Page 11 of Stubborn as a Shadow

“Hmm…” Gage stroked his chin as he paced in front of me.

Venus hadn’t asked for secrecy, although perhaps her turning to me instead of her SC colleagues suggested a desire for secrecy might be implied. I filled Gage in anyway.

The demon frowned when I finished. “I remember Venus, and I don’t recall there being any problems, but I’d like to ask around. You okay with that? Something about this doesn’t add up.”

I nodded. “Sure. But I think I’ll go anyway.”

Gage narrowed his eyes and studied me. “What do you know about this market?”

I frowned. “Nothing. But eventually someone somewhere will know something about Morgan. If I’m going to find him, I have to keep looking.” Iwouldcross paths with the unicorn eventually. According to the oracle’s vision, it was inevitable. ButI wasn’t content to sit back and wait for Morgan to come to me. “This market could give me a new lead.”

Gage grunted.

“I got the impression from Venus that this market was going to be old school,” I said, knowing Gage would understand what I meant.

If Venus was right, this kind of market would attract the most amoral of the supe community. Sinister alliances formed when those people got together. Destructive secrets were passed along. Heinous deals were made. And if any of those things involved a unicorn, this event could break my case wide open.

“Fuck.” Gage rubbed his forehead. “When you hear where it is, let me know. I’ll be your backup.”

“We both know it’d be better if I go in alone. I don’t know when an opportunity like this will come again. We can’t risk scaring them off, and you’re too recognizable.” I waved at his head.

His horns were always visible to supernatural beings. They couldn’t be disguised or hidden away. It also didn’t help that he’d been around for a long time. People knew who he was. The SC wasn’t the only organization to keep track of untethered demons, which is what he’d been for centuries until he found Willow Lake. They’d take one look at him and run, rather than risk getting caught doing something shady by a former SC agent. The Supernatural Council wasn’t something you ever really retired from, and everyone knew it.

“I don’t like you going solo to something like this,” Gage said.

“I’m better equipped to do this than most.”

He huffed. “Fine. We’ll figure it out when you find out more. But if something goes sideways, I’m sending the whole team in. I don’t care if people recognize me or not. We’ll fight through the blizzard if we have to.”

“The snow is forecast to hit tomorrow. It should be finished by the new moon,” I pointed out.

“That’s not the point I’m making, and you know it. Do you still have the tracker Van gave you?”

“Yeah. It’s sewn into my jacket. But it isn’t like I’m going solo. I’m sure the SC will have a crew around the area too.”

“They aren’t us,” Gage said. He dropped his hand to my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You deserve the best.”

I nodded and looked away. My eyes stung, but it was just from the cold. Really.

“Whatever happens, this info needs to be kept close.” I looked him in the eye. “Venus was a little fuzzy about the details, but she was calling me off the books. My being there isn’t SC sanctioned.”

All of us still had top-level clearance and could be seconded for missions. So it wasn’t like Icouldn’tbe read into jobs like this. Which made the situation even more curious.

“What the fuck is she up to?” He frowned. “Regardless, we’ll have your back. Always.”

I looked at him for a long moment before nodding. “Thanks.”

“And I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

Yeah. I hoped so too.

4

A NATURAL BORN SPY… OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT

MORGAN

“Dun, dun, dun-dun. Dun, dun, dun-dun,” I hummed as I guided my rental vehicle toward the front doors of the expensive hotel.