Cronin's Key by N.R. Walker Read Free Book Online

room?”
    Cronin’s smile faltered. “Yes…” He looked at his bedroom door, hesitated for a moment, then stepped across the hall. He pushed the handle, letting the door swing open, but didn’t walk inside.
    Alec stepped up to him, closer than was strictly necessary, before brushing past him. The room was dark, too dark for a human, and Alec only made it a step. “Have you got lights?”
    Cronin flipped the switch. The room was furnished similarly to the other bedroom: large bed, luxurious black and gray bedcovers, matching drapes. Alec seemed to inspect the drapes, but they were of no use. The large window had been blacked out.
    Not a sliver of light, a perfect seal.
    Alec touched the covered glass. “Not a morning person, I take it?”
    Cronin, who was nervous at Alec being in his private quarters, relaxed. “Is that you trying to be funny?”
    Alec chuckled, seemingly pleased at having his own words repeated back to him. He looked again at the window. “I bet the window people who covered that thought you were mad,” Alec said. “Obscuring one of the most sought-after views in New York City.”
    Cronin shrugged. “They believed, as do my cleaning and laundry staff, and the concierge and doormen, that I’m a financial broker. I travel a lot, and keep unusual hours, trading mostly in the London and Brunei time zones.” He smirked at the look of surprise on Alec’s face. “Not that it matters. I pay them enough to not ask questions.”
    Alec nodded. “Makes sense.” Then he walked over to the far wall. It was a huge master bedroom, bigger than most Cronin had ever lived in. The far wall was bare except for one shelf at chest height. It was only five foot long, small in comparison to the vast blank wall, but it commanded presence. Because on the shelf, on little stands so they stood in perfect view, was an ax and a helmet.
    Alec inspected the iron ax. Banged-up and crude, the blade curved, with a reverse spike on the head of it. The oak handle looked almost petrified now, and Alec raised his hand to gently touch one finger to it. Next to the ax, the helmet was made of a similar quality of iron. Merely an oval in shape, bent and held with an iron band to mold around a skull, it was dented, with a strip of iron that protruded downward to protect the nose, which was almost comical, Cronin granted. Protecting the nose did little good when the ax had gone through his chest.
    They were fascinating, rudimentary, and Cronin could see Alec was in awe of them.
    Cronin watched all of this in silence, as a wide-eyed Alec turned to face him. He was sure the human had a hundred questions—the man had questions at every turn—but yet he said nothing. He just blinked and shook his head, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
    Cronin didn’t have to tell Alec that these weapons were his, that they took pride of place in his private bed chambers because he’d used them in war when he was human. Somehow, it seemed, Alec already knew.
    Cronin assumed it had been one thing to be told of his age, but to see such relics, such human artifacts—well over a thousand years old—made it very, very real. Alec swallowed hard and licked his lips. “Um… shower,” he mumbled, walking distractedly out of the room.
    After a few minutes, when Cronin heard the water start in the shower, he laid a change of clothes on Alec’s bed. He wasn’t sure if they’d fit exactly, and made a mental note that getting some personal effects for Alec would be in order.
    He walked back out to find Jodis in the kitchen. She beamed at him. “My dear friend, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see you with him finally.”
    Cronin took a sharp breath and let it out with a laugh. “Today is a better day. He seems able to stand me, at least.”
    “Stand you? Is he not smitten already?” Jodis laughed musically, and Cronin ducked his head. “Eiji and I will leave you in peace tonight.”
    Cronin pretended he wasn’t embarrassed by what she