Turning Tides Read Online Free PDF Page B

height, and there didn’t appear to be a single part of his body that wasn’t covered in a muscle of some kind. His short hair was a medium brown undiluted by highlights, and his eyes were a dark slate gray. He was handsome enough, if your taste ran to body builders who looked like they smiled twice a year.
    Me, I preferred a man who could destroy this one in an arm wrestling match, one who smiled damn near every time I walked in the door. I felt a sharp pang for Mac, still in Tahoe and expecting me home in a couple of days. We weren’t together, exactly. We’d agreed to wait to take the next step until I’d resolved my issues with the council and knew what my future held. At the time, it seemed the mature thing to do. With this new delay, I was beginning to regret that decision. Maturity is seriously overrated.
    Forcing my thoughts back to the man in front of me, I stuck out my hand. “Welcome.”
    He shook my hand somberly. I suspected he did most things somberly. “It’s nice to meet you, Aidan. I’m David Flint.”
    One of the old names, too. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been surrounded by so many strong elementals.
    These were supposed to be my people, but my thoughts and my heart kept returning to an A-frame cabin by the Truckee River, where shifters and elementals were equally welcome, regardless of how much magical blood they could claim.
    Lana’s heart, however, was clearly right in front of me. “Isn’t he lovely?” She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder, her face soft and dreamy.
    David gave her an indulgent smile and pressed his lips to her forehead in a warm kiss. In a way, I guess it made sense. Someone as batty as Lana would likely do best with a man who had patience of a saint, someone stable and reliable and predictable. In other words, a stone. I guess there really was someone for everyone.
    That pang hit again, sharper than before, insisting I was too far from Mac. Whatever was happening on the island, I needed to figure it out quickly and get back to Tahoe. Every cell in my body yearned toward him. Being with him made everything else just a bit more bearable.
    “What brings you by?” The question was more abrupt than I’d intended, but Sera and I needed a night of drinking and plotting, and only one of those looked to be happening now. “I mean, aren’t you all scared Sera’s going to burn you to ash?”
    David cast a speculative eye toward Sera. Somehow, his face grew even more rigid. He was seriously considering my question. “Until she is convicted, I’d rather not behave as if she were guilty. Also, I can’t imagine any reason she would want to incinerate me or Lana.”
    Stones always were a serious and pragmatic lot.
    David nodded at my mother. “Fiona assured me that Sera was innocent and asked me to study your porch to see what kind of camera you need. A branch of my family owns a home security company, so I guess that made me the best option.”
    I nodded, grateful. Without Vivian and Simon to help, I hadn’t thought how we’d manage the surveillance camera on an island full of luddites.
    “I’ve been granted permission to fly into Bellingham tomorrow for the camera. Until it’s set up, Lana offered to stay with you. A witness, to confirm that Sera doesn’t leave.”
    “That’s very… kind. But aren’t you worried Sera will hurt you, Lana? If you’re sleeping, you won’t be able to defend yourself at all. Perhaps you should stay far away.”
    While we spoke, my mother and Sera inched closer to us. Hearing Lana’s offer, my mother didn’t even attempt to pretend she wasn’t eavesdropping. “She’s right, Lana. No reason to take an unnecessary risk. Please, come stay at my house. I have a lovely guest room already made up.” The offer was graciousness itself. No one would ever guess she was trying to keep us apart—or keep Lana under tight surveillance and away from the council.
    Lana laughed, light and airy.