Read Online Sing for the Dead (London Undead) by PJ Schnyder - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: PJ Schnyder
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courtesy, especially when he took in a deep breath of air as if searching for scents. Too many of her old comrades had died in the imagined safety of their own homes.
Appearing satisfied, Kayden indicated the interior with a sweep of his arm. “Come in, my new ally, and be welcome.”
Not a traditional welcome, to be sure, but closer in sincerity than any she’d heard in a long time. Not many kept to the older ways, be they human or fae and she had no knowledge of interactions between the latter and shape-shifters.
Humans were the connection between all the supernaturals, the one race to interact with them all through the centuries even as the supernaturals had hidden from the world. And from humans, had come the zombies. “It is always humans,” she murmured, more to herself than to him, and she entered his home.
Chapter Five
It was large, for a single studio in London. Or perhaps it seemed larger than most, simply because it lacked anything much to fill it. A pair of mattresses had been stacked at the far end, covered in clean-looking sheets with plenty of blankets folded neatly at one end. A lone duffel bag lay in one corner, easily retrieved if the need to leave arose. A camp set of pots sat on the tiny stove unit in the kitchen area. He’d not lived here long, from the looks of it, nor was he planning to settle in either.
Of course, she had no room to criticize, as she had naught but the clothes she wore and the weapons she carried. Her purpose in London was one of reconnaissance and eliminating any potential threat to the fae if she found it. At this point, she wasn’t sure if the zombies would be considered a true threat to either of the Courts in any case despite the evidence of their ability to feed on fae flesh. The more powerful fae were strong enough to avoid being cornered by the walking dead. Of greater concern was the mystery fae behind the creation of the magical lure.
Kayden stepped to the stove and began pulling things from the cupboard. “It’s a bit new, this place. The previous owners were able to evacuate and there are no other tenants in the building. I managed to lay claim to it before some of the more enterprising landlords thought to rent these out to visiting hunters.”
“You own the entire townhouse, then?” Surprised, but perhaps she shouldn’t have been. A longer-lived mortal like a shape-shifter could amass a decent amount of wealth by human standards if he were so inclined.
“Rent. I’d no desire to own. Everything is temporary when you move through the human world ‘on the down low’ as the Americans say.”
A laugh escaped her. More of an amused huff. “And have you been to America?”
“Aye. Interesting continent. I prefer Europe, though, especially Scotland and the countryside around London.” He took a pitcher with some sort of filter affixed to the top and poured water into a pot. Shape-shifters had hardier constitutions than normal humans and she, as fae, needn’t worry about consuming tainted water either as her small spark of healing could take care of any damage it might do to her. Not that he would know it, but perhaps he filtered the water for the taste. She smiled, watching him. A male with taste, something about the concept—and every nuance of him—fascinated her. As a shape-shifter, other fae might look upon Kayden as a savage, a beast. And here he was chopping a few onions to flavor a soup.
“The countryside has always been beautiful.” She had a preference for the sweeping fells of northern England, though the rolling green hills farther south had once been every bit as beautiful by moonlight. Only in the more recent centuries had she learned to tolerate the press of iron and concrete of the major cities. “Why are you here, then? Why the center of London?”
His hands paused, his grip on the kitchen knife tightening for a moment before he went on cutting dried strips of meat. “I passed through a year ago.” Another long moment grew
Appearing satisfied, Kayden indicated the interior with a sweep of his arm. “Come in, my new ally, and be welcome.”
Not a traditional welcome, to be sure, but closer in sincerity than any she’d heard in a long time. Not many kept to the older ways, be they human or fae and she had no knowledge of interactions between the latter and shape-shifters.
Humans were the connection between all the supernaturals, the one race to interact with them all through the centuries even as the supernaturals had hidden from the world. And from humans, had come the zombies. “It is always humans,” she murmured, more to herself than to him, and she entered his home.
Chapter Five
It was large, for a single studio in London. Or perhaps it seemed larger than most, simply because it lacked anything much to fill it. A pair of mattresses had been stacked at the far end, covered in clean-looking sheets with plenty of blankets folded neatly at one end. A lone duffel bag lay in one corner, easily retrieved if the need to leave arose. A camp set of pots sat on the tiny stove unit in the kitchen area. He’d not lived here long, from the looks of it, nor was he planning to settle in either.
Of course, she had no room to criticize, as she had naught but the clothes she wore and the weapons she carried. Her purpose in London was one of reconnaissance and eliminating any potential threat to the fae if she found it. At this point, she wasn’t sure if the zombies would be considered a true threat to either of the Courts in any case despite the evidence of their ability to feed on fae flesh. The more powerful fae were strong enough to avoid being cornered by the walking dead. Of greater concern was the mystery fae behind the creation of the magical lure.
Kayden stepped to the stove and began pulling things from the cupboard. “It’s a bit new, this place. The previous owners were able to evacuate and there are no other tenants in the building. I managed to lay claim to it before some of the more enterprising landlords thought to rent these out to visiting hunters.”
“You own the entire townhouse, then?” Surprised, but perhaps she shouldn’t have been. A longer-lived mortal like a shape-shifter could amass a decent amount of wealth by human standards if he were so inclined.
“Rent. I’d no desire to own. Everything is temporary when you move through the human world ‘on the down low’ as the Americans say.”
A laugh escaped her. More of an amused huff. “And have you been to America?”
“Aye. Interesting continent. I prefer Europe, though, especially Scotland and the countryside around London.” He took a pitcher with some sort of filter affixed to the top and poured water into a pot. Shape-shifters had hardier constitutions than normal humans and she, as fae, needn’t worry about consuming tainted water either as her small spark of healing could take care of any damage it might do to her. Not that he would know it, but perhaps he filtered the water for the taste. She smiled, watching him. A male with taste, something about the concept—and every nuance of him—fascinated her. As a shape-shifter, other fae might look upon Kayden as a savage, a beast. And here he was chopping a few onions to flavor a soup.
“The countryside has always been beautiful.” She had a preference for the sweeping fells of northern England, though the rolling green hills farther south had once been every bit as beautiful by moonlight. Only in the more recent centuries had she learned to tolerate the press of iron and concrete of the major cities. “Why are you here, then? Why the center of London?”
His hands paused, his grip on the kitchen knife tightening for a moment before he went on cutting dried strips of meat. “I passed through a year ago.” Another long moment grew
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