Page 35 of Gold & Shadow

“You have two minutes,” she warned, giving me a hard look. “Get all the mushy stuff out of the way before we return.”

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Orson caught my waist, turning me to him and capturing me in a searing kiss.

For a blissful moment, it didn’t matter that he was basically naked, covered in blood, and surrounded by our enemies in a criminal lair in the middle of the city. I was home.

“So you love me, huh?” he said when he finally pulled away, his hands still tight on my waist.

“I don’t believe we’ve concluded the crime portion of tonight’s agenda,” I said, indicating Victor’s slumped form as my heart beat a wild rhythm.

“Lis,” he murmured, brushing a strand of gold hair from my face and making me look at him. “I told you. No expectations.” He leaned down to kiss me, his other hand snaking into my hair. “You can tell me if this is all too fast.” He pressed a kiss to my jaw. “Or too slow.” Another kiss to my temple. “Or just right.” He brought his lips to mine again, his tongue sweeping in and washing away all of my fears and doubts.

“Youare just right,” I breathed, reaching up on my toes to nip his lower lip when he pulled away. I could hear Mora and Sera thumping loudly down the corridor to warn us of their imminent arrival and sighed. “Let’s finish this conversation when we are properly alone.”

“Fair,” he agreed with a grin, planting one final peck on my lips. “I’ll be holding you to that.”

“Are you decent, Lis?” Sera shouted through the door.

“Gods, come in, you heathens,” I sighed, adjusting the cloak again.

Sera tossed me the pack, keeping her eyes carefully away from my mate as he dressed in proper clothes, returning the cloak to me when he was fully covered.

“You can look now,” he told my sisters. “Just not too long. Lis gets a bit possessive.”

I gave him a withering glare, and he chuckled, throwing his arm around my shoulders and guiding me over to Victor’s slumped form.

He still looked dazed, his eyes not entirely focused on anything in particular.

“Gods, Mora,” I said, reaching down to check his pulse. He was alive, at least. “How much did you take?”

“It’s possible I went a smidge too far,” she confessed, wincing at me. “I think I may have wiped him completely.”

“You wiped all of his memories?” Sera asked, sounding horrified. She looked at Victor appraisingly, cocking her head. “Impressive.”

“I got a few things first,” Mora said conciliatorily. “He had three other amulets, but all went to private collectors. Their names should be in his records. He was also telling the truth about not knowing the name of his most recent buyer. He was…” she paused, frowning at Victor’s vacant face, “terrified of him. But no name or address. Just a deadline and a sense of dread.”

“Not what I was hoping for,” Orson said gruffly. “But it’s a start. Do you think you can find the other buyers, Mora?”

“Probably,” she said with a shrug. “His files are downstairs, along with enough gold to buy ourselves a palace in the city.”

“We are not keeping the gold,” I chastised, remembering Orson’s request that I give up crime. “Right?” I asked, turning to him for confirmation.

“I already put steps in motion to have it returned to its rightful hands,” Orson agreed. A distant hoot out the windows made me raise a brow at my mate. He grinned. “I’ll tell you later. Let’s get this information and get out before the whole city comes down on us.”

Chapter 18

“You all look terrible,” Izzy said, welcoming us back with her customary warmth. “I suppose you’ll be wanting breakfast?”

We had managed to sneak out of the building just as the High King’s Guard arrived, Commander Everhart looking thunderous as his subordinates stuttered over explanations.

He was a nice looking male, if only he were not quite so determined to arrest me andmy sisters.

Orson had carried us home in bear form, and the deep circles under his eyes told me he needed a very long nap after this. Perhaps one with me curled up next to him. The thought sent heat rushing through me, as I slid down from his back, my own exhaustion palpable.

We had been slower on the journey home. It was midmorning and I was starving. Mora and Sera went into the house bickering, Lena smiling at them with relief.

Orson shook, the fur replaced by scarred, tattooed skin as I threw his shirt and trousers at him.

“I’m giving your sisters a bit of a show, I fear,” he murmured, stuffing his feet into boots and throwing on a jacket and cloak.