Page 18 of Bizarre Bonds
“I’ll go take a look,” I announce, and spring into the patches of darkness that undulate across the water.
Raze lets out a disconcerted noise. “Peri!”
When I don’t answer, he ripples after me into the shadows, traveling behind me.
He must be worried that any shadowkind out here might attack me. I’m not going to argue about the company. It’s a little reassuring to drink in the hot-cocoa warmth of his protectiveness.
No one should have to work without refreshments.
I slip over and through the shadowy depths alongside the sway of the water, searching for any unusual flavors. Fish flit by beneath me without giving off any strong impressions. The curiosity—and a bit of consternation—from the companions we’ve left behind on the beach fades with the distance.
Then I catch it: a brief punch of exhilaration like salted caramel. It’s coming from a presence that races past us through the water below.
The surge of emotion contains an eerie quaver that makes me suspect itisone of the strange shadowkind, not some regular mortal or shadow being. I push myself deeper into the thicker shadows below the water’s surface, following its giddy trail.
All at once, the emotions shift, excitement chilling into a slash of panic. The creature dives, hurtling away from me so swiftly that I lose track of its presence in a matter of seconds.
“I only wanted to talk to you!” I call after it, but it’s clearly not in a friend-making mood.
I wait a little longer, aware of Raze hovering nearby, before traveling back to the beach. When I pop out of the shadows with a crunch of the pebbles beneath my feet, three newcomers are standing with Rollick and the others.
I freeze. “Oh. Hello.”
As Raze materializes just behind me, Rollick motions to me and then to the new arrivals: a woman as short as I am but much slimmer, with braided hair that gleams silver and darker gray; a big brawny guy with ruddy brown skin and a black buzzcut; and a leaner guy with an auburn ponytail and a couple of lumps stretching his light jacket just beneath his shoulders.
The demon’s expression has warmed with a broader grin. “Shadowbloods, this is another associate of ours, Periwinkle. We’re not sure exactly what label she should go by yet, but she consumes emotions and can also blast them out. Peri, meet Riva, Zian, and Dominic. Since they’re hybrids, they’re much better than we are at handling the kinds of materials that’ll repel more beings from coming through the rift.”
Zian hefts a sack he must have carried with him from whatever vehicle they arrived in. “And we brought lots of it. Where do you want us to lay the stuff out?”
The demon turns to consider the rift. “Let’s lace the ground with silver and iron pellets all along this stretch of beach… Bury them under the pebbles so they’re not obvious. And also scatter them through the nooks in the outcroppings around the cove and beyond. We can hope this rift won’t wandertoomuch.”
The three shadowbloods move closer to the rift, the other two carrying bags of their own. Seeing the gleam of noxious metals in their hands, I step back, my skin creeping.
After they’re done laying the materials down, we won’t want to hang around the rift either. The portal might be indecisive, but those metals are all “push” when it comes to shadowkind. And very pushy about it.
If anything, the rift feels even more dithery now. The dissonant energy vibrates into my skin at a higher pitch.
Mirage cocks his head. “Is it excited to see them?”
Hail snorts, but Rollick’s forehead furrows. “The rift does seem to be reacting to our new arrivals. Or possibly to the metals. I’ll have to check with the shadowbloods at the city-side rift to see if a similar effect happened there.”
Jonah turns to me. “Did you find another creature out in the water?”
I duck my head apologetically. “I think so. It felt strange like the others do—it was definitely shadowkind. But it got scaredand rushed away. I don’t think it’ll bother anyone unless it morphs a lot. It mostly wanted to enjoy zooming around and to avoid anyone coming close to it.”
Rollick gives a rough chuckle. “One less thing to worry about, if it stays that way. You know, I’m thinking I should have you pay a visit to the collection I’ve amassed. I can observe what’s going on with their appearance and behavior, but not how they’re changing internally. If anything stays consistent that could help us manage their behavior—and keep both them and the other beings they might encounter safe—it’d be good to know.”
I draw myself up straighter. “Of course! Anything I can do to help.”
The demon casts his gaze toward the men around me. “Any objections to a detour on our way back to the academy?”
Amid the shaking heads, Hail lets out a scoff. “It isn’t as if we have much choice, is it?”
Guilt pricks at my gut, but Rollick simply gives the winter fae a narrow look and aims a smile at me. “Before we go, I think you might want to have a chat with Riva. She’s ended up marking a handful of gentlemen of her own by supernatural means. It’s possible she’ll be able to advise you on your unexpected situation.”
My spirits rise, but it’s hard not to wince at the eagerness I sense from all four of my men at his suggestion.
Theyallwant to break this bond between us. Even Raze.
