Free Long Night Moon (The Bradbury Institute Book 2) by Sonya Clark Page B

he does seem fond of
Eve. I’m hoping that goes somewhere. She’d be good for him.”
    “But would he be good for her?”
    She held up her thumb and
forefinger an inch apart. “You’re this close. Step back.”
    “My apologies. I meant no offense.”
    Blowing out her breath, she waved a
hand. “I know. I’m just worried about him, that’s all. On the one hand I think
it’s good he’s casting magic again. But on the other, ugh.”
    “You’re waiting for him to blow
someone up.”
    She gave him another don’t cross
me glare and decided to change the subject. “Why don’t you tell me about
the pirate king?”
    Ever the diplomat, George took the
hint graciously. “Indeed.” He sank into the padded leather chair opposite her
desk. “Now, where to start.”
    ***
    Pete sank the blade into a Raider,
jerking it up to reach the heart. The Raider dropped to the ground, red
staining the snow around his lifeless form. Pulling Bloodsinger from the dead
body, he watched as the sword drank in the blood that clung to it. Breathing
heavily, his shoulder aching from a glancing wound, he turned to search for
Sanngrid.
    He spotted her in time to see her
take a Raider’s head off clean with a smooth motion of her sword. Their eyes
met across the snow field, now littered with bodies and blood. A feral grin
creased her face, splotches of color high on her cheeks from exertion. Pete
rubbed sweat from his face and made his way toward her.
    “Hell yeah, Valkyrie.” They
exchanged a fist bump, armor clinking.
    The sound of a horse in the distance
drew their attention. One lone Raider, wounded and leaning in his saddle, fled
into the forest.
    Sanngrid said, “Should we go after
him?”
    Pete shook his head. “We’ll never
catch him on foot.”
    “Do you think they recognized you?
How does that work here, having a price on your head?”
    “The usual. Wanted posters.
Crystals with my face in them. Raiders are mercs, so yeah, they know what I
look like.” He found a patch of clean snow and picked up a handful to rub on
his face, then cupped a larger amount in both hands. It took only a hint of
magic to melt it, giving him water to drink.
    Sanngrid gathered her own snow,
holding it out for him. “How much time do you think we have?”
    “Not enough.” He melted the snow
for her, then got himself another double handful. “There are caves in the side
of the mountain. That’s where they’ll be. We get closer and this adrenaline
rush wears off I should be able to sense her.”
    The feral grin returned. “This is
fun. We should raid Sideways more often.”
    Pete managed a weak smile. “Freaking
maniac. Let’s go.”
    ***
    Maura slammed the refrigerator
shut. “We’re out of turkey.”
    “I’m sure ham or something else
would be fine.” Niall stood over the espresso machine, waiting for it to cycle.
    “We’re out of all deli meats and
cheeses. You’re going to have to go into town. I can’t believe what piss-poor
shape that idiot left the kitchen in before she left.”
    “Devin was probably just excited
about her vacation. Wasn’t she taking a cruise or something?”
    “I don’t care what she had planned.
She was supposed to do her job before leaving. It’s not my job to run both the
infirmary and the kitchen.” She entered the small office in the back of the
kitchen, halting just inside the doorway. “Goddess, that desk is a mess. No
wonder she can’t do the ordering properly.”
    Niall muttered something she chose
to ignore, too intent on being annoyed. Devin was always a bit too
lackadaisical in her work for Maura’s taste but it wasn’t her place to tell her
to shape up and do her damn job. But she would certainly be letting Chet know
the sorry state of the kitchen.
    With a resigned sigh she sat and
began to paw through the mess on the desk for blank paper and a pen. She needed
to make a list for Niall, a long one. Deli meat and cheese for sandwiches,
sugar, flour, oranges. She might as well go through the