Shadowed Read online

  “The less said about it the better,” Reddix said shortly. “I have it, I deal with it. Just don’t make my hair too short.”

  “Okay,” she said quietly. She went on snipping, glad to find that her hands still remembered their old skill, but inside she was hurting for him. Up until now she’d had the impression he couldn’t feel anything from other people unless they were touching him—well, other than the aliens they found themselves currently with, but they used emotions to communicate.

  Nina had never dreamed the RTS was so bad—so debilitating. No wonder Reddix was gruff and harsh sometimes. He’d probably been in severe pain for the past ten years, ever since his disease manifested itself. She couldn’t imagine having to feel every emotion everyone felt about her or around her all the time. It would be horrible…unbearable.

  Stop getting distracted and do your job, she warned herself as she snipped. Concentrate on doing it right. Make sure you don’t take too much off.

  Nina took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. She had been young when her mother taught her, but she had learned well. She had continued giving her father and friends haircuts even after her mother had died and the little beauty shop on Flora Avenue closed. Soon she was able to lose herself in her work and push the troubling thoughts aside.

  Reddix’s hair was thick with a slight wave to it, but it wasn’t hard to cut. It seemed to fall naturally into a pattern, and she found herself following it, marveling all over again as she did at the deep blue—almost black color of it. His beard, she noted, was almost completely black, darker even than the hair on his head.

  At last, she stood back and admired her work. His hair was still a bit long, but it was much less shaggy. Really, except for the beard he looked almost presentable.

  “Finished?” Reddix asked.

  “With your hair anyway. Now it’s time for a shave.” Nina took the towel off his shoulders and shook it into the fireplace, getting rid of the clippings. Then she put it back on him and picked up the clippers. “I think we’d better use these to start with and finish up with the razor. That’s a pretty thick beard.”

  “I can do it myself if you want me to,” he offered, sitting up a little straighter.

  Nina shook her head. “I don’t mind. And besides, there aren’t any mirrors here for you to look at.”

  “All right.” He relaxed in the chair again. “I’m in your hands.”

  “I’ll do my best. You already look less like a bear.” She smiled at him.

  “But I thought you liked bears. You said they were your…your spirit creature?” He raised his eyebrows at her in question.

  “Spirit animal,” Nina corrected him as she began to buzz his cheeks and chin. The Kindred clippers were amazingly fast and quiet. “But that’s just magic and superstition, really.”

  “There’s more to magic and superstition than you think,” he murmured. “Maybe the bear thing is the reason you can…can touch me.” His deep voice was slightly hoarse.

  “Maybe,” Nina said softly. She put down the clippers and picked up the razor. “You’d better stop talking now. This thing is sharp.”

  He made a deep noise of assent and closed his eyes as she began to shave him more closely. Nina was fast and careful, but as she began to clear the black stubble from his cheeks, she saw something that startled her. Reddix had scars. Two long, white, deliberate lines ran parallel along the left side of his strong jaw. It looked like someone had cut him there on purpose—as though he’d gotten into a knife fight with a sadist who knew exactly what he was doing and had wanted to disfigure the big Kindred in some way.

  “Hey,” she said softly, running one fingertip along the cruel white scars. “What happened here?”

  “Nothing.” Reddix jerked away from her touch and sat up quickly.

  “Who did that to you?” Nina asked. “Why would anyone—”

  “I told you, it’s nothing,” he growled. “Here, give me the razor. I’ll finish myself.”

  “No.” Nina stepped back, holding her hands up in a gesture of peace though foam from the razor dripped down her wrist. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “Not offended,” he said tightly, but the closed, guarded look was back in his eyes.

  “Just let me finish,” she said quietly. “I promise I won’t ask any more questions.”

  “Fine.” He settled into the chair again, but there was a tension in his broad shoulders that hadn’t been there before. Nina’s heart squeezed in her chest. She wished he wasn’t so secretive. That she could find a way to make him open up.

  The only thing you need to find is a way home, eecho, whispered Mehoo-Jimmy’s voice in her mind. Nina knew it was true, but she couldn’t help wanting to get behind the wall Reddix had built around himself. She had a feeling if she could just breach that barrier, she could help him…heal him.

  But first he would have to let her in.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Still no sign of the emergency beacon?” Liv asked.

  “Afraid not.” Kat sighed and settled herself on the couch beside Sophia. They were in her suite today because she had all the wedding planning materials there. Not that she felt like planning much of anything right now. “They’re not sure where the ship Reddix stole landed,” she said.

  “Baird went to check it out, and he says the wormhole they went through is really unstable,” Liv said.

  “What does that mean?” Sophia asked, eyes wide.

  “Well…that they might not have landed at all,” Kat said quietly.

  “Oh, no.” Sophia looked like she might cry. “But Kat, I was there when Sylvan talked to her grandma—that little old lady—that Mehaw…”

  “Mehoo-Jimmy,” Kat interrupted. “I know. I heard all about it.”

  “She was so upset, and I don’t blame her,” Liv said grimly. “What’s wrong with Reddix, kidnapping that girl? Everybody knows that’s not how you claim a bride.”

  “Well, Lissa says Saber isn’t entirely sure claiming her was his intention,” Kat said.

  “What else could he want her for?” Sophia asked and winced as she put a hand on her rounded belly. “Oh! The twins are kicking.”

  “Mine aren’t yet, but I’m sure they will be soon,” Kat said. “I just hope they don’t start when I’m walking down the aisle with Deep and Lock.”

  “At least not so your grandma can see,” Liv murmured, a ghost of a smile on her face.

  “Exactly. I’m already getting fatter. This wedding needs to happen soon.” Kat sighed.

  “It will,” Sophia promised. “The planning is going great, isn’t it?”

  “It was until this whole mess with Reddix kidnapping that poor girl,” Kat said grimly. “Lissa was helping me a lot, but now I haven’t seen her in days. Every time I call her or try to go see her she says she has a headache and needs to be left alone.” She shook her head. “It’s not just about the wedding—I’m getting really worried about her.”

  “I know you two are close, but maybe she just needs a little space,” Liv said consolingly. “And Sophie and I will pick up the slack as much as we can.”

  “No, I don’t want you guys to have to worry about it,” Kat demurred. “You’ve got a new baby, and Sophie’s about ready to pop. Lauren is already making the cake, Nadiah is stuck on First World, and Elise is off with Merrick exploring the universe, although she did promise to come back for the big event—if it ever happens.”

  “It’ll happen,” Sophia said soothingly. “Honestly it will. And as long as your grandmother still has no idea that Kindred babies are carried for a whole year instead of nine months, there’s no reason she has to know you’re preggy on the big day.”

  “Sophie’s right,” Liv said. “You can say you got pregnant on your honeymoon.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Kat said. “Grandma will be scandalized otherwise. It’s bad enough me marrying two guys at once, but walking down the aisle knocked up…that might be the last straw.” She sighed.