Page 36 of Feathers From the Sky

“I sent a cleaner over to the greystone. I’m having it warded too.”

“That won’t stop Björn from forcing me—”

“No, it won’t. But if you can get out of the house before he tugs too hard, they’ll protect her.”

“I don’t need to protect her,” I snap.

“No,” Margot says slowly. “They’ll protect theinformationshe holds, Roman.”

I rub my hand over my face and sigh. “Jesus Christ, this blood... Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll take her there now, and—”

I gasp as pain sears through my stomach, the wrenching tear of a hot iron digging around in my organs. It’s the hardest he’s ever tugged on the reins, and I know it’s just to make it hurt. He didn’t attempt a gentle pull or an even-handed order. He is an inferno of rage that rips through me with an intensity which takes my breath away.

“Roman?” Margot asks, and I hear keys jangling in her hand. “It’s too late, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I won’t make it to the greystone.”

“Fuck.”

* * *

“Wake up, and stay calm,”I order as I kneel beside the passenger door. Margot hovers just behind me, and I’m tempted to dismiss her. As Gwyn’s eyes flutter open, her cinnamon honey gaze flits from me to Margot, and I think the other woman’s presence might make her more comfortable. Either way, my order works, and she doesn’t jerk away from me.

“What are you doing? Where are we?”

“I’m putting you in clothes that actually fit you.” I pull out the leggings Margot brought me. Gwyn is a little bigger than Margot, but I’ve been assured they are stretchy.

“And you think I can’t put on my own pants because?” Gwyn asks, voice trembling, as I tug my shorts off over her shoes. She clamps her legs tightly together, and I realize her shaky tone is because she thinks I’m going to touch her.

I throw the leggings onto her lap as I take a step back. “Put them on. Do you want a new shirt, or do you want to keep wearing mine?” I give her the option as I hold up the two shirts Margot brought down. They’re low cut, so those beautiful tits will be out and so will her neck.

Good. The coven needs to see my marks on her throat.

She snags one out of my hand, and she stares at me for a moment before whipping off my shirt. Even furious and still covered in dried blood, sitting angrily naked in her passenger seat, she’s goddamn irresistible.

“This fucking blood.” When I turn to face Margot, she’s looking past me, and her dilated eyes put me on guard. “Don’t, Margot,” I growl, unable to stop myself. I don’t like using my influence on her, but I couldn’t help it.

“Sorry, sorry,” Margot says, blinking long and hard. “She smells so fucking good. How’d you drive the whole way sitting next to her?”

I don’t confess to licking her fucking hand clean, or the ache in my body I’d withstood before that. I don’t tell her I’m addicted and need to taste her again. Preferably now. But I can’t put off his order much longer now that we’re at the compound.

“Don’t run,” I order Gwyn without turning around. If she tries it here, it won’t end for her like it did at that strip mall. There are other vampires here, and I’m going to be a taut fucking thread when she’s around them. If one of them even looks at her funny and jeopardizes my research, I’ll rip them apart.

“So, is this your evil headquarters?” Gwyn asks, shutting the door of her car behind her. When I turn around, her arms are crossed over her chest. I’ve never seen this kind of attitude from her, and I revel in it. “Where you kill innocent people and drink their blood?”

“Something like that,” I say. Margot is about to speak and introduce herself, but I silence her with a glance. She’s bound to be fascinated by Gwyn, and I don’t want her getting friendly with her. I don’t need her making this any harder.

“So I’m not the first person you’ve killed?” Gwyn brings her thumb up to her mouth and chews on the side of her fingernail.

“You’re not dead yet, baby. That comes after you help me.”

“Why should I help you if you’re going to kill me either way?”

“It’s not a matter of if you should. You will, whether or not you want to.” I put my hand on her shoulder to guide her forward toward the bank of elevators. Margot stalks ahead of us, probably upset I cut her off from speaking. I don’t have time for her feelings.

Gwyn is silent, her chin jutted out as she holds herself up with perfect posture. She’s walking to her execution, and I wonder if my order is what makes her so nonchalant.

Margot presses the button and steps into the elevator as she speaks under her breath. She’s quiet enough that human ears wouldn’t hear it, and I hope hunter ears are the same.

---