungs as I depart a long shadow juxtaposed to a framed painting of the manor’s graveyard. “Evie,” I call.

“Any luck?” She leans against the back of the couch.

“Perhaps,” I reply, then hold a brown paper bag out to her.

Evie laughs and folds her arms over her chest. “Oh no, you’re going to give it to him.”

“No,” I growl.

“Yes,” she growls back mockingly.

“Frustrating fucking woman,” I retort. “I don’t want to bicker with you right now, just give the damn thing to your familiar.”

“Nope,” Evie says, then backs away with her hands raised, palms out.

“Godsdammit,” I curse. “You deserve a punishment for your earlier meddling. You don’t want to make it worse, do you?”

Someone clears their throat, and my eyes slowly slide to the group before the fireplace. Rosa, Gomez, Aiden, and Ezra now lounging in the seated area. Rosa lifts her brows and speaks authoritatively. “Well, what are you waiting for? Give our sweet little night puppy his gift.”

I bite my tongue and swallow my creative vitriolic response before I lash out at Evie’s best friend. Dropping my shoulders, I force my fingers to uncurl. My shadow dives into the wrinkled bag midair, absconds with the plushie, and drops it onto Rosa’s lap next to Gomez.

“Satisfied?” I stab my hands into my pockets, so I don’t murder the lot of them. Fabric rustles as my legs walk toward Evie before I make the conscious decision to do so. I loop my arms around her waist from behind and rest my chin on the top of her head, her soft brow hair tickling my stubble.

“Good boy,” Evie praises.

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