Mirror Bound by Rhiannon Held

Author:Rhiannon Held
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: shapeshifters, kickass heroine, anthropological fantasy, cross species romance, manta ray creatures, mirror world magic, monster fighting team
Publisher: Rhiannon Held

CHAPTER 15

Verity burst onto the fields and scanned them automatically. A patch of muddy figures had gathered between two fields, and Siobhan lifted an arm in an insistent wave when she spotted them.

Everyone spoke at once, overlapping, as Verity and Davin jogged up. “I told you they’d probably gone to investigate on their own.” Siobhan was the most strident, in an apparent final volley in an argument that had stretched longer than her patience.

“But where’s Gabe? You also said Gabe was with them.” Dakota wasn’t that much less strident. “We shouldn’t split up, guys.” Verity guessed that was why everyone had been dragged out here to look for them, rather than waiting in comfort at the party.

“Of all the possible places to randomly disappear at the worst time—is that him?” Lucy won for most observant. She pointed back toward the massed buildings of the town. Only then did Verity wonder what the mayor thought of the situation. Instead of following Lucy’s gesture, she checked the gathering hall and spotted the mayor and a few others lingering in front of it, keeping a pointed eye on the humans. If she was hanging back, she must have believed that Verity and Davin were indeed checking the holes, and now hoped all the humans would leave after discussing their findings.

“Gabe? Who...?” Dakota’s confusion finally captured Verity’s attention. Gabe was approaching from a completely different direction within the town, and someone else was with him. Verity had been distracted long enough that the two were fairly close by now, and she recognized Pteil. What was her cousin doing?

Gabe strode straight to Dakota. As he put on a last burst of speed, it become clear he had a tight grip on Pteil’s upper arm and she wasn’t following of her own volition. She still wore a male look, but a different one than the one she’d revealed to Davin. This one was golden-haired again, close enough to Dakota to subtly evoke her face without falling into “long-lost brother.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you, but we’re going to have to move fast.” Gabe stopped squarely in front of Dakota, even more intensely serious than usual, if that was possible. “I’ve found the culprit and arrested him. We have to get to Geneva immediately.”

What had Pteil done? Verity searched her cousin’s face, but she looked to be in shock, maybe not even following the conversation in English. Had Pteil tried to hit on Gabe as well? How was that a crime?

“Culprit?” Dakota stared at Gabe, glanced at Pteil, seemed to find nothing more there than Verity had, and switched her attention back to Gabe.

“He created the holes.” Gabe tugged Pteil forward a step or two. “He confessed as much to me. Bragging, once we were alone. He didn’t realize that I keep a binding spell on me for emergencies.”

Bound? Verity should have noticed that immediately. Here she was listening to the humans, like they were the victims. Except phantoms had driven the monsters through the holes. But that didn’t matter right now.

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