I was so distracted by my thoughts I stumbled into something huge and hairy at the bottom of the stairs. The lump grunted as I jerked back in instant fright. Glowing red eyes flashed from the darkness for a moment before the fire died in them.

"Galleytrot." I clutched at my T-shirt, heart pounding. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you." His growling voice always made me think of meadows and secrets kept, the thrum of wild places rippling through it. The hulking black ...