Shadow's End by Thea Harrison Read Free Book Online

“I see.”
    Of course he didn’t see. That was merely one of the things he said when he felt the need to say something instead of remaining silent. He had always found it to be one of the most useful phrases in his repertoire when speaking to members of the fairer sex, who, truthfully, were some of the most mysterious creatures ever created by the gods.
    â€œYou’re a convenience,” she whispered. “That’s all. I can handle my issues by myself.”
    Ah. He thought he began to get a glimmer. That sounded like worried pride. Sometimes it could be hard to accept help.
    â€œBel,” he said gently, giving her hand a squeeze. “I neverpresumed anything different. You can send me away at any point you like, but if my help will halve your trouble or ease your path in any way, I’m honored to be of assistance. What
can
I do for you?”
    She didn’t appear to mind that he had dropped all formality. Her shoulders straightened as she took a deep breath and again gave him a sidelong look.
    Then her telepathic voice sounded.
If you don’t mind, I would rather not discuss such a sensitive subject aloud.
    Caught by surprise, he fell into enchantment. Carrying something of her physical demeanor, her mental voice sounded bright and silvery.
    He felt almost as if he had looked up and caught an unexpected glimpse of sunlight flashing on a starling’s wing as it flew overhead. Her telepathic voice was entirely and uniquely her, and she was inside his head.
    She seemed to be waiting for something. With a start, he realized she was waiting for his response.
    â€œOf course,” he said. “Of course” belonged alongside “I see” in his repertoire of generic responses. Shaking his head, he amended that to something more meaningful as he switched to telepathy.
I mean, of course, telepathy is the best way to keep something private.
    I need to go to some place called Malfeasance.
Her expression settled into lines of determination.
While I could do that on my own—and would, if I had to—it would be easier if I had a male to escort me. If we went together, I could hopefully do what I need to do with a minimum of fuss and attention.
    Malfeasance,
he repeated. His own mood turned grim.
You mean the gaming hell.
    She jerked her head in a nod.
Yes.
Switching to verbal speech, she said, “There’s one of my attendants. Lianne?”
    While she had kept her voice quiet, the cloaked Elven woman several yards away turned toward them and approached with quick, light steps. “Yes, my lady.”
    Giving his arm a quick squeeze, Bel slipped from hisside and stepped forward to meet the other woman. They went silent, looking into each other’s eyes.
    Troubled, Graydon glanced around to make sure no one paid them any undue attention. When he was satisfied, he turned his attention back to the women while he considered what little Bel had revealed thus far.
    London was littered with social clubs and houses of chance, but Malfeasance was not just any gaming hell. It was located in the most notorious part of London and, Graydon had heard, was run by a pariah Djinn named Malphas.
    While the Djinn could take physical shape if they chose, at their essence, they were Powerful creatures of air and fire. Social by nature, they had an elaborate community structure and traded in favors as their form of commerce.
    Because of that, keeping their word meant a great deal to the Djinn, except their pariahs were an entirely different kind of creature. As social outcasts, they were not to be trusted to keep their word, yet they were still extremely Powerful, which made them very dangerous.
    Why did Bel feel the need to go there, of all places? Did she know that Malfeasance was run by a pariah Djinn?
    The Elder Races weren’t like human society, with its unfair and unrealistic restrictions on women. It would have been perfectly acceptable for Bel to walk into Malfeasance on her