Page 17 of Twisted Fate

I charge up the marble stairs that lead to the building and fly through the open door. My footsteps echo on the ornate lobby floor as I approach the reception desk where I slam my fist against the dark wood counter.

“I need to see Mr. Westbrook,” I demand.

The young, blond receptionist offers a polite smile. “My apologies, Mr. Westbrook is in a meeting. Would you like to wait?”

“No,” I snap.

Her eyes widen. “Oh.”

“I need to see him. Now.”

“I’m sorry, that’s not possible.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t have time for this. You seem like a lovely person, and I bet he’s not paying you enough to deal with people like me, so I’m sorry for what I’m about to do.” Before she can open her mouth, I sprint toward the elevator. Jamming the button as if my life depends on it, I look over my shoulder in time to see her lift the phone to call security.

Once inside, I press the button for the penthouse and blow out a breath. I lean back against the wall and watch the numbers tick by as the elevator ascends. About halfway up, it stops, and the door opens.

“You came back?” The woman Tristan made disappear—Skylar—steps into the elevator and presses the button for another floor. Today her knee-high dress is bright red, matching the stain on her lips.

I open my mouth to answer as I survey her from head to toe. She’s very much not dead. A dead body couldn’t pull off heels like that. “I had to,” I whisper.

Her laugh is a tinkling sound, like raindrops on a window. “What for? To make sure it was real?”

I shake my head. “To make sure he doesn’t hurt my best friend.” Even though she tried to make a meal out of me, she was scared, cornered. Maybe she hadn’t fed in a long time. There are so many possibilities. She wouldn’t hurt me on purpose.

Skylar flicks her tongue over her lower lip. “Ah, you figured out who he was looking for.”

My jaw clenches. “He sent me to look for her.”

“And you found her. Obviously.”

I nod.

“She’s your best friend, huh?” Her lips curl. “You didn’t know your best friend was fae?” she taunts.

I hold back a scowl. “I didn’t know the fae existed until a few days ago, so no, I didn’t know my best friend was one. How many of you are there?”

Skylar shrugs, and eventhatlooks graceful. “Close to ten percent of the population. Ever since our world was destroyed, we’ve been here.” The elevator stops, and Skylar steps toward the door as it opens. “Coming back here was stupid. He let you go once. I don’t see him doing it again.”

I stuff my trembling hands into my pockets. “She’s my best friend.”

Skylar sighs, as if my decision to put myself in danger irritates her. “Humans,” she mutters before the door shuts, and I’m alone.

I tap my hands against my thighs, thinking over what Skylar said about their world being destroyed. Now I understand Tristan’s less than pleasant response when it came up the day we met.

My heart hammers in my chest, and my nerves sing with coiled energy as the elevator reaches the penthouse level. I’m ready for a fight if it means getting Allison back. I step off the elevator and through the small foyer to his door and bang my fist against it several times. As I’m getting ready to kick the damn thing in, it opens to reveal an annoyed looking Tristan.

My eyes widen a fraction as I take in Tristan’s casual attire.In a meeting, my ass.“Where the hell is she?” I growl, pushing my way inside.

He glances between the empty hallway and where I’m standing inside his suite. “Lovely afternoon, isn’t it?” He offers an amused expression and then closes the door as if he’s confronted by angry business majors every day.

“Cut the bullshit. Where is Allison?”

“You mean the young woman who almost killed you?”

My eyes narrow. “She didn’t almost kill me. She stopped.” I cross my arms over my chest and refuse to back down.

“Thanks to me.”

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