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“Fascinating.” Ethan stared at the bike, then at Rook. “I’ve never been a passenger before.”

“Climb on behind me, put your feet on the pegs, and hold onto my waist.” Rook’s shadows formed a gentle cushion on the seat behind him, making space. “My shadows won’t let you fall. Promise.”

Ethan climbed on carefully, his arms wrapped around Rook’s waist, his hands gripping his jacket. The contact sent warmth flooding through Rook’s chest, and his shadows were humming with contentment.

“You good?” Rook’s voice came out rougher than intended. Yes, he was affected, but then what guardian wouldn’t be when a human so willingly clung to them. It wasn’t like it happened every day…it never happened.

“This feels...” Ethan paused. “Safe. Which is statistically improbable given we’re about to travel at high speeds on a vehicle with minimal protection.”

“You’re with me. That’s all the protection you need.” Rook started the engine, feeling Ethan’s grip tighten slightly. “Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Rook pulled into traffic, keeping his speed reasonable despite every instinct screaming to get Ethan somewhere protected immediately. His shadows wrapped around Ethan’s arms, anchoring him securely without restricting movement. By road, it was twenty minutes to Shadow House. Twenty minutes and then Ethan would be safe behind wards and protections, surrounded by guardians who’d defend him without question.

Rook wove through Madison’s morning traffic, hyperaware of every car that came too close, and every pothole that might jostle his precious passenger. His shadows spread wider than normal, creating a buffer zone around the bike. Probably obvious to anyone paying attention, but Rook didn’t care. Ethan’s safety mattered more than secrecy.

“Your shadows are forming a perimeter.” Ethan’s voice carried over the engine noise. “Approximately six feet in all directions.”

“Yep.”

“That’s extremely protective behavior.”

“That’s how it works.” Rook turned onto the industrial road leading to the warehouse district. “My shadows respond to threats. Right now, every car on the road is a potential threat because you’re on this bike with me.”

“I believe I’m in more danger from Grant Voss than traffic.”

Rook’s hands tightened on the handlebars. Ethan was right. Grant Voss, who’d connected to four missing people that Ethan had documented. If Grant realized what Ethan knew...

“You can’t go back to work.” The words came out before Rook could stop them. “Not until we’ve handled Grant and Ashford. It’s too dangerous.”

“I need to pay my rent.”

“Move into Shadow House.” Rook pulled into the abandoned lot in front of the warehouse, killing the engine. “We’ve got rooms. Julian moved in after Vane put a hit on him, and that worked out great.”

“You’re telling me Julian was actively targeted by a crime lord?” Ethan paused for a moment, clearly thinking. “This situation’s not the same.”

“You have documented evidence that could expose a trafficking network.” Rook twisted to look at Ethan, his shadows still wrapped protectively around them both. “He’s already approached you before - you told me that, and then Grant asked Fiona about your social life, which you told me as well. Anyone who talks to you longer than five minutes knows you’re observant. What happens when he realizes you’ve been cataloging his recruitment pattern?”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change, but his grip on Rook’s jacket tightened. “I’ll accept that’s a valid concern.”

“Stay at Shadow House. Please.” Rook’s chest felt tight. “At least until we’ve dealt with Grant and found Fiona. You’ll be safe there. Thorn’s got wards that would stop a tank, Silas monitors every digital system in Madison, and I...” Rook stopped, reorganizing his thoughts. “I can’t hunt effectively if I’m worried about you.”

“That’s bordering on you being emotionally manipulative.”

“It’s not manipulative if it’s true, which it is.” Rook helped Ethan off the bike, keeping one hand on his arm. “I’ve been doing this for centuries without distraction. But now I’ve got you, and every instinct I have is screaming to keep you somewhere protected while we dismantle the people hunting in your workplace.”

Ethan pulled off the helmet, his hair sticking up at odd angles. “Don’t you mean dismantle the network? Actually, don’t answer that. You probably do mean dismantle the people concerned.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You want me to move in now, before I’ve even met anyone else here?”

“Sometimes fast is necessary.” Rook’s shadows coiled around Ethan’s wrists, gentle but insistent. “Look, I know it sounds insane. I know you need data, observation time, and probably a detailed risk assessment. But Fiona’s been missing since yesterday, Grant’s actively recruiting, and you’ve got evidence that makes you a liability to their operation.”

“You’re not wrong.” Ethan looked up at the warehouse, then back at Rook. “But I need to meet your team first. I need to gather more information about what living here would entail.”

“That’s fair.” Rook gestured toward the building’s exterior wall. “Come on. The entrance is on the roof.”

“The roof?”

“We’re shadow monsters. We don’t use front doors.” Rook’s shadows formed a path up the brick wall, creating handholds and footholds. “I’ll carry you. It’s safer than the fire escape.”