Page 151 of Cold Curses

I knew his casual vibe was partly to keep me calm, which was one of his particular skills. I was the list maker, the box checker. At least until the fight started and the adrenaline began to flow.

I nodded, unsure. I still felt like I’d missed something.

Connor leaned over, lips brushing against my ear. “And when this is over,” he said, voice low and full of magic, “we discuss wedding and honeymoon plans.”

The tone, the words, the promising brush of skin against skin were enough to have my heart beating faster for an entirely different reason now.

“Quit flirting,” I said. “Or I’ll start talking aboutAvengersagain.”

“More flirting is not a deterrent,” he said with a grin, and nipped my ear.

* * *

The port looked, even in the best light, like a zombie-movie setting. It was empty and silent, all movement stopped. Forklifts had been abandoned midload, their boxes perched in midair.

We stopped just inside the gate, those huge letters loomingominously over us, spotlit for the employees who wouldn’t be coming to work tonight. Which really worked out for the best.

I climbed out, belted on my scabbard. Checked that it was secure enough to allow for an easy draw. And damn if Bloodletter wasn’t excited.

Alexei, Lulu, and Dan jumped out of a second vehicle. Both shifters were in a wolf form.

“I hope they let you drive,” I told Lulu.

“He drove,” she said, gesturing at Alexei. “Human form but naked the entire way.”

Yeah. That checked out.

“Thanks for coming,” I said, and gave him a scratch between the ears.

Gwen trotted over.

“Kieran?” Connor asked, and some of the earlier chill had fallen from his eyes.

“Alive,” she said, voice flat. Connor wasn’t the only one now in business mode. “But he’s not looking good. That silver does a number on shifters.”

“We need to get him out of there as soon as possible,” Connor said.

I nodded. “He’s your priority. Lulu’s going to break through that magic. Dan, Alexei, and you are going to get him to safety.” And since they couldn’t actually touch the chains, a group of CPD uniforms would assist.

“And who will prioritize you?” Connor asked.

“We will,” said Gwen as Petra joined her.

“My girls will,” I said, adrenaline moving now. “Let’s toast this asshole.”

* * *

I went in first, since I was the one Black wanted. I walked slowly toward the building where Kieran had been bound. There wasmagic in the air, some of it demonic, but all of it Black’s. I sensed no other demons; they were probably smart enough to avoid him now.

Kieran was chained; he wore shorts and a T-shirt in the evening chill. All of his visible skin was bruised, but I didn’t know if that was from Black’s treatment or the chains.

Black stood nearby, watched me approach. He wore a suit again today, but as I moved closer, I could see his clothes were dirty and rumpled. We knew from the continued surveillance that he hadn’t been home; apparently, he didn’t have another hideout.

The obsidian streaks that marked his skin had lengthened overnight and now stretched above his jawline like claws reaching up. The rest of his skin looked paler than usual, and there were shadows beneath his eyes.

I considered my approach. He wouldn’t buy “damsel in distress” from me. But he might buy “This will get my boyfriend in trouble.”

“Spread a little love,” I quietly told monster. And got a tap in reply.