Shifter's Dance Read Online Free PDF Page A

okay
here.”
    “You’re doing really well, from what I’ve observed.”
He watched her smile at the praise. “I have brothers. We all live
together. It’s rather horrifying actually.”
    “Oh my. More like you? How many?”
    “Just two. One older, one younger.”
    “What do you do?”
    “I’m a computer programmer. Edouard, the oldest,
he’s a wildlife photographer, and Bruno, the youngest, is a
writer.” That was the cover, anyway. We watch over the various
ways one could get to this rock from Canada and the Maine coast on
behalf of the Syndicate, and bring Cyrus and Rekkus information
when needed.
    “So why’d you come here, all alone, to the Wiccan
Haus?”
    “I do work for them sometimes.” So he didn’t
elaborate on what that work was, he was okay with her thinking it
was a programming project, at least for now. “What are you going to
do, now that you can’t perform anymore?”
    “I don’t know. That’s part of why I came here, to
think about that. I went to a performing arts school, but then was
offered a position with the company, so I never finished my degree.
I could go back, but I haven’t learned to read braille yet. I have
to learn to read all over again, can you believe that?”
    “Have you thought about choreography? The way you
described the dances you see in your head—it was beautiful.”
    “I don’t know. I don’t know if I can go back to that
world and not resent it.”
    He felt her sadness as if it were his own. He tried
to put himself in her shoes and all he could imagine was this
endless feeling of isolation. He looked down at her mostly-empty
plate.
    “Do you want to get out of here?”
    “And go where?”
    Anywhere. He’d go anywhere with her.
    “Let’s take a walk. I won’t let anything happen to
you, and you must be going a little stir-crazy.”
    “A little. Music helps, but since I was blinded, I
get a little claustrophobic. Like I’m stuck inside my own head, and
it’s dark and I can’t get out.”
    “Let’s get you out.” He reached for her hand, placed
the handle of her cane in it and was rewarded by a brilliant smile.
So brilliant he didn’t notice the shadow that slipped out the door
behind them.
    * * * *
    Here she was, going off alone—again—with this huge
man she didn’t know. But after the last twenty-four hours, Stephen
didn’t feel like a stranger anymore, and Romy couldn’t get that
kiss out of her head. That afternoon, on the bench in the garden,
she’d never been more aware of another human being—and considering
how often she’d leapt into the arms of another dancer, trusting
them to be there for her, that was saying a lot.
    But he hadn’t made a move to kiss her again.
Instead, he’d just been this steady, larger-than-life presence,
showing up wherever she happened to be. He held her hand and let
her practice with her cane as they walked, telling her stories
about Edouard and Bruno to make her laugh. Every step heightened
her awareness of him. When he let go of her hand, the darkness
washed over her. When he seized it again, a bit of light warmed
her.
    She didn’t want to feel this connection to another
person; this wasn’t why she had come to the Wiccan Haus. She came
for her independence, to find her own way, not to be swept into an
eddy of lust over the first man to show her kindness.
    He’s not the first to show you kindness, the
little voice in her head reminded her. Just the first who made
you feel whole again.
    But why should he—the last thing she needed was a
man to feel whole. Frustrated, she let go of his hand and stepped a
few paces away from him, sweeping across the ground in front of her
with the cane.
    “Romy?” His voice was hesitant and apologetic.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
    “I’m not your sweetheart.” She called back over her
shoulder. This dance they were doing was too dangerous, too much.
She couldn’t handle it right now. “I need to be alone.”
    “Okay, I don’t know what it is I said,