Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault

Author:Claudie Arseneault
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Asexual, fantasy, non-binary, aromantic
Publisher: The Kraken Collective
Published: 2018-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

-18-

SUR LA PISTE

Claire regretted speaking with Adèle while exhausted. She couldn’t control herself enough, and her feelings had slipped out unwanted, a crack through her wall. Adèle had already asked twice why Claire cared so much about her well-being. How long before she wondered who hid behind the mask or how Claire had first tangled with Montrant Industries? Adèle’d been exhausted and feverish and still managed to understand the truth about exocores. How long before she pieced it all together?

Should Claire tell her everything now? A part of her was dying to peel away the last of her secrets, but she didn’t have the emotional fortitude to face Adèle and deal with her potential reaction. Both of them were hurt and tired and stressed—a fight waiting to happen. They’d just reached a delicate truce, and she didn’t want to tear it apart.

It would be easier to avoid Adèle if she wasn’t so dreamy, of course, but Claire thankfully had a lot of important fears to help ignore how her heart hammered. Something in Adèle’s long, pointed nose, in the way she bit her lip when she smiled, in the curve of her breasts and the muscular body under that uniform… all of it left Claire a little breathless, her lower body throbbing, her imagination requiring to take over. All in good time, she told herself. For now, she had an evil industry to destroy, and witches to save—including her sister. And for all that, she needed to find her friend.

Zita was in the gardens outside, sitting around a delicate white table, having an intense discussion with Emmanuelle and Zuri… about exocores? Claire stopped nearby and listened, caught in their debate about magic transference, body survivability, and the creation of exocores. Doctor and scientist were working together to pinpoint the actual techniques, with Zita occasionally chipping in with the impressions her powers granted. Before long, Claire lost track of the debate, her tired mind receiving the words without analyzing them. When she realized she’d been staring blankly, she cleared her throat to interrupt.

“I need to bring the crates home, Zita.” It’d be more efficient alone than with her friend, but she worried about overexerting herself. Her magic pool had only just started to regenerate. She didn’t want to empty it pointlessly.

“Leave them,” Em said. “I promise to take good care of them. Zita told me… I know what they are—who, really.”

Claire reeled at the idea of leaving exocores behind. She’d been their sole protector for what seemed like ages now, and it didn’t sit well with her to abandon any of them here, especially after everything she’d risked to save them. But she trusted Emmanuelle, and it would be a relief not to carry them across the city while trying to dodge notice. Claire looked at Zita, who nodded.

“Okay. Don’t… don’t let me down.”

“I solemnly swear on my husband’s head,” Emmanuelle said, raising a hand. “Everyone is safe with me.”

“Thank you.” Claire’s knees weakened and the intensity of her relief surprised her.

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