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

under the table. Look, I really need to get out of here.” She finished lamely.
    “Now you know we can’t take no chances, and we don’t want no trouble, be off with you.” He waved her away. Standing there watching her to make sure she left.
    Beyond disappointed, Maggie looked to the last ship in dock as her heart sank. It was some kind of historic ship with actual sails. There was a lot of activity, crates being loaded, men coming and going but something about it made her nervous.
    Resolving to put her worries aside, nothing on that ship could be worse than the fate waiting for her back at the townhouse; she squared her shoulders and approached a grizzled man in canvas pants and a navy pea coat.
    Giving him the same spiel, she was dejected when he turned her away. A bench beckoned, and she made her way there, sitting, staring at the water, trying to decide what to do. A huge raven caught her eye, cawing as it flew over the ship, hovering near an open hatch.
    Maggie jumped up, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was paying any attention to her and walked to the port side of the ship. It looked like some type of gun or cannon should be there, ready to fire on the town. Didn’t matter what belonged in the opening as long as she could use it to get inside.
    There was a rope hanging down, lightly banging against the side of the ship. Today was the day, her luck was changing. Backing up, she ran and jumped, grabbing the rope, her heart pounding out of her chest, hand throbbing. Banging her injured shoulder hard against the hull made her stomach heave. Nausea threatened to overtake her, the pain of her injured shoulder and hand causing her to see spots in front of her eyes. Waiting a moment to settle her stomach, she reached up, pulling her body up the rope.
    Shoulder burning, blood seeping through the makeshift bandage wrapped around her hand, she stopped to rest a few minutes, swinging in time to the rocking of the ship, exposed in the cold air. Her hand hurt so badly she thought she was going to pass out. Reaching deep within, Maggie found the place inside where she went whenever things were bad. Closing her eyes, she gave herself over. As her stomach settled down, she opened her eyes, set her jaw, and pulled herself up the rope.
    Halfway there; she was going to make it. Maggie’s teeth were chattering, her hands and feet numb. The rope had red stains on it from the cut on her hand. At least she was so cold it only throbbed, the pain gone. Some part of her brain yelled out, warning her she was on her way to freezing to death if she didn’t get inside soon. Thankful for her years on the streets, she let the wind pass through her, telling her body it was a warm summer breeze instead of a biting wind. Nothing mattered except getting inside. Keep going; you’re losing the feeling in your hands and if you fall you’ll land in the icy, unforgiving water and be dead in minutes.
    The last several feet were excruciating as she pulled her tired body onto the platform. Hearing noises below, she scooted the rest of the way in and scuttled out of sight. The interior was dark, the faint bulbs casting strange shadows on the walls. One of the crates was open and yes, that was some kind of gun on the floor. Huh, must be a really good replica. Too tired to care or to shrug out of her wet clothing, she staggered to a corner. There she pulled a canvas tarp over her head and fell asleep, exhausted.
    Briefly, she came to, feeling the motion of the ship gently vibrating through her bones. Heaving a heavy sigh of relief, she didn’t care where it was going, hoped somewhere far away. Only cared they were finally moving, and neither Solien, Bruce—or anyone else—didn’t know where she was. The gentle thrumming of the ship sent her back into a dreamless sleep.
     
     
    “Find her. Keep it quiet, I don’t know what kind of trouble she’s in, but it must be bad to crawl through the sewers in winter.”
    Robert snapped his mobile