End Street Detective Agency 4 The Case of the Sinful Santa Amber Kell & R.J. Scott

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get that out of my head now.
Sam smirked. Served you right for being in my head, he said with a laugh. Shaking his head he
reached out and touched the stone creature and a sigh of pleasure drifted up to him on the air. Then he
sighed loudly. Zeph, get us all home.
* * * *
Nick didn t know what to make of this group of people he d fallen in with. The vampire made
the most sense to him because he d dealt with them in the past. Zeph had him tied up in knots and the
only emotion he could feel towards Sam was total fear. The almost-human had powers far above any
supernatural Nick had ever met. Frankly, Sam scared the sugar cookies out of Nick.
They returned to Sam s office building. A rush of joy poured through Nick as Sam stepped
across the threshold. Nick paused in his own entering. The hall lights brightened and the ambience
turned joyful the more Sam walked into the hall, almost as if the property embraced its owner s
return.
Is it always like that? Nick whispered to Bob.
The vampire nodded. He never seems to notice.
Huh. Sam was probably the most oblivious man Nick had ever met. He didn t appear to see
when things changed around him, or maybe so many strange things happened he just didn t notice any
more. Nick wasn t the type to judge others, but Sam interested him. Apparently he interested the angel
ghost too because she hadn t left his side since they d decided to take her with them. As to the newest
addition to the party, the tiny stone gargoyle, he wasn t sure where to file that one. It had fallen asleep
in Zeph s arms and he d placed it carefully on Sam s desk with a soft huff of approval. Seeing his
angel handling something so gently reminded him of their first kiss. A quick glance showed the
original gargoyle hadn t reanimated.
They gathered around Sam s office. Before they could start their impromptu meeting, a large
wolf stomped into the room. The beast plopped down beside Sam and growled.
I m sorry, Hartman. I didn t know the necromancer would hurt Dan, Sam apologised
immediately.
This is Hartman? Zeph approached the wolf cautiously. Hi! I m Dan s cousin, Zeph. It s nice
to meet you.
The wolf stared at Zeph with indifference. Nick thought he heard the beast snort.
I m sure he s happy to meet you too, Sam interjected. He s just upset about Dan.
Is Dan okay?
Right there in the middle of Sam s office, the wolf shifted into human. At least that was what
Nick thought happened. Halfway through the change, Zeph clapped a hand over Nick s eyes.
What are you doing?
You don t need to see my cousin s mate naked.
What about you?
I m an angel.
So?
I m used to seeing people in their natural-born state.
There are clothes in the guest room. Go put them on, Bob ordered.
Apparently the vampire didn t like Sam seeing the wolf shifter naked either if his disapproving
tone was anything to go by.
I have seen him naked before, Sam said. Nick could hear the amusement in Sam s voice.
Zeph removed his hand from Nick s eyes. There was no sign of the shifter. He must ve gone to
dress.
We ll wait until Hart returns. Maybe he has something to add, Sam said.
Or maybe he just wants to yell at us all for endangering his mate, Bob growled.
Sam shrugged. Maybe.
He didn t appear overly concerned about the matter and Nick noticed that Zeph was just as calm.
Evidently both of them felt they could handle one seriously pissed-off wolf.
Hart returned before speculation could become too wild. Why did you send home a ferret? he
demanded.
Your mate was wounded and you re worried about a ferret? Nick asked.
The shifter s nose twitched. Why do you smell like candy canes?
Nick rolled his eyes. Shifters and their damn noses. Because I m related to Santa. Happy?
Hart turned his attention to Sam. He s kidding, right?
Sam shook his head. I don t think so.
An angel, a vampire, an elf and whatever the fuck you are. It s like the beginning of a bad
joke, Hart commented looking from one person to another. And an angel ghost. Sorry, ma am, I
didn t see you at first.
Nick hid his smile by turning away slightly. Hart was right about one thing, they were a motley
collection of people. However, he doubted they would be able to beat a necromancer without a
variety of skills.
Sam continued, This is Nick. Zeph, your cousin-in-law. And our ghost here is Ariel who was
killed by the necromancer for her power. She suspects the necromancer didn t realise she was his
soul mate when he killed her and now he keeps bringing things back to life in order to eventually
return her to the living.
That s fucked up. Hart glared at them. What can I do to help? He messed with Dan, he needs
to die.
Nick had to admire the shifter s simplistic view of the world. Hartman didn t appear concerned
about right or wrong, only that his mate had been injured.
He wondered how Zeph would react if something happened to Nick. Would his mate be out for
blood or would his sense of right and wrong be stronger than his loyalty to his lover? Nick hoped
he d never have to find out.
Chapter Nine
His phone rang just as Nick climbed into bed. He d left Zeph and Ariel chatting in the office,
with Sam snoring on the sofa and Bob keeping guard. Seemed Ariel couldn t leave Sam s side and as
she and Zeph had a lot to cover, Sam was stuck where he was. Of course Bob was inches from his
side. Disappointment flooded him. Zeph had just said Nick should go get some sleep, even when he d
offered to stay.
One moment Nick had felt as if it was possible Zeph was his fated mate as he kept dramatically
declaring. In that single shining moment, Nick had felt wanted and needed, and that he was better than
his family told him he was. Of course it hadn t lasted long. Too many years of being told he wasn t a
real Klauson was enough to give him a severe case of low self-esteem.
He answered the call and immediately wished he hadn t.
Little cousin! Edmund s voice was deep and loud and Nick wouldn t have been surprised to
hear a ho ho ho on the end. Edmund was one hundred per cent Klauson, full white beard and rounded
tummy all ready for when it was his turn to take a place in the family business. At the moment,
Edmund was a low-level manager, but he was destined for big things. You done there yet?
Not exactly, Nick answered quickly. Things are more complicated than we first thought.
You re needed back here. There s black spot reports coming in all over the city and the team
needs your help.
Nick didn t say a word. He could feel the despair seeping through the night sky and not even the
mention of actually being needed by anyone back home got him to smile.
I ll be home when I m finished here, Nick said firmly. Edmund was one of those people who
felt like he was in charge simply by virtue of the fact he was a year older, forever ordering Nick
around and commenting on his impure bloodline. Edmund never came out and said the words directly,
but he would slyly insert the meaning into something else. Nick crossed to the window and rested his
forehead on the cool glass.
Edmund sighed noisily. I don t know what Dad will say. He s already pissed that you aren t [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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