Free Seeker (Shadows) by Jolene Perry Page B

I stop and slide my lips against hers, loving the salty taste of her in the heat.
    Her mouth pulls into a smile as she brings us together again for a much deeper kiss. The kind that makes me want to forget whatever it is we’re trying to do and spend the night in our small cabin on the boat. We’ve both lost sleep to be together—even though we’ve been pulling shifts so someone’s always awake. It’s worth it. I swear we were made to fit together.
    “Okay.” Landon slaps my back. “I’d really like to find this little shop before we’re wandering these streets in the dark.”
    “What shop?” Micah asks.
    Landon gives me just enough of a look to know I should keep my mouth shut . He’s about to feed the girls some BS so they don’t freak out that we’re about to meet some guy who’s recommended in a million different circles for his dealings in not only Voodoo but talking to the “passed on” or almost passed on.
    At the very least, though, I say something to Addie. Landon’s got this, just try to act pissed when it comes out later, okay? So Micah’s not mad to be the only one left out. She’s been through some pretty crappy stuff because of her visions, and sometimes I think Landon goes too far to protect her, but he really is trying to help.
    I block my thoughts from Addie as well as I know how and hope Landon’s trying to help. We share the fact that we have talents, but Micah and I are in a whole different realm of people than Addie and Landon (the kind that doesn’t take yearly trips to exotic countries), and sometimes I wonder if he rushes into things too fast because he hasn’t had to be as careful in life as I have.
    I love you, Dean.
    Love you, too.
    We’re headed up the street now, but it’s really quiet here this time of year. Way too hot for tourists, and we’re in the middle of hurricane season.
    I don’t know where Landon gets his information, because this guy we’re looking for flies under the radar like no one’s business. But like Landon said over and over— those are the people who actually know their stuff. The other guys are all smoke and mirrors and we need the real thing.
    Yeah. The real thing. Two months ago Voodoo was a joke and part of Addison’s love of Scooby-Doo. Now Voodoo changes lives, gives people gifts, and locks shadows into a world that shouldn’t exist.
     
     
    “There’s a guy I want to talk to,” Landon explains as we stand at the foot of the stairs inside a small trinket shop. I figured we’d either be headed to some hut in the middle of nowhere or a back alley filled with rats. Not a random shop filled with crap made in China for the tourists who aren’t really here this time of year.
    “A guy.” Micah shifts to one leg as she crosses her arms and gives Landon exactly the kind of look I knew he’d get for leaving the girls out of this.
    “Just.” He glances toward me for help, but I stand silent, not wanting to be kicked out of bed tonight.
    “Fine.” Micah steps back. “Go. We’ll stay here like good little girls.” Her smile is ridiculous, wide and full of pent-up anger.
    Addison gives me a thin smile and I don’t have to touch her to know that she’ll talk to Micah while we’re up there.
    “Well, hell,” Landon whispers as we start up the stairs.
    “Told you, man.”
    “I really didn’t think we’d be followed this closely by The Middle Men and thought I’d be able to run to the grocery store or something and check this guy out alone.” Landon gives the “Office” door a quick knock.
    “Come in!” A soft, low voice seeps into the dingy hallway.
    I’m expecting some withering old Bahamian man surrounded by smoke and shrunken heads, but instead the guy can’t be more than a few years older than we are. He’s broad with a smile almost as wide as his face and skin like black coffee. His dreads hang past his shoulders and his shirt looks like the cheesy ones in the shop below. Definitely not what I was