Page 33 of City of the Lost
Tay was the first out of the building and Mack followed close behind. Azren gripped my elbow gently to stall me.
I looked into his feral face, examining the clean-cut, harsh lines which were quickly becoming so familiar to me.
“I understand that your friends mean well, but the rogue Shedim are ruthless. I can protect you, but I may not be able to protect them.”
Oh, the sweetie. But this was Tay and Mack he was talking about. I patted his chest. “Thanks, big guy, but on this side of the border, a troll blood off the leash is a force to be reckoned with. If the rogue Shedim make the mistake of attacking, they’re going to be in for a nasty shock.”
Azren blinked slowly. “Very well. In that case, we would do well to have their assistance.”
Outside, the sun had just set and the world was still bathed in dying embers as night swept across the land. Stars were winking to life in the rapidly darkening sky, like a multitude of diamond eyes opening on the world below.
Tay was already on his bike, and Mack was busy clipping his bat to a customized strap attached to his motorbike.
My stomach quivered. We’d agreed on leaving Mini behind just in case we needed to chase the Lost. The mill was surrounded by flat land, but if they made it into the network of side streets and alleys a mile from it, then Mini would be useless. But bikes weren’t my favorite mode of transport. Not enough walls between me and the outside world rushing past.
“You coming?” Tay called out.
He expected me to ride with him.
It wouldn’t be the first time. Although I wasn’t a fan, we’d ridden together several times in the past, but the thought of being that close to him, of holding him, inhaling his scent and feeling his muscles shift and move beneath my hands, made me ache with longing.
Too soon.
“Thanks, babe, but I’ll jump on with Azren.” I kept my tone light.
If he was upset or disappointed, he didn’t show it. His expression remained neutral. “No problem.”
Mack caught my eye and gave me a slight approving nod. How much more had Tay shared with him about our conversations? Had he told him about our tryst at the bar? Chest tight, I climbed on the back of Azren’s bike.
“Are you all right?” Azren asked softly.
The gentle timbre of his voice, the genuine concern, made the fist in my chest tighten, and for once there was no smart reply. “I will be.”
He nodded and gunned the engine. “Hold on.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. My arms slid around his narrow waist and then up to hook under his arms, fingers sinking into the soft fabric of his shirt. Pressing my face to the spot between his shoulder bones, I closed my eyes, allowing his aroma to envelop me, sweet and heady. With a delicious purr and evocative vibration, the bike leapt to life, and we streamed into the night.
* * *
Hound paddedbeside me as we walked toward the moon-soaked mill. Empty black windows stared back at us like soulless eyes.
Mack shuddered. “Creepy.”
“Mack and I will do a sweep of the building,” Tay said. “You and Azren can do a perimeter sweep.”
I shot him an amused look. “I don’t remember handing over the I’m-in-charge badge?”
Mack sniggered. “I told you he had a commando complex.”
Tay arched a brow, looking down on me from his six-foot-six height. “You have a better idea?”
“Yeah, so many better ideas, like grabbing ice cream, or maybe hitting that new theme park just opened on Eastside, but they’re all kinda redundant while we’re being stalked by insane Sanguinata. So, your idea’s good.”
Mack handed me a walkie. “If you get to use it, you’ll be giving old Tay here a thrill.”
I bit back a laugh and clipped the walkie to the belt under my dustkicker. “The second floor is dangerous. Rotten boards, so be careful.”
Tay nodded curtly, his eyes scanning the night.
