Page 191 of Shadowblood Souls
Jacob shrugs. “That’s the point, right? There won’t be an easy way for anyone to get touseither.”
His gaze slides to me, and his mouth slants in concern. “But if you think we shouldn’t take the chance…”
I grimace. I didn’t ask to be the deciding factor for the group, and I probably shouldn’t be when my dislike of open water is more instinctive than logical. “I don’t know. It just makes me nervous.”
Dominic rests his hand on the small of my back—a simple gesture, but one that sends a much more pleasant tingle through my body.
I like that he feels comfortable offering little gestures of affection. I like that I no longer panic at the thought of receiving them—from him, at least.
“It makes sense to be wary,” he says. “But if things getreallybad, there have to be life rafts and things like that. It’s hard to know where we’d be safe on land with how easily the guardians keep tracking us down.”
“Yeah.” I let out my breath in a huff. “Where did Rollick wander off to? Are we supposed to head on board or what?”
Andreas tips his head toward the other end of the pier. “Last I saw him, he was over by the harbor office. Maybe even monsters need to do paperwork.”
Zian guffaws at the wry remark. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, restlessness winding through my body, and turn.
“I’ll go see what’s going on with him. If there’s a problem, I want to know right away.”
Dominic’s touch falls away with my movement, and he reaches to grasp my hand instead. “I’ll come with you. It’s better if none of us go off on our own.”
Jacob jerks to stiffer attention. “I’mcoming.”
Zian steps forward too, hastily opening his mouth. “I can make sure?—”
I hold up my hands, stopping them in their tracks. “I don’t need a whole entourage. I can look aftermyselfjust fine, remember?”
And if the shadowkind are up to something, it’ll be a lot harder for me to slink over and find that out with my self-appointed bodyguards barging along after me.
Jacob grimaces, but I don’t give him a chance to argue. Tugging on Dominic’s hand, I set off toward the compact beige office building beyond the line of smaller boats.
Dom must sense my mood, because he keeps quiet as we approach the building. He’s always been the type to walk softly, so he’s really the perfect companion.
The fact that his closeness and our deepened connection make me a little giddy is just a bonus.
Rhythmic beats thrum through the walls of the office. Apparently no one in Miami is exempt from their dance music addiction.
The bass isn’t loud enough to totally drown out Rollick’s voice. I catch a few barely decipherable words and hustle closer as stealthily as I can.
We stop by the corner of the office building. Rollick is standing several feet beyond it near the edge of the main harborarea, gazing out over the rippling water as he talks into the phone at his ear.
“I’m hoping it won’t be too long. But this is an unpredictable situation.”
He means us. We’re the situation.
I cross my arms over my chest, wishing I could hear the other end of the call.
Rollick pauses while his conversation partner must speak, his head bowing. A little of his typical cool confidence has fallen from his stance, as if what the other person says could alter his plans.
I always thought the demon was the man in charge around here. Does he have his own boss that he answers to?
Then he lets out a chuckle that’s almost gentle, his voice dipping as well. “You know I’d rather not be away from you any longer than I can help, Quinn. I’ll be sure to make it up to youverythoroughly the next time we’re together.”
My cheeks flush. Oh. I can tell by his tone that he isn’t talking to a superior but to a lover.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” he goes on. “Some of my associates panic too easily. I won’t keep Torrent away too long either. And you know you can call either of us any time. If you need us, we’ll be there.”
The unmistakable affection in his words calms my nerves. Rollick is capable of caring aboutsomething, clearly.
