Page 35 (1/2)

Despite the situation, I was rather impressed at John’s attention to detail I wondered if he’d conjured it up hi a little in the black arts as a hobby as he’d occasionally been wont to do, or if he’d hired a ers, no matter who they were, but this was a coh level of appreciation I just hoped that it wasn’t impervious to silver The little dirk was secreted away in , so I pulled it offround the hilt I tugged on it to take it out, but it see, one of the seaed harder and was about to yank it free when a shadow suddenly fell across the desk and I heard Corrigan’s furious voice

"Just what the fuck are you doing now?"

Chapter Twenty Two

I sent an internal prayer of gratitude tosilver would be soed to fashion for His Great Lord Shiftiness couldn’t cover I straightened and blinked at him, a picture of innocence If all else fails, then try the truth, I ,to find a way to open this drawer"

I couldn’t fathoold eyes bored into hthat?"

"Well, it’s obvious isn’t?" I answered brusquely "The fact that we keep being targeted for attackthat the blue woive up Iabartu’s name to him just yet "This is the only place that I can think of that is locked and where therethat John would have hidden away If we can find it, then weand stopping it"

"An interesting conclusion, kitten," he ain I just barelymy eyes before he continued "And why," he said silkily, "didn’t you think to mention this drawer to ers, "I couldn’t find you And I was pretty sure that you’d have your hands full dealing with the death rites Second of all, if I’ in here apart fros, then I’d look pretty stupid Third of all, you’ve already made it pretty clear that you don’t trust est that I planted whatever was in there myself"

"I see," he drawled slowly "Ito differ on one point, however"

I waited A to ask him what that point was He still didn’t elaborate further Oh for fuck’s sake, fine then "And ould that be?" I finally asked

He smiled Was that a flicker of triumph? Bastard "I think you’ll find, kitten, that I do trust you And despite the fact that you’re the , unpredictable and difficult to control shifter I’ve ever come across, you do appear to have useful skills I’h to stay here in the countryside on your own before you e to cause complete devastation But I think that you’ve proven yourself enough for me to tell you that my offer to join me in London still stands"

Join me Not the Brethren Oh God Was that a deliberate choice of words on his part or did he just the Brethren as an extension of hih Iso that I could be absent when the keep was attacked?"

"M to have to tell me one day how you really did escape froet free, so I didn’t think I’d ever be able to tell him "I honestly have no idea, my lord," I answered truthfully "Perhaps it was just an old ring and didn’t have much power left"

"Yes, perhaps, kitten, perhaps" He stretched out his arms and linked his hands behind his head I was suddenly very aware of the stretch of the dark fabric of his t-shirt against his tanned muscular biceps

Irritation exploded out of

"I aritted teeth "I am a hamster And my name is Mack, not kitten"

"Well then, maybe I should just call you Hammy, instead," he purred

My sto withthat had happened, and all he’d already said and threatenedWhy me? This could not happen I’d rather face an army of ispolin than this

"Well then, hed, and opened his h time to put an end to this "My lord, perhaps you could help to open the drawer" And get your fingers frozen off instead of ht silently