Unbinding by Eileen Wilks Read Free Book Online Page A

with—”
    “Now, that’s short-sighted,” Nathan said. “I know a lot about magic.”
    “I’ve got Seabourne for the woo-woo stuff.”
    “I have knowledge that Cullen doesn’t.”
    Ackleford knew that Nathan was sidhe and that he served the Queen of Winter. Not that he understood who and what Winter was, no more than he knew what exactly Nathan was. But he had at least been told about her. “This have something to do with your elf queen?”
    “I don’t know yet.”
    “You get your visa problem straightened out?”
    “I’m all official now.” Nathan had a passport issued by the Queen of Winter, but getting an entry stamp had been a bit of a problem. He hadn’t come into the U.S. in the usual way, for one thing. For another, other realms had been myth to the people here for a long time. That had changed, but while the U.S. had recently altered the legal definition of “country” to include nation-states not part of Earth, the rest of the legal apparatus hadn’t caught up yet. In the end, the secretary of state had had to issue a special allowance.
    “That helps, but—” Ackleford looked at Cullen. “Seabourne? You want him underfoot?”
    “Hell, yes. Were you really considering not using him?”
    “Hell, yes. But if you want him, I can live with it. You.” He jabbed a finger at Dell. “Who are you, and why are you here?”
    She didn’t answer, though she studied Ackleford intently. Nathan spoke for her. “She’s called Dell. She needs to see Kai, too. It’s important.”
    “Dell. That your first name or last?”
    “Just Dell,” Nathan said.
    “She can answer for herself, Hunter.”
    “Actually, she can’t,” Cullen said. “Not easily. She doesn’t use language well. And no, I won’t explain here—see the reporter headed our way?—but you need to let her see Kai.”
    Dell must have figured out that this man was the key to getting to Kai. She spoke to him. “Kai pissed. Needs me.”
    “So you do talk. What does she need you for?”
    “Bug bites. Needs me fast.” She looked at Nathan.
“Fast, fast, fast!”
    “Special Agent,” Nathan said, “I need to get Dell to Kai. Dell hasn’t been able to tell me why, but if she says ‘fast,’ I believe her.”
    Behind Ackleford’s abrasive manner lay a sharp mind. The man looked sour enough to curdle milk, but he said, “All right. Don’t make me regret this. I probably will, but you can at least try not to turn this into a complete clusterfuck. Come on.”
    At the barricade he treated the young cop to his scowl. “Where the hell’s your sign-in sheet? You letting people on-scene without them signing in? Burns, stay here and show the dickhead how to set up a sign-in sheet. See if he’s got any clue who has already entered. Probably not, but—”
    “Sir,” the cop interrupted desperately, “a sign-in sheet isn’t needed because no one is allowed to enter the scene at this time. We’re treating it as a biohazard zone, so—”
    “Yeah?” Ackleford pulled out his ID case. “Well, I’m Special Agent Derwin Ackleford. This is now my fucking scene, and I want a fucking sign-in sheet.”

FOUR

    A police lieutenant with coarse gray hair, sixty extra pounds, and breasts lay in wait for Ackleford just inside Fagioli. Battle was joined immediately. Nathan didn’t wait to watch Ackleford dispose of his opponent. His ability to go unnoticed was minor, but it worked a treat in situations like this. People would see him just fine as he edged past the combatants. They just wouldn’t pay any attention.
    Once inside, he stopped and looked for Kai.
    The long, narrow room was mobbed with dazed, excited, angry, and frightened people talking at each other. Add in EMTs, paramedics, and a handful of cops and you had a standing-room-only crowd. He glimpsed a bright red head moving their way through the crowd—Arjenie Fox, no doubt heading for Benedict. No Kai.
    On his left, the wall was punctuated by two arches that gave access to the patio.