Page 76 of Changeling
Nathan shrugged. “Dude, we’ve had our fair share of run-ins with crazed psycho seals, and just plain crazy or bigoted humans…trust me.” He thought of Pete then quickly shook the memories away. “You can say it. People are assholes—human, seal, or otherwise in the right circumstances.”
“Uh…hi. I’m Jim,” came the sudden interruption of Jim’s voice. He extended a hand toward Cam and they shook amiably. “I’m Nathan’s brother.”
“My sympathies,” Cam teased. “I grew up with Sasha, if that wasn’t obvious yet. And seriously, Charis had only good things to say about you guys. Of course I also got the Lindsey version, which basically paints you as those same crazed psycho seals who at any moment might kill Sasha in his sleep. But…whacha gonna do?
“Anyway, we should probably split. The security guy is bound to waddle this way soon, plus I doubt you’ll find anything just looking over the place at night. Been trying the same for a week. I was here half an hour before you guys showed up tonight and nothing. ‘Course I don’t have one a those things,” he added, pointing toward Nathan’s jacket where the scanner was stashed.
“Oh, the scanner just picks up on pheromones,” Nathan shrugged, “so it was blinking for you. Don’t get why it didn’t warn me until you were literally on top of me, though. It’s usually got better range than that. ”
“Must be from the same thing that’s blocking me,” Jim said. He looked to Cam. “I don’t know if you know this, but—”
“You’re a changeling. I’ve heard.”
Jim’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly pressed on. “Well, I can usually sense things pretty well, but something about whatever is here…whether here right now, or…I don’tknow, but it’s blocking out everything else. I can barely sense you even standing right in front of me.”
“Must be dark sidhe again,” Sasha said solemnly.
“I think so too, but I’ve been able to sense sidhe just fine lately. There must be something else about this one.”
“Darksidhe?” Cam balked. “Seriously? But—”
“We’ll fill you in,” Nathan interrupted. “Right now I think you’re right. We should go.”
Together, the four of them quickly and as quietly as possible headed back out the way Nathan and others had first come in. Once they reached the door and snuck back out into the night, Nathan turned to Cam.
“So, who’s this friend who asked you to check out the school anyway?”
“Oh, she’s this chick I’ve been seeing the past couple of months. Cool girl. Has a shop by the 7thstreet bridge. Said she knows you guys.”
Nathan stopped cold then shook his head with a grimace. “Fucking psychics.”
Chapter 31
“Wade’slittlebrotherisa senior at the high school,” Cam said casually, as if it wasn’t a complete revelation that Wade even had family.
They had returned to Nathan and the others’ motel room, a nicer place for once since they had dropped Wade’s name and got an impressive rate. Nathan always wondered why Wade’s name carried so much clout in town, but figured it was better not to ask.
“I’m not the type to go looking for this stuff,” Cam went on, “but I’m not about to turn the other cheek if I run into it, either, and especially not after Wade asked. The kid’s been helpful, too. You’ll wanna talk to him.”
“Did he have an encounter?” Sasha asked. “Lose a friend or something?”
Cam made a slightly amused face and bit his lip. “He’s in the musical. Lead guy, even. Figures if things don’t get solved soon, he might be next. You can understand why Wade is concerned.”
“I still can’t believe Wade never mentioned she had a younger brother,” Nathan said, lounging on the sofa beside Sasha, while Cam occupied a nearby chair. “We’ve known her for years. The two of usdated.”
“To be fair,” Jim interrupted from where he was browsing on Sasha’s laptop at the table, “you had a few consecutive weeks of sex while we were staying in the area. I don’t think you ever actually went out…anywhere.”
“We…” Nathan began then realized he couldn’t think of much of a comeback, so he settled back into his seat. He kicked Sasha for good measure when the incubus chuckled.
“Well the way she put it is she prefers to keep the kid out of her work life,” Cam said. “She deals with dangerous people sometimes. And the occasional incubus,” he smirked. “She first mentioned him to me only when she was asking for help about these murders.”
“I think the school website has things wrong,” Jim commented. “It says the role of Radames, the male romantic lead, is being played byEvelynTaylor.”
“That’s him,” Cam nodded. “Everyone calls him Leven. Teachers too. Only one who doesn’t is his sister.”
Sasha scooted to the edge of the sofa closer to Cam. “So are you going to help us out, then? We could use the extra hands. And you know the area. And the people. So I thought maybe—”
“Sash,” Cam cut in with a raised hand to silence his friend. “You know I hate this stuff.And…you should also know that there is no way I can stay out of it now. I’m too involved. It would kinda put a damper on things if the girl I’m boinking’s brother croaked. Besides, I like the kid. I figure I can help you out a little. Just this once.” He grinned wide, an expression that Sasha mirrored with relish.
