Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) by Cynthia Luhrs Read Free Book Online Page A

wasn’t true at all. A ruse to keep the Shadow Walkers in line.
    Why didn’t she run like most normal humans? Why did she have to help him? If she’d gone on her merry way, tomorrow his life would be back to normal instead of completely cocked up. He spotted the grate. Investigating, he lifted it up. The smell rose to meet him. Yep, that was the scent of his lovely lady. What was she doing down in the sewer? What modern-day woman would willingly crawl through raw sewage…unless she was in some kind of fearsome trouble?
    Bloody hell.
    These were dangerous times; he couldn’t leave her alone if she was in danger. Swearing a blue streak, some rather inventive curses he’d learned at sea, he answered his own question. No matter how angry and pissed he was she’d interfered, he wouldn’t leave a damsel in distress.
    He’d find her and help her. They’d break the curse. No way was he turning wraith, he loved this life. Robert would simply bargain with Thorne for everything to go back the way it was.
    Give up his immortal life—not bloody likely.

Chapter 8

     
     
    The damp cobblestones threatened to trip Maggie as she ran blindly down the street. The temperature had dropped. A fine sheen of ice formed in patches making her slip. The trainers she wore weren’t meant for ice or snow. The sky was growing darker, a dusky gray, shutting out the weak sunlight. The wind whistled through her ripped hoodie and wet jeans, chilling her to the bone.
    Of all the horrible luck in the world. How could she run into, let alone save the man who scared her as much as her captors? Even worse, her stupid body was too busy being attracted to him to be frightened. Remembering the incident, her head screamed warnings to run while her insides turned to liquid chocolate when she touched him. Why couldn’t he be one of the good guys? Someone she could trust to help her? And what would it be like to kiss him? There wasn’t time for thinking about Robert, not while she was in danger. Maybe she’d truly lost her mind. Wanting to scream in frustration as her brain agreed with her body, Maggie appealed to a higher power.
    “Whoever’s listening up there, great sense of humor you’ve got, thanks for nothing.”
    A nice, warm bed and a cup of tea would be lovely. Banishing the thought, she couldn’t stop now. If she didn’t get out of the country, her captors would find her. Side aching, she slowed to a fast walk, breathing deeply, taking in her surroundings. Finally, almost to the Leith docks. Funny, she didn’t remember making the last two turns. Maybe her subconscious directed her feet to find sanctuary.
    On an empty bench ahead of her…she moved closer. Thank goodness. A dark wool coat, forgotten or left by someone. Not caring, she put it on. It was too big but no matter, would keep her from freezing. Maybe someone above was listening.
    The first ship she came to was some kind of container ship. The crew was adamant there was nothing for her unless she had ten thousand quid on her. It was hard to smuggle paying customers without passports aboard and most had no use for a mere woman wanting free passage.
    Transportation was becoming difficult. Airports had severely slashed the number of flights going in and out of the country and travel documents were scrutinized for any signs of forgery. Maggie didn’t own a passport. As a kid in the system, then out on the streets, she wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to get one. Listing a townhouse full of killers for her address would get her shipped off to the asylum by the men in white coats.
    The second was a private yacht. A man who looked to be in his late fifties, wearing a white uniform was loading food onto the ship. Maybe he could help.
    “Hello there, I was wondering if you might be hiring? I’m looking for passage out of Scotland in exchange for work. Whatever you need—I can cook, clean, and sew.”
    “Oy there, Miss. Do you have your papers?”
    “Um, no, I was hoping to work