Some Kind of Monster (Friends with the Monsters #2) - Albany Walker Page 0,1

a comforting hand on my back.

“How do you know it was him?” I question Grim.

“It’s just an assumption,” Grim admits, and steps to the side, allowing Gunnar to move closer. I know they don’t hate each other the way it seems sometimes—heck, they all seemed quite chummy after killing half of Vanessa’s coven a few weeks ago. I bet if we could get into a little more mayhem, they would be bosom buddies once more.

“It’s possible it could be another witch he’s tutored.” Grim’s cloak melts away, and he’s left in loose, black linen pants and a soft button-up shirt. His feet are bare, and the sight warms something in my chest. I know there are not many people he allows to see this side of him, and it makes me feel special that I’m included. There’s something about the personification of death walking around barefoot on my floors that makes my withered heart flutter.

“Get anything from the Kelpie that will help us figure out who this guy is and where we can find him?” Calix inquires, continuing to rub soothing circles on my back.

“Not particularly. There isn’t much left when the ritual is done.” Grim doesn’t show any outward sign that he’s bothered by his announcement, but the tightening around his mouth and the hard edge of his jaw tells me all I need to know—Grim is pissed.

I let out a heavy sigh. “We can’t just keep waiting for him to kill more Charmed. We need to go after his ass, find him.” The powerlessness I feel colors my tone as my anger toward the unknown man rekindles. Our searches haven’t turned up anything that’s been helpful for finding Antonio or his fucking arcane magic.

I remember the feeling of helplessness I experienced when Aeson was trapped in his snare, and how desperate I was to save her. If it weren’t for Grim, Aeson would be dead right now. As it is, she’s changed. She’s been touched by death, and not in the good way Grim touches me.

“There has to be something you missed,” Gunnar snaps when Grim doesn’t provide any more information about the male witch who had enough strength to capture my best friend—twice.

Grim, again, slowly turns his head to look at Gunnar. His face is completely placid, but I can still feel the underlying threat of violence in the air. Usually, I like that kind of thing, but right now I’m more concerned with the death of my kind than I am with my hormones.

“Knock it off, Kitten,” I scold Gunnar, who scowls at my demand, but he darts his eyes in my direction. I know he loves it when I call him Kitten, even if he would never admit it.

“I missed nothing,” Grim states. “After crossing him, I went to the location where the Kelpie was found and tracked him back to another abandoned warehouse.”

“You went alone?” Calix’s hand falls away from my back as I abruptly stand. From the corner of my eye, I see Gunnar smirk, he knows I’m about to tear into Grim.

Grim’s brow furrows, and he tilts his head to the side. “That’s a problem?”

I poke my finger into his chest. “Yes, that’s a problem,” I snarl.

A small grin curls Grim’s lips. “You’re worried about me.” I can’t tell if he thinks it’s cute that I worry, or if it amuses him.

I glare at him, feeling defensive. “Of course I worry! No one gets to kill you but me.” It’s an empty threat. I would never hurt him, or Gunnar or Calix for that matter. That makes Grim give me another tiny grin.

“Don’t do that again,” I warn. “You should have taken us with you.” I cross my arms over my chest. A strange feeling of anxiety worms its way up my belly to lodge itself in the base of my throat.

Grim reaches out and brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “He poses no danger to me, Omnia, only to what I love.”

“You can’t be certain. He may have some sort of trap for you too.” The image of Aeson held by a roughly drawn circle with runes etched inside fills my mind again. Hell, I was trapped in one too, even if it was for a short time. What if next time it’s different and we can’t escape it?

“You could have taken one of us.” Calix motions to himself and Gunnar.

Grim gives a single shoulder shrug. “You were both here with Dami,” he reasons, as if I needed both of them