Repairer of the Breach (Stones of Fire Book 4) by Sarah Ashwood (reading eggs books .TXT) 📗

There was a brief silence. Nobody knew how to respond. Should they be cowed by the cop’s warning, or was it laughable that two human police officers would walk into two angry packs of shapeshifters and start making threats? Either way, nobody could argue the cop had guts, which was probably why they kept still for a moment. It was Sean who ultimately spoke, his tone reasonable and calm, explaining that they weren’t doing anything illegal and there was nothing for her to be concerned about.

Truthfully, Carter lost out on what his boss was saying because Ellie took advantage of everyone’s attention being diverted to sidle up to him. One moment she wasn’t there, and the next she was, right by his side.

“Carter,” she murmured, “I’ve got to show you something.”

Part of him melted at the mere sight of her; would’ve gone with her anywhere. However, he still remembered the sting of her words and her promise to leave him and his people to fight it out and die. That part, his injured pride, responded, “Really? Thought you were done with me, kid.”

She blinked behind her glasses, caught off guard by the bite to his tone. What, had she expected to show up here after that goodbye, after everything she’d said, and all would be magically okay? Why was she even here? Carter couldn’t believe she’d had the guts to walk back into this situation in the first place. He really wished she hadn’t. If there had been any bright spots, it was that she was safe, no matter the wrinkle of bitterness he felt.

“I understand you’re angry and probably hurt,” she replied, a little stiffly. “But this is important.”

“So was all that crap you said to me a few hours ago. Didn’t take that resolve long to weaken, did it? You couldn’t keep away from me. Had to have more of me. I don’t blame you.”

This time, his attempt at humor fell flat. She stared at him a few seconds, before replying quietly, “I love you, Carter. I do. That’s why I’m here. I have something I genuinely think you need. Can I show it to you?”

He almost responded, “You can show me anything, especially the personal stuff,” but stopped short. She wasn’t in the mood. Neither was he, truth be told. He followed her a few paces from the main crowd, where Nosizwe and Sean still spoke with the detectives. Ellie turned around and pressed her back up against his torso, innocently lighting a fire that was hard to ignore, despite the gravity of the situation. Until he switched his focus from the feel of her body to the lump in her back.

Carter reached under her jacket. She let him.

“What is this?”

As soon as his fingertips touched it, he knew.

The sword.

Irritations and hurt feelings vanished. She’d brought him the sword. The one the angel-shifter in the other world claimed he would need to repair the breach and resolve this mess.

Ellie turned around. “I thought you might want that,” she said softly, even as his hand fitted itself around the hilt.

Carter was silent as he considered the ramifications of what she’d said and done. Of what she’d brought. Her actions, juxtaposed against her earlier arguments, showed that she did truly care what happened to him and maybe even his people. The only problem was, was the sword supposed to be the key to saving or destroying them all?

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Carter was quiet. Very quiet. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. In the background, I could hear the two police officers still speaking with the two shifter leaders. I was guessing they were trying to talk them out of a fight and into going home, but I couldn’t pay attention to that when my focus was on the man I’d married. He grasped the sword, which he’d pulled out from beneath my jacket. His body and mine were turned so that nobody else could see what he held. In the dim light, I could see his hand clenching and unclenching on the sword handle.

I waited.

Finally, he said, “I don’t know what to say, Ellie. I appreciate you bringing this. Don’t know how you talked those two into coming with you—” He nodded in the general direction of the two cops. “—But I appreciate the efforts. It’s just…I don’t know how this works or what it’s supposed to do. That shifter didn’t give you any insight, did he?”

“No.” I shook my head.

I guess the idea that I would show up and Carter wouldn’t know what to do hadn’t necessarily occurred to me. Didn’t the hero always know? Carter always knew. I couldn’t think of a single situation we’d been in—and we’d been through some weird ones—where he hadn’t known what to do. I guess I’d foolishly assumed this wouldn’t be any different.

“Guess I could start swinging,” he chuckled ruefully. “Like that would do me any good. I’m not some master swordsman. Never even touched one of the damn things before.”

“Never? You mean you were never into any Dungeons and Dragons type stuff?” I teased.

His lip curled in a sardonic smile. “No, that would be you, the geeky homeschooled kid.”

“I’m not a geek,” I protested. “Not all homeschoolers are geeks.”

He bent, brushing the hair off my forehead so he could press a kiss there, making me shiver.

“I love you, Ellie,” he murmured against my skin. “Thank you, but I want you to go now.”

I felt half-insulted. I snapped my jaws shut before a rejoinder jumped out like, “I’ve been through worse with you before. I’m not going anywhere.” Even though it was true, mere hours ago I’d told him I was done with him and his feuds. I had already broken that resolve by coming here, bringing him the sword, but I’d been hoping it would either help prevent a war or cut one short. This wasn’t the time to get all huffy. It probably wasn’t the time to go all stand by your man, either, since I’d already