Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,2
work, or maybe out into the countryside to shift and hunt. Besides his physique, the only indication he was a shifter was the way light reflected in his eyes. I was sure he’d already caught Sean’s scent on me, but he didn’t comment on it.
“Can I help you find something?” he asked.
I showed him what I’d chosen. “Just adding to my collection. Your store is amazing.”
“Thank you. I’m very proud of it.” He looked over my albums. “Some excellent choices. Are you new to collecting vinyl?”
“I only started buying albums about five years ago. I didn’t really have the means before that.” I’d had no way to buy records while a prisoner of my grandfather, but I’d started building my collection as soon as I had my own place.
He nodded gravely. “I understand.” He probably assumed I meant I hadn’t had the money. “What other albums are missing from your collection?”
I smiled. “So many, it would take all day to list them. I can tell you a couple that are at the top of the list, though.”
He didn’t return my smile. Given what I’d read in the file Cyro sent me, his solemnity wasn’t unexpected. Even thirty years later, the memory of seeing most of his pack slaughtered would be raw. He’d lost everyone because of Moses.
Other than some DNA, we had that in common too.
Think of it like this, Sean had told me last night as we lay in bed. You are a gift to him. He believes he’s alone in this world. He has no pack and no family, as far as he’s aware. Not all lone wolves are lonely, but my gut tells me this is a lonely man. I don’t see a scenario where your news isn’t welcome, once the shock wears off.
Sean had offered to come with me, but the presence of an alpha would complicate things considerably. I’d decided to just bring Malcolm, who’d drifted over to a different area of the store to give us the illusion of privacy.
“What’s on your list?” Daniel asked.
I named a few albums. We found two in the used section and one more in the back, in a crate of new inventory he hadn’t had a chance to go through yet. I ended up with a healthy pile of seven albums, all in great condition.
Detroit wasn’t back yet, so when another customer came in, Daniel went to help him while I looked over the flyers plastered on the front counter. Most advertised local bands, record swap meets, and other locally owned shops. A couple of bands were holding auditions. One specified they needed a drummer with a working vehicle capable of transporting the band to gigs. I chuckled.
Daniel’s voice startled me. “Do you play an instrument?” He went around the counter to ring up my purchases. The other customer left empty-handed, apparently unable to find what he was looking for.
“No. I sing a little.”
“Ever sing with a band?”
“Never got the chance to try. I think it would have been fun.”
He gave me the total. “I assume Detroit offered you a first-time customer discount.”
“He did, but I know a small business counts pennies, so I won’t hold you to it.”
“I count happy customers.” He hit a few buttons on the register and told me the revised total. “Cash or credit?”
I handed over my card and he ran it. As the slip printed out, he studied me. “Did you find out what he sent you to find out?”
I blinked. “Who?”
“The alpha of whatever pack you’re associated with.” His expression hardened. “I assume he sent you to do a little snooping on the local loner. You didn’t make much of an effort to clean off his scent, so he must have wanted me to know. Tell him I’m not interested in joining his pack and not to bother sending any more cute girls to entice me.”
“It’s not what you think.” I signed my name on the receipt and handed it back. “That’s my partner you smell, and he didn’t send me.”
His expression didn’t change. “Your partner? Not your mate?”
“Not yet. Maybe someday. We just bought a house together.” I wasn’t sure why I told him that. It just came out.
“The Council’s letting him have a human mate?” Daniel sounded skeptical.
“They don’t exactly approve,” I said, which might be the understatement of the century. “And I’m not exactly human.”
For the first time, his dark brown eyes glowed golden. “What are you, then, besides a mage?”