Page 80 of Thorn Evermore

I drag my fingers through the hair on his chest. “I didn’t know I could be this happy and settled inside.”

“Oh, sweetheart. We’re just getting started.”

Chapter 24

THORN

The two of us walk, enjoying the sights and sounds around us. Kyson is like a newborn, viewing the world with new eyes. It’s strange feeling so settled and content. I’ve chased this exact energy for centuries and found it in a sweet, unassuming man.

As we turn into the downtown area where Kyson works, I stop in my tracks the closer we get to the store where he works. With my hand on his arm, I focus on what I’m hearing.

“What’s wrong, Thorn?”

“Do you hear that?”

“I hear a lot of things. What specifically?”

“Your store isn’t open this late, right?”

“Oh no. The morning warehouse shift won’t be in until six.”

“Someone is there. I can hear it.”

“Really? Neal told us someone has been stealing cash from the store, but…” He pauses, his brow creasing. “Only four people have keys and the security code to the store.”

“Then it must be one of them.”

Kyson shakes his head. “No way. It’s Neal, me, Lucy, who runs the front lanes, and Bridget. She’s the assistant store manager, but she’s on vacation right now.”

We walk a little closer, noting the lights are off in the store, but I can see the shadowy movement inside. Apparently, Kyson does too since he gasps, grabbing my arm.

“Should we call the cops?” he asks.

I chuckle. “My love, we never call the cops. We should go see who it is.”

“Right. Okay. There’s a door in the back. They had to get in that way.”

“Come on then.”

We creep around to the back of the store in case anyone is lingering outside, but the alleyway is empty. The back door isn’t open at all, so whoever went in must have a key. Kyson trembles next to me, unaware of how invincible he is yet, so I take the lead, pulling the door open easily and stepping inside the darkened store.

As soon as we’re in though, I freeze. “Supes,” I whisper.

“What?”

“Supernaturals are here. Notice the air and how it feels oddly thick.”

Kyson lifts his head slightly. “It smells funny too,” he whispers back.

“Yep. Not vampires though. Something else.”

He grips my wrist. “Remember those people who jumped over the guardrail?”

I nod. “Oh yeah. Be careful. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

He nods, squeezing my hand as we move to the front of the store. There the energy shifts again, darker and tinged with danger, and it becomes clear to me what we’re about to face.

Faeries. Fuck. These assholes are so hard to manage.