_______________
“I’ve got the footage,” said Rune, gesturing to the folder under his arm. “Do you know what we’re looking for?”
“Make prints of anyone who buys Twizzlers and cherry Coke Slurpees and bring them to me. Just those two things, nothing else. It will be a female, although she may be in disguise.” Dragos bit into a red rope of candy. He stared in disgust at the remaining half in his hand and threw it in the trash can. Then he picked up the drink and sucked on the straw with caution.
Rune burst into laughter at his expression. “I said you wouldn’t like it.”
“So you did.” He slam dunked the Slurpee. “Apparently you will be watching the tapes for someone with no taste.”
“This shouldn’t take long. Thank the Powers for fast-forward,” Rune said. He swiped up a few of the Twizzlers packets, winking at Dragos. “Since you don’t like them,” he said, and left.
Dragos went back to work, but his concentration had splintered for other matters. He kept three wide-screens on the opposite wall on different news channels. His other three assistants came and went. The ticker tape headlines of one channel caught his attention and he turned the volume up. The preliminary cost estimate for the property damage he caused that afternoon was already in the tens of millions.
The news crew conducted interviews of pedestrians. One woman said tearfully, “Forget about property damage. I heard that sound earlier today and I’m going to be in therapy for the rest of my life. I want to know if Cuelebre is going to pay for that!”
He pushed the mute button. It was turning out to be one expensive damn penny.
Outside the wall-sized windows early evening fell into full night. Then Rune came loping back into his office, paper in his hands.
“I’ve got it, got her,” his First exclaimed. “Lots of people bought lots of crap, but only one woman bought only Twizzlers and a Slurpee. What are the odds?”
Dragos leaned back in his chair. He felt a pulse of dark anticipation as Rune handed him the paper. He shuffled through all of the photos. They were of a fixed scene of the 7-Eleven’s registers and the glass front doors. Rune threw his large frame into a chair and watched as, with an impatient shove, Dragos wiped clear the large expanse of his desk and began to lay the photos out one by one.
Rune had printed several sequential eight-by-elevens. As Dragos laid out the grainy black-and-whites he could almost imagine the woman in the photos moving. He couldn’t wait to see the footage and watch her move for real.
There she was, opening the door. She moved to the left and disappeared from the camera. There she was again, reappearing, holding a packet of Twizzlers and a Slurpee drink in slender hands. She paid, gave the cashier a smile. The last photo was of her pushing out the front door.
He went over them again with more care.
The angle of the shots made it difficult to say for sure, but she seemed a normal height for a tallish human woman. She was whippet graceful with long bones and delicate curves. The camera caught the dip and hollow of her collarbones. She wore her thick hair in a ponytail that was somewhat disheveled, and it was either white or some other light color. He was betting on some shade of blonde. Her triangular face was far too young for it to be gray.
The slash of Dragos’s dark brows lowered over his blade-straight nose. The woman looked tired, preoccupied. No, she looked more than tired—she looked haunted. The smile she gave the cashier was courteous, even kind, but sad. She wasn’t what he expected, but he knew in his old wicked bones that this was his thief.
He traced a finger down the silhouette of her figure as she walked out the 7-Eleven door. It was the only one of her walking away. He didn’t like this picture. He slammed his flattened hand down on it and crumpled it in his fist.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
“I have just one question for you,” Rune said. The gryphon’s long legs were spread out, his eyes curious. “How did you know to send me there and what to look for?”
Dragos looked up with a flash of secretive jealousy. “Never mind how. We’ve found her and your part in this is done. You can go back to your regular duties.”
Rune nodded at the photos. “What about her?”
“I’ll take care of her.” Dragos bared his teeth. “I’m hunting this one. Alone.”
____________
We still have one copy to giveaway! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. For more chances to win, check out Tracy’s review and Thea’s guest post!
This book is available now from Berkley. You can buy it here
So…. this is in addition to??? 😀
I am even more intrigued!!
I want this book in a bad way! Please enter me. I’ll even stand up on a table and yell “Hercules! Hercules!”
I can’t wait to read this book. I keep hearing such great things about it and I want to know what it’s all about. Plus, it looks really good and I love the cover.
iqb99@yahoo.com
Can’t wait to get my hands on this book, sounds amazing!!!!
june111(at)att(dot)net
Please count me in. Thanks
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I love the humor combined with the fantasy and romance. I definitely can’t wait to read more about these two.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Twizzlers? I love a chuckle in the midst of adventure!
sallans d at yahoo dot com
Loved the excerpt
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
This hero is going to have to work for my love since he does not appreciate Twizzlers or cherry slurpees!
I just get more and more interested in reading this book! Great excerpt …
kacbooks at hotmail dot com
Oh, I love all these chances to win. Please count me in on this one too.
Thanks for the giveaway and excerpt. I love what I am reading about this book.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
Fantastic excerpt. The more I read, the more eager I am to get my hands on Dragon Bound.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
Cant wait to read it. Thanks for sharing!!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Have dreamed about reading this one since everyone started getting their hands on sneak peeks and arc’s end of the year and was kind enough to share info :). Looks like such an awesome read – ty for the excerpts, review, and interview – only increases my needs to snag more ;).
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
Can’t wait to read this one!
Oh, me me me (if it’s open to internationals that is). I’ve heard so much buzz about this one!
hanktsATinternodeDOTonDOTnet
Excerpts are the death of me, I swear. 😀
julieguan AT gmail DOT com
It looks like a good story.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
Would love to read this book. Awesome cover.
I really can’t wait to read this book… Thank you for a chance to win…. 🙂
Kelly M
crazybookfairy(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I must stop reading these excerpts – they leave me frustrated at not having the rest of the story to read 🙁
Cannot wait! 😀
Wow. I feel bad for the thief and I want more, please! 🙂 This sounds awesome!
Great excerpt! I’d love to win a copy, please count me in.
marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com
I want this book. I’ve heard such great things about this one.
sotheara_keat (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
woa, thanks again for a fantastic excerpt – I have to read the book ASAP!
greetings, Ina
inale87 at gmx dot at
Please enter me!! Cannot wait to read this, LOVE dragon books 🙂
Despite that I have to watch and save money for Rock on the Range. I may have to talk hubby into buying this one book for me.
Dragons I can sleep with a smile on my face.
Raonaid @ gmail dot com
Great excerpt! And I can stare at that cover all day.
ironss [at] gmail [dot] com