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“I bribed one of the guards to let me watch the security feeds. Your galwas on the tapes, playing the horses, looking distinctly frustrated. Had anargument with the staff about wanting better odds.”
“Sounds like she needs money. I’m Kaleb by the way.”
“Yeah, Shaw’s Conflict Demon that I’ve been hearing so much aboutlately.”
“That’s the one.” Kaleb acknowledged, a pleased smile gracing his prettyfeatures.
“What do you mean by that crack? He’s not my anything. Except alodestone around my neck for ten days whilst I get crazy hormonal Stephanie’sto-do list completed.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“Spill. What did you hear? And who’s doing the talking?” Shaw didn’tmind her battle exploits being discussed but despised the idea that detailsconcerning her personal life were being bandied about. Bad enough everyone knewthe tale of how she’d ruined her knee. Talk about embarrassing. But this wastoo much, and so off the mark.
“Everybody is talking, Shaw. Did you really think you could take yourDemon to Furies, J-Bar, Knife’s Edge, Hag’s Hearth or to Headquarters, and nothit every message board, insta-feed, or the canteen bulletin board?”
“We’re just working together, that’s all.” Shaw growled, her teethgrinding together in pure frustration.
“Well… you did introduce me to Zuri.” Kaleb reminded. “And take me hometo meet your parents.”
“You needed clothes and we needed to eat.”
“You could have gone to a store and locked him in the boot of your carhog-tied.” Monroe pointed out.
“That’s what I said.” Kaleb laughed, liking Monroe’s deadpan delivery,noting the slightest teasing glimmer lurking in those dark green depths.
“And now you’ve introduced him to me. That’s the whole family. Of courseeveryone’s going to be talking about you guys.”
“I didn’t introduce you. We’re here hunting a goblin, you’re on acontract and our paths just happen to cross. No one needs to know you’ve evenmet him.”
“What, and be left out?” Monroe, lightning fast, whipped around to theother side of the booth, smashed the side of her face against Kaleb’s, snappinga selfie of the two of them together.
“Why? Why?” Shaw moaned as her phone beeped, letting her know the photohad already been sent. Automatically glancing at the picture. Kaleb all goldenand dimples, Monroe stoic and intent. Grrr… little sisters.
“I’m sure I can think of any number of moments that require payback fromour childhood. What about the time you split my Maasai Warrior doll in two whenI was three?”
“By the Sword, I said I was sorry. It was my first time twirling my trainerhalberds. Besides, you were three! You should be over shit like that by now.”
“What can I say, Hunters are patient.”
“Other people might buy that mystic bad-ass apex Hunter persona youproject, but I know you’re just being a pain in my ass.”
“You guys are so much fun.” Kaleb laughed loudly, glancing between thesisters, noting their matching scowls. So fierce. So gorgeous. The Bengalawomen were a force to be reckoned with. Kaleb was having a blast. “And you…” Heabruptly leaned over into Monroe’s personal space, planting a quick kiss on hercheek. “… are a delight.”
“Hah.” Shaw crowed, flipping her phone around so Roe could see the photoshe’d managed to capture. The slightest glimmer of surprise on her sister’sface as Kaleb laid that kiss on her. “That is so going in my blackmail file.”
Monroe, out of all the sisters, was the one who had tagged after theirfather from almost the moment she could toddle. Watching him hunt. Learning thecraft. Imitating every move Tore made. Eventually, in some ways, perhaps evensurpassing him as a Hunter. To get photo evidence that even Monroe had theoccasional blind spot was pure gold. Yes, and it was all thanks to her Demon.Wait, what? Her Demon?
Oh, Freyja save her, did she actually have… feelings for Kaleb. Did she…?Could she be in…? No. No. No!
Shaw needed to kill something to get these distasteful thoughts thatwere suddenly lingering in the back of her head out. No, not kill something.Kill Kaleb. Yes, that would be the quickest way to solve her problem. Much easierthan having to sort through these weird new emotions and actually deal withthem. It was decided then. Shaw would tamp down on all these disgusting new,unwanted… feelings and kill Kaleb.
A loud metallic thud echoed through the den, causing some of thegamblers to actually look up from the gaming tables. Monroe slid out the booth,a pair of intricately designed flexible looking handcuffs suddenly in herhands. “That’s me. The Gruff is taking a run at the vault here. Loves the tasteof money. Predictable idiot. See ya. Don’t do anything with that photo.” Shewarned, before striding off, her expression so fiercely intent that evendegenerate gamblers had enough sense to get out of her way.
“So?” Shaw glanced across the table at Kaleb. She couldn’t kill himright now. Not in public.
“So, I think I have an idea where our goblin, Yashay, might be. If sheplays the ponies and is looking for better odds. I can think of at least twoplaces she is probably headed.”
Bugger, Shaw was forgetting Kaleb was still useful to her. And no, shetotally wasn’t going to acknowledge the sheer wave of relief that swept throughher as being related to anything, except that with the goblin almost in hergrasp, she would be so much closer to her goal of returning to thebattlefields.
