The Isis Collar (39 page)

Authors: Cat Adams

BOOK: The Isis Collar

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I stood there openmouthed for a long moment, “But I
do
want to know.”

He shrugged. “Then ask. I can’t promise I’m an open book. Not yet. But eventually, when we both trust each other a little more, we’ll see. But the simple stuff—likes, dislikes, family, beliefs—sure. I’d love to tell you.”

I decided to use a line from one of my favorite novels to open the conversation. “So, tell me of your homeworld, Usal.” John smiled and stepped forward into the light. Apparently he’d read the book, too. He held out his hand and I took it. When he started to turn to walk down the stairs with me, I noticed something. Not a new thing, but a
missing
thing. “John? Where’s your siren charm?”

He let out a small sound that I couldn’t decipher. “I don’t know. I think they stripped me of all my magical items when I got jumped. But I didn’t see that in the bowl reading. I’ll make another one, though. It’ll only take a few days.”

“You said knowledge was power. What does a missing piece of …
me
mean?”

He put an arm around me and pulled me close to him. “I don’t know. I’m hoping it’s in Glinda’s effects. I’m trying to get a court order to let me look at the other items in George’s safe, too. It’ll turn up.”

“What if it doesn’t? What if it wound up in the demon dimension? Things were flying thick and fast in there.”

He tried not to let me see the shudder that overtook him. “We won’t think that way. Because that would be bad, Celia. That would be very, very bad.”

Tor Paranormal Romance Books by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp

THE SAZI

Hunter’s Moon

Moon’s Web

Captive Moon

Howling Moon

Moon’s Fury

Timeless Moon

Cold Moon Rising

Serpent Moon

THE THRALL

Touch of Evil

Touch of Madness

Touch of Darkness

WRITING AS CAT ADAMS

Magic’s Design

Blood Song

Siren Song

Demon Song

The Isis Collar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C
AT
A
DAMS
is the author of three previous Blood Singer urban fantasy novels:
Blood Song, Siren Song,
and
Demon Song.

Adams is the joint pen name of C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, who live in a small town deep in the heart of Texas. They are
USA Today
bestselling authors with their Thrall series, which begins with
Touch of Evil,
and their critically acclaimed Sazi series, which begins with
Hunter’s Moon.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE ISIS COLLAR

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Adams, Cat.

The Isis collar / Cat Adams.—1st ed.

p. cm.

“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”