Page 56 of A Skirl of Sorcery
‘What other reason can you think of why someone would possess a hundred bone boxes?’
‘We’re talking about Coldstream, Kit. People do weird things, have weird hobbies – though I’ll agree it’s worth investigating further. But the trows’ attitude towards us had already relaxed. They’d probably have told us where they got the box without you making a deal with them.’
I stopped walking, put my hands in my pockets and gave him a long look.
‘Oh,’ he said.
I nodded. Now he understood.
‘You want the trows to accept your help without it appearing to be charity.’
‘Stealing is out of character for their kind, regardless of how they justify it to themselves. They’re desperate but they’re also proud. It’s the same reason the Barrow werewolves haven’t asked anyone for help or advertised their problems.’
‘We live in a fucked-up world,’ Thane muttered.
I didn’t disagree. ‘It’s why I prefer spending my time with cats.’
‘Cats?’ he asked archly. ‘And perhaps the occasional lone werewolf?’
I half smiled. ‘Perhaps.’
We jumped onto the next tram heading into the city. Unfortunately it was busy with all manner of nocturnal-living Preternaturals, so Thane and I had to stand for the whole journey wedged between a huffing basilisk, who took up far more space than should have been allowed, and a trio of chattering vampires. But even though we couldn’t maintain the same physical contact we’d had on the outward journey, the tension between us continued to grow.
Thane’s gaze brushed against mine repeatedly. When the basilisk stretched, towering over me so that only the top of Thane’s head was visible, I ran my eyes over his copper-coloured hair, which was longer than usual because of yesterday’s full moon. I imagined running my fingers across it and wondered if he’d purr like Tiddles did when I stroked her ginger fur.
The tram lurched as it curved around a particularly sharp corner, which made the basilisk shift position. Thane’s eyes were on me once again as he tilted his head and wet his lips. I inhaled deeply, scenting past the basilisk’s earthy smell and the iron-rich tang of the vampires until vetiver tickled my nostrils.
Thane had dropped his right arm to his side and placed his left foot in front of his right one; he was mirroring my stance, unconsciously or not. I shifted my weight and altered my posture and he followed suit a moment later. My heart rate picked up a notch.
His eyes lingered on my mouth then he raised one hand to his lips and scraped them gently with his thumb. I reached up to my neck and slowly traced a path downwards with my fingertipsuntil I reached my chest. Two high points of colour appeared on Thane’s cheeks. A moment later, he upped the stakes and raised his T-shirt several inches from his waist as if to absently scratch his skin. My breath caught sharply.
That was when two of the vampires nudged each other and smirked at me. Suddenly I felt my own cheeks warming and I dropped my gaze. It was a relief when the tram reached the Danksville stop at the top of my street and I could step out into the cool night air with Thane by my side.
‘I don’t have anywhere to stay tonight,’ he said, breaking the silence. ‘I can’t go to the flat and I’ve not had time to arrange an alternative.’
I pretended to consider the matter. ‘Tiddles is already at my house waiting for your return. It’s late and it’s been a long day for both of us.’
‘It has.’
‘It will be another long day tomorrow.’
‘Mmm.’
‘I suppose one more stray won’t make a difference to the McCafferty household.’
Thane’s eyes gleamed.
‘For one night,’ I added, in case it needed to be said aloud.
‘One night,’ he agreed. ‘We both want to maintain our independence.’
I was glad we were on the same page. I started to smile – but a beat later my smile turned into a scowl and I stopped dead in the middle of the cobbled street.
‘Kit?’ Thane asked, immediately aware of the abrupt shift in my mood.
I bared my teeth and marched over to the Dinsbury house. For fuck’s sake.
The Dinsburys had erected a sign in their small front garden. I strongly suspected that Arthur had watched me leave earlierwith Thane and decided it was the perfect opportunity to put it up. He probably thought I’d notice it on my way home and immediately cave to public pressure. Well, he thought wrongly – very wrongly.
