Shadows on the Shore: Book 1 in The Cherry Blossom Bay Mystery Series by H. C. Cardona

Author:H. C. Cardona [Cardona, H. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Piper?”

Alexander looked and sounded the same, which made sense since we had only broken up a year ago. I hated the way my heart slowed down at the sight of him. There was also a palpable shudder that ripped down my spine. I tried to mask it with a different gesture – me, running my fingers through my hair – but I was sure both Kitsune and Alexander picked up on it if they looked at me for longer than a couple of seconds.

I hated this.

I hadn’t been prepared.

“You know each other?” Kitsune asked, arching a brow as he looked between us. I didn’t like the thought of having to explain anything to him, considering talking about Alexander had been akin to pulling off my fingernails. However, I did owe Kitsune some kind of explanation.

“We knew each other at school,” Alexander said.

Ah. So, Alexander was going to pretend we hadn’t dated for a year. Perfect. I thought he had already shredded my heart into a thousand pieces but apparently, there was still more of it he hadn’t gotten around to, and he wanted to make sure he was fair to all of it. What a gentleman.

Kitsune didn’t look at Alexander, which struck me as odd, since Alexander had lived here the majority of his life when I hadn’t. Instead, Kitsune looked at me, studying my face, probably for an explanation. The intensity of the gaze struck me as surprising. I didn’t want to lose complete control over myself and hoped I wasn’t blushing, but the familiar strain in my cheeks told me I was.

“What did you want to see me about, Kitsune?” There was typical Lancaster derision in his tone, enough to set me on edge. This was the voice Alexander took whenever he was being particularly condescending about something. If I asked a question because I didn’t know an answer to something, he would pat my head like a child and explained to me with as much condescension as he could fit into his tone a basic answer. I loathed that voice with every fiber of my being, and I didn’t loathe anything except mushrooms.

“Well, first, Alex, thanks for coming in,” he said, gesturing at the chairs in front of him. “Why don’t you have a seat?”

“It’s Alexander,” Alexander said as he took an offered chair but not before giving it a side-eye. Like he was too much of a big deal to sit in a lowly chair that was clearly on its last legs.

“Yes, my mistake.” Kitsune’s lips flickered up but he smoothed down any amusement he might have derived from that as he laced his fingers together and leaned forward. “Thanks for coming by.”

“I didn’t think I had much of a choice,” he said. He gestured at his fingers. “Can we hurry this along? Dr. Hebi expects me back soon. We have a lot more to do in terms of research. We’re almost at a pivotal moment when a breakthrough could happen.”

“Rose, could you bring Alexander some coffee?” Kitsune asked, looking up at me.

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