Page 76 of Shadow Mark

“Hello. So good to see you,” she said, her tone flat.

His expression softened as he reached for her, pulling her into an embrace. He kissed her forehead. “Apologies. It does my eyes good to see you. I have missed you.”

This was more like it.

“What messages? I haven’t gotten any messages from you,” Lenore said.

“Impossible.” Baris pulled out his tablet and frowned at the screen. He showed her the sent messages, all with green check marks to indicate that they had been delivered and read. “Internal communications are currently limited, but you did receive my invitation.”

“Nope.” Lenore grabbed her own tablet and showed him the empty mailbox. “Des told me that my outgoing messages are being screened for security, but he didn’t mention incoming.”

Baris made a displeased sound. “That is what he told me, but that is clearly not the case. I will have words with the male.”

“Maybe it’s a glitch?” Yeah, she realized how naive that sounded as soon as the words left her mouth.

“This has been going on for many days. It is deliberate.” Baris finally noticed her pajamas. “What are you wearing?”

“Honestly, I have no idea, but they’re cute.” Lenore gestured to the bright, cartoony print pajama bottoms featuring a chubby raccoon-like character running away with comically oversized snacks. “Lydia gave them to me. They’re so comfy.”

“Lydia is your friend from the theater?”

“That’s the one. You’re not trying to shame me about the pizza raccoon, are you? He’s got a family to feed.”

Baris looked as if he were about to ask for an explanation, but a caw snagged his attention. He immediately went to the karu. “Who is this?”

“Trouble. He’s been following me for a few days.”

The karu fluttered to the back of the sofa and looked ever so regal, not at all like he had been stealing Lenore’s dinner.

“We are honored by your presence, elder.” Baris dipped his head and extended his hand for the karu’s consideration.

“Careful. He’s a biter,” she warned.

Baris’ entire posture changed, moved by urgency. “Lenore, did he bite you?”

“Oh, he nipped at my hand. I wasn’t thinking and stuck my hand in while he was eating.”

“No. That’s not…show me your hands.” He grabbed her hands, holding them to the light for inspection. He scowled, somehow displeased. In an unsettling moment of clarity, she knew exactly how her patients felt.

“I’m fine. Not a scratch,” Lenore said.

He dropped her hands, sighing heavily as if disappointed.

Sorry for not getting mauled.

“What’s this invitation you mentioned?” she asked.

“Tomorrow, I wish you to accompany me to Miria for the winter ceremony.”

“A ceremony? Like a religious ceremony?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

He displayed both hands, palm up, in a gesture she knew meant uncertainty. “Karu are honored with offerings during the darkest days of the year. It is one of the few times the sacred temples of Miria are opened to all,” Baris said.

“Tomorrow? I have appointments.”

“Clearing your schedule will not be an issue.”

“I’m delighted you asked, but I wish you’d have told me ahead of time. Last-minute changes to my schedule aren’t fair to my patients.” The looky-loos booking appointments at the clinic had dropped off, easing the burden on her schedule and allowing her to spend time with actual patients. Rescheduling wasn’t respectful of their time.

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