Page 75 of Aberrant Monsters
He cleared his throat and turned to face me. “My experience with female anatomy is irrelevant. I shouldn’t have come into your room. I apologize.”
“It’s not your fault. I don’t usually sleep starkers. Last night was rough.”
“Oh? Something happened with the eldritch search?”
“You could say that.” I filled him in on the events of the night. “I called you.”
He frowned and pulled his phone from his pocket. “It’s dead.” He looked confused.
“You need to make sure it’s charged and on. You’re supposed to be my handler.”
He rubbed his temple with his fingers. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what happened. I’m usually very careful.”
He looked genuinely upset and my irritation melted. “It’s okay. Everyone is okay. Let’s go to the rift. I want to get back before Nandi wakes up.”
He handed me a travel mug. “Coffee.”
“Now you have officially redeemed yourself.” I took a swig. “Lead the way, boss.”
nineteen
Quentin parked the car at Silent Hill Station and we sat staring at the dark, imposing building that I knew for a fact was barely used by anyone.
Thiswas where the rift was? “Are you serious right now?”
“Deadly.”
I stared down the wet street set beneath an overcast sky heavy with the threat of more rain, and at the boundary that was the crime lords’ territory. Once we crossed it, all bets were off. “My mother came here?”
“So it seems.”
“She must have had a reason.”
“I’m sure she did.” Quentin killed the engine and pocketed the keys. “The Order has an understanding with the crime lords. They let the rift walkers do their job. We should be fine.”
“Should?”
He looked across at me, his azure eyes dark in the gloom. “Wewillbe fine. Come on.” He climbed out of the car, and I followed.
Heading back into the place where I’d taken Telarion to feed only days ago seemed like a bad idea. The hyena shifters Telarion had killed would have been missed by now. Still, no one knew I was involved in that. I mean, I was a little rift walker with tiny hands and doe eyes, right?
Pfft. It would be fine.
There was no need to worry.
I was with my handler, and we were allowed to be here.
Quentin grabbed his jacket from the back seat and shrugged it on. The padded material made him look even broader and more intimidating than he was. He pulled a black wool hat over his head, taking him from studious handler to kick-the-shit-out-of-you bruiser.
I raked him over. “Nice transformation.”
He frowned down at me. “What?”
Not deliberate, then. “Nothing. Lead the way.”
We set off down the street, past the station, and into Silent Hill Trail proper. A shiver passed over my skin and my scalp tightened as my senses expanded. It was early, barely seven a.m., and the place was a ghost town.
“It’s not far from here,” Quentin said, keeping his voice low.
