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Rook’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a hug that should have triggered panic, and Ethan waited for it, because that was normal for him. But there was nothing. His face pressed against Rook’s shoulder, and he closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of leather and…cinnamon buns? The shadows surrounded them both, creating a cocoon that immediately made Ethan feel safe.

“You did good.” Rook’s voice rumbled against Ethan’s ear. “Fiona’s alive because you cared enough to keep looking, and didn’t stop when things got difficult.”

“All I did was smear some blood on a door. You and the others did the actual work.” Just thinking about it filled Ethan with the urge to wash his hands, but he wasn’t in a hurry to move out of Rook’s arms.

“We’ll agree we did it together then.” Rook’s hand moved to the back of Ethan’s neck, his thumb stroking just behind his ear. “That’s how this works. We’re partners.”

Ethan pulled back enough to look up at him. Rook’s expression was open, in a way that didn’t match the violence Ethan had witnessed earlier. Two things could exist simultaneously - the predator who’d disarmed a guard in seconds, and the person who’d baked focaccia because Ethan hadn’t eaten lunch - could be and were the same person.

“Partners,” Ethan repeated.

Rook’s gaze dropped to Ethan’s mouth. His hand tightened fractionally on Ethan’s neck, his thumb still tracing small circles. The shadows pressed closer, and Ethan realized that he wanted Rook to close the six inches between them.

Rook leaned down.

“We have a problem.” Thorn’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.

Rook’s forehead dropped to rest against Ethan’s, and he exhaled something that might have been a laugh or a curse. “Your timing is terrible.”

“Grant Voss is missing.” Thorn held up his phone, showing a news alert. “He was last seen leaving City Hall three hours ago. His vehicle was found abandoned near the port district.”

Ethan stepped out of Rook’s arms as his mind immediately started assessing the threat. “Is it possible Ashford or someone else warned him for some reason?”

“Or someone has eliminated him.” Silas looked up from his laptop. “If Ashford knows we’re moving against him, Voss becomes a liability.”

“Either way, we’ve lost our primary connection to Ashford.” Thorn’s expression darkened. “We need those other site locations now.”

“Or maybe,” Ethan suggested, taking another look at Rook, who gave him a small nod of encouragement, “you need to start investigating a bit closer to home first.”

“The local victims were saved tonight, including your friend Fiona.” Thorn looked confused, and so did Silas.

“Yes, and I’m very thankful for that, and I’m sure the people we rescued are, too.” Ethan nodded. “But you’re thinking about things from your perspective as all-powerful predatory shadow monsters. You’re not thinking from a human perspective.

“For example, how did Ashford know you guys even existed, or perhaps a better question would be, how did he know enough about who you were to know exactly what wards would actually burn your shadows? I doubt there’s a book in the library about that.”

Thorn and Silas were making a lot of heated eye glances at each other, although Rook was looking quietly smug, and Cillian was nodding.

“And just now,” Ethan continued when no one else said anything. “You said Voss disappeared three hours ago. We were all still here three hours ago - the rescue hadn’t even happened yet. So why did Voss feel threatened? It couldn’t have been because of the victims we rescued, because as far as Voss knew, they were still in shipping containers waiting for some evil freight company to pick them up. So why did he disappear?”

“I did mention that Ashford might have disappeared Voss himself,” Silas said quietly.

“But you didn’t say why, or are you thinking it’s just one hell of a coincidence? Ashford was having a bad day or something?” Ethan needed to think - he needed to take notes, to see it all laid out and then let his brain make sense of the whole mess. Clearly, shadow monsters had one-track minds, and at this rate it was going to be up to the humans to keep the all-powerful safe.

“I’m going to talk to Julian.” Ethan shook his head at Thorn and Silas, before smiling at Rook. “If you’ve got any coffee brewing, that would be really nice right about now. It looks like it’s going to be another long night.”

Waiting until Rook nodded, Ethan stalked off. He had a fairly good idea where Julian might be, and right now, he needed a human to talk to…and a bathroom. I’ll be able to think better if I wash my hands first – maybe more than once. Ethan shivered as he thought about his mucky hands and walked a bit faster.

Chapter Eleven

Rook assembled the French press with unnecessary force, grounds scattered across the counter in a pattern that would’ve embarrassed him if he weren’t too busy replaying the interrupted almost-kiss. His shadows wove around his ankles and half up his legs, equally frustrated.

“You’re making a mess.” Cillian appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.

“Your observation skills are extraordinary.”

“He’ll still be here in ten minutes.” Cillian moved to lean against the counter. “You don’t need to grind the beans into dust.”

Rook forced his hands to slow down. The beans were approaching powder consistency. “I’m fine.”