Free Blind Destiny: Grimm's Circle, Book 7 [retail mobi] by Shiloh Walker Page A

would do it.
    Still, he managed to find some peace. Krell loped along at his side and when the dog needed some rest, he dropped down onto the sand and through his link with his animal, he watched as the sun crept up over the water.
    He missed the colors.
    He imagined the sunrise coming up over the ocean was a spectacular sight. Back before Perci had left, when they’d still been partners, they’d traveled here a few times, but he’d never been to this particular part of the country.
    Krell whimpered.
    Stroking a hand down the dog’s neck, he felt the dog tremble, wiggling a little. “What’s the matter, old boy?” he murmured.
    The dog swung his head to the left, ears pricked, eyes watchful. He wiggled more and sat up, barking a little. It was one of those questioning little yips and Luc frowned as he felt the dog’s urgency.
    He stared down the beach, but he didn’t see anything. Didn’t feel anything.
    Didn’t hear—
    Then he did.
    The breeze kicked up a moment later and he caught the faint scent that Krell had already picked up. A pang of longing tugged at his heart. Followed by a twist of rage as he sensed something else. Misery and unhappiness.
    A child.
    He thought of his own babes—children taken from him before he’d even known them. So long ago.
    He rose. “Find him, Krell,” he murmured. “Let’s go find this boy.”
    It took another run, but it was easy, maybe three miles down the beach. As he rounded the bend, he saw the boy ahead. Young, he could see that right away, but he’d already figured that much out, just from what he’d sensed of the boy’s mind. Young, scared, scarred and sad.
    He slowed to a walk before he got close enough for the boy to see him and then he pushed his sunglasses down onto his face. Although it had been dark when he slipped out of the room he was sharing with Sina, it was habit to keep a pair on hand. When they had to deal with mortals, many of them were odd around Krell—either they didn’t want to let the dog into their business establishments or they wanted to pet him. It was different once people saw the dog as a companion animal, although more than a few times, people had attempted to take him to task over having a malamute for a companion animal.
    None of that would be an issue right now. He wanted the boy to see the dog first and focus only on the dog.
    Children relaxed more around animals than they did around adults. Especially scarred, scared children who carried as much sadness as this one seemed to carry.
    Gripping the harness, Luc automatically moved into the more cautious mannerisms he used when he played at being human. Even though the boy wasn’t as likely to think anything of it, it was simply another habit.
    As he drew closer, he sensed the boy’s surprise. Sensed that he was thinking about bolting, then curiosity as he saw Krell. Curiosity that kept him in place.
    A few feet away, Krell gave a polite little yip.
    “Is somebody there, boy?” Luc asked.
    Krell yipped again.
    Luc didn’t turn his head toward the boy, although he heard him breathing, even smell the bread he’d eaten for breakfast. He could also smell the boy’s unwashed skin, all but smell the misery and the exhaustion on him.
    “Hello?” Then he scowled and scratched his head and said it again in stilted Greek. He had to blend, after all. Blend and play the bumbling tourist.
    When the boy spoke, his voice was nervous. “I speak English.”
    “Oh, good. Hi there. I didn’t think I’d meet anybody up and about this early.”
    He moved a little closer, stopping when he felt the boy’s mind icing up with fear. So much fear…
    “Do you mind if I sit down? Krell and I were on a walk—he loves them, but he wears me out.”
    “I do not mind.” There was a pause and through Krell’s eyes, Luc watched as the boy came a little closer, plucking at a threadbare pair of jeans. “Are…you cannot see?”
    “No. I was born this way.” Not exactly a lie, Luc figured, seeing as