Page 10 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

The child gave Stratton a puzzled look. It was then he realized she had no idea she was doing anything.

The ring’s light grew more and left purple sparkles dancing on the ceiling. The child pointed up and smiled wide. “It’s so pretty!”

“Then you’ll trade with me?” asked Stratton, wanting the goblin far from her.

Her smile faded, and her gaze leveled on him. A serious look came over her and the ring instantly stopped glowing. The abnormal lightning returned outside, this time brighter than before. “Listen here,Strat, I don’t go trading my best friends for nothing. Not even pretty rings. Got that?”

Drest doubled over, laughing so hard he barked.

Rachael lost her fight with tears and broke down sobbing, all while smiling. She looked to the window again as another streak of lightning moved through the sky.

“Got it,” Stratton blurted, only to realize the child had managed to worm her way under his armor in some fashion. He cared what happened to her and if she was safe or not. And he’d long since thought he’d forgotten how to care about anything or anyone.

“Good,” she responded, leaning against him.

The loud bangs and thuds returned from below, and then what sounded like a herd of elephants running at what Stratton could only guess was the basement door. A man appeared wearing a long black apron of sorts, and a pair of old-fashioned goggles pushed up on his forehead. He looked like a mad scientist who was only maybe thirty, if that.

Stratton knew this was Henry since there was no denying the family resemblance. He looked a hell of a lot like Victor, the very ancestor who had started all the problems for the family. The last time Stratton had seen Henry was when he’d only just been born. He’d been there when his parents had decided to name him after a family friend who had been murdered long, long ago.

When Henry saw Drest, he stiffened. “I’m not due for another inspection for three months. The inspectors werejusthere a little over a month ago. Go away.”

“Henry,” said Rachael to the man. “They have the right to come and go here as they please. You know the rules.”

“The rules are ridiculous,” said the man with a grunt. “Our family has a right to do what we want in peace.Theyare not followed around nonstop and given watchdogs, and the Nightshade Clan has far more death on their hands thanwedo. And this one,” Henry said, glaring at Drest, “is breaking all the rules his people put in place and he well knows it. Anyone who doubts as much has only to look at the state you’re in, sister.”

There was no mistaking the venom in his voice.

Drest groaned. “Henry, I’m not doing this with you again. This debate is getting old. You know the rules. Don’t push me. I really do not want to have to haul you in. Especially not with your wife’s recent passing. Amice understood how things worked. She never gave me any trouble, and she wouldn’t want this—you and I arguing. Especially not in front of—”

Stratton found himself drawing the child closer, wanting to keep her out of the argument.

Henry curled his lip as his gaze darted over the little girl. “Amice is gone. I don’t have to pretend to like it.”

Stratton stood fast and stepped toward the man. “Byityou mean your daughter?”

“She’s no daughter of mine,” snapped Henry, narrowing his gaze on the child.

The little girl picked then to try to dart around Stratton in an attempt to go to her father. “Daddy, can they stay for dinner with us?”

Henry made a move as if to push the child away with his foot, and Stratton lost it, slamming into the man and thrusting him back.

Drest was suddenly there, pulling Stratton off the other man. “Hey, take it easy!”

“He was going to hurt her,” said Stratton, panting, his anger rising more and more. He glared at Henry. “You so much as look cross at her and I’ll save the courts the time of trying you for whatever the hell you have going on downstairs. I’ll handle you myself.”

A calculated smile spread over the man’s face as he glanced toward the door of the basement. “I’m sure you’d like to think so.”

Another loud bang came from below right before the entire house shook again. The pictures moved more. A few even fell off and struck the floor, the glass shattering as they did. The lights flickered and then went out totally.

With the overcast day outside, it made it hard to see, especially with the way the home was built. Lightning flashed again, helping with visibility momentarily.

The overwhelming urge to get the child to safety struck Stratton hard. He went to lift her, only to stop as deep moans and crashing came from the basement.

The basement door exploded outward, directly at Stratton and the little girl. He pivoted, planting his body before hers as he bent, wrapping his arms tightly around her. The full weight of the door and its splintered aftermath slammed into Stratton from behind, shards of it embedding into his skin mere seconds before his magik surged. He was no stranger to pain. It was part of the job description.

In the next breath, Stratton was thrust away from the child, in the direction of the basement. He landed on his back and became very aware of the fact he had a piece of wood lodged in his back—probably more than one. It hurt like hell, but he didn’t care. His only worry was the child and figuring out whatever it was that had thrust him away from the little girl.

A massive, spindly shadow creature loomed over him, having no tangible form or shape to speak of. Two orbs of white light shone where eyes should have been. The white quickly shifted to bright yellow. Dark Fae energy radiated from the thing, setting off Stratton’s every inner alarm. He knew right away what the thing was—a goblin.

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