Page 13 of The Goblin in the Sink Drain
In that moment, her eyes alight with mischief, I couldn’t have loved Sloane more if I tried.
On silent feet, Rían backed away, guiding me where to step. I was nowhere near as quiet as him, but the tips worked their magic. He and I crept out the door someone, probably Sloane, had left propped open with a brick used for that purpose. I bent and set Tara’s phone on top of it, just in case.
“We won’t have long.” Rían covered the distance in strides that ate up the ground. “Liam won’t fall for her baiting much longer.”
“You noticed it too, huh?”
“I’m not half as oblivious as everyone seems to believe.” His lips twitched up on one side. “Though the eye color does help convince people I’m blind to everything.” He chuckled like it was a joke, but a hint of his earlier insecurity leaked through. The subtle opening to ask him about his eyes tempted me, but he had been so accepting of me, I didn’t want him thinking I was waiting to judge him. He gave it a minute then exhaled softly in relief or disappointment, I wasn’t sure. “Underestimation is a handy weapon, especially for someone like me.”
His more casual style was so far removed from the militaristic way my dad ran his pack, I just might have fallen into a trap Rían set for his enemies. Underestimation indeed.
We hit the loop at a jog, oriented ourselves to where the abduction occurred, and pinpointed the spot.
Armed with the blanket Sloane had tossed me, I filled my lungs with the smell of Frenchie and isolated the most recent scent trail. I had taken one step in that direction when Rían caught me by the wrist.
“I hope I didn’t overstep.” He reached into his pocket. “I brought these, just in case.” Flipping my hand over, he unspooled a length of silver chain in my palm. “I looked for a holster, but I couldn’t find one.”
My claws.
I couldn’t believe he brought them for me. Especially at the cost of the mild burns on his skin.
Silver didn’t bother me, unless I cut myself on it. Even then, I suffered a mild reaction compared to most shifters. I had blamed it on being a latent, but perhaps it was also true of dragons who had yet to fledge. Not that I was convinced I fell into that category. I wanted it too much to believe it without any proof.
“I don’t have one.” I closed my fingers over them as gratitude swelled within me. “Now that I live in Brentwood, I don’t have to keep them on me.” The pack didn’t bother me in town. Too many humans plus my security detail acted as a strong deterrent. “I leave them at home in the window.” The simple, elegant design of the claws paired with the intricate chains and buckles fooled people into thinking they were a modernist wind chime. “How did you know I would need these?”
“Until you can summon and wield fire, you need a weapon.”
“You really believe I’m a dragon.” I heard the ache in my voice and wished I had disguised it better. “Guess we’ll see who’s right soon enough.” I lifted the claws. “Thanks again.”
Pivoting away from him, I gathered his faith in me tight as he went hunting Lon’s attacker. As I began searching for the Frenchie, confidence thrummed through me, his trust a warm blanket thrown across a lifetime of cold shoulders.
five
As luck would have it,Mephistopheles got his leash tangled around a tree only a quarter mile from the loop. The poor little guy had worked himself up until he had trouble drawing in a clear breath. I cut the leash to save time unknotting it and lifted him against my chest where I could calm him better.
Too bad I was out of the homemade peanut butter treats I usually carried on me for clients. If we stayed with Rían much longer, I would have to commandeer his kitchen so I could restock my supply. I could do cookies—maybe s’mores in honor of Goldie—while I was already baking or cook him dinner one night to say thanks for his hospitality.
“You’re okay.” I inspected him for injuries. “I’ve got you.”
The way he snuffled me, tail wagging, convinced me his owner was a shifter.
Otherwise, the scent of a predator would have set his fur bristling.
“Oh, man.” Sloane burst into the clearing. “I swear Liam’s head spun like a top when he noticed y’all had slipped away without him.” A spring in her step told me how much she had enjoyed the show. “I left him watching the security feeds onTara’s phone to soothe his ego while I came to fetch you and Rían.”
“You didn’t run into Rían on your way here?”
“I haven’t seen him since you guys left.” She shook her head at my pinched expression. “He can take care of himself, Ana. He’s a freakingdragon. He could just eat anyone who looks at him funny.”
Except she hadn’t seen him bleeding out in the potting shed, proof dragon blood didn’t make him invincible.
“I didn’t bring my phone, or I could—” I shifted the squirming Frenchie onto my other hip. “Never mind.” I had glossed over a critical detail. “I don’t have his number.”
With Brentwood in a temporary tech blackout while the Walshes settled in, I hadn’t even thought of it.
“I have my cell, but I don’t have his number either.” She puffed out her cheeks. “We’ll look for him on the way back, but if we can’t find him, we’ll have Liam dial him up and get a status update.”
“Works for me.” I had confidence I could locate him. I had spent enough time in close quarters with him to recognize his scent. “Let’s circle back to the abduction site. I can pick up his direction from there.”
