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“What for?” Gage snapped. “We did our part, and you promised to show us where the collector was tonight.”
“You’ve kept your word, and I promise we will too,” Reed said while the wind tossed his honey-brown hair against his back like a cape. Funny how I found his long mane attractive. I ran my fingers through my short style, sitting over my shoulders. Back in the tower, Gingernuts adored his tresses. I couldn’t wait to find a way to be free of my long hair for good. Then again, I never got a choice in my hairstyle or anything else in life.
“I’ll help,” I said.
“Elliana,” Gage said, but I shook my head. I’d grown up praying for salvation, and I’d promised myself if I ever escaped, I’d assist anyone in trouble. So now was my turn to keep my word. Plus, it might gain me favor with the universe.
A surprised expression hooded Reed’s eyes.
“We can wait another night to see the collector,” I suggested, smiling at Gage, who crossed his arms. “Those kidnapped shifters are in danger now.” I faced Reed. “Tell me what I can do.”
Reed’s eyes showed the gentle concern my dad used whenever we’d speak about fixing a problem. “Well, Gage mentioned to Kahlo last night you were great at sneaking into placed undetected. Quick and nimble.”
I glared at Gage, who refused to meet my gaze. “Are you pimping out my services?”
“Is it not true?” Kahlo asked, his voice damn husky and sexy. Why did he have to sound so delicious?
“We’ve been watching the mansion most of today,” Reed added. “No one entered or left the mansion, but it gave me time to think. Only shifters are being kidnapped. And this section of Darkwoods has very few humans. So what if the ward on the house was placed to only keep out shifters? Not humans.”
“Sounds like a long shot.” Gage exhaled loudly.
“Worth trying before we get a witch involved,” Reed added. “Our other option is to ambush anyone in the woods who looks like they’re headed to the house on Sharp Lookout and grill them.”
You know you’ll help them, no matter what Gage or I say?
Of course I would. It didn’t require, though, because this was a surveillance scenario. Besides, if the ward remained, then I’d lose nothing—maybe get a small shock. And I couldn’t walk away from Reed. Sure, it had a little to do with my attraction to him, my admiration of the way Khalo watched me, but mostly it was for those kidnapped. Were they locked up in a prison, terrified? Or being tortured? What else would someone steal another person for?
“I’ll do it.” The simplest of the options was the most obvious, and it cost me nothing but time to head over to the mansion with the men.
“Okay, we go now,” Kahlo said, his hooded eyes fixed on me as they had been the previous night. Had Reed told him I lived in a tower, guarded by a gargoyle with crazy long hair that vanished at night? Yep, my life story sure sounded insane.
“And thank you.” Kahlo offered me a slight bow as he had before, reminding me of royalty, full of respect and honor. Was it a tiger trait? Didn’t matter when I loved his gesture. I offered him a quick smile.
“This way.” Reed ushered Gage and me to join them. We hurried across the barren field.
“What’s the plan?” I asked. “Say I can cross the magical barrier, what then?”
“Sneak around and see what you find out. No interacting with anyone. It’s just a spying mission to understand who we’re dealing with,” Kahlo instructed. “At the first sign of trouble, you run, and we’ll be there to take on whoever follows. All right?”
I nodded, reminded of my missions with Dad. As a team, we’d completed each job. Working with others felt both familiar and comforting. “Got it.”
You sure about this? Sounds risky and could go so wrong.
“I’m sure. What could go wrong?”
“Sorry?” Reed stared my way.
“Just saying it seems like a simple mission. A few days ago, I broke into a lord’s home and took a book on gargoyles. Didn’t get caught, so this would be a tea party.”
“You stole from a royal lord? That was brazen.” It was clear from Kahlo’s voice that he wasn’t judging me, not when he stared at me with smiling eyes. Damn, he was gorgeous in that dark brooding way that made me want to sit back and just stare at the way he moved, the way the edges of his mouth twitched when he spoke. And dressing in all black just added to that mysterious side of him.
Then again, the dangerously sexy Reed and protective Gage had me daydreaming. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be anywhere else but with these three. Powerful. Strong. What would it be like to have three men all to myself?
Crazy thoughts!
I huffed, unsure I could make sense of my emotions, so I focused on the task at hand. The fantasy was mine, and if I wanted to imagine myself with ten men, so be it. I smirked to myself when I caught Gage watching me with a quizzical expression.
With my chin high, I pushed forward and marched between him and Reed while Kahlo took the lead.
