Page 39 of Demon's Mate
Harper looked over his shoulder and saw a man crossing the street, headed his way but too far for Harper to get a good look at his face. Harper turned his attention forward and kept moving.
Was this man the source of the magic? Was he following Harper, or was his presence a coincidence?
Shit.
Maybe avoiding the main parts of the city hadn’t been smart. At least with people around, any attacker would have to be discreet. Here, amid all the windowless warehouses and high fences, all an attacker needed was a break in traffic, and no one would see anything.
Shit, shit, shit.
Harper hurried on, trying not to look over his shoulder. He gave in, neck straining, as he quickly glanced around.
The man was still behind him and getting closer. Oh, Satan, hewasfollowing him, wasn’t he? The magic Harper sensed grew stronger. It had to be coming from the man behind him. He needed a new plan.
Harper wanted the witch’s presence to be a coincidence but couldn’t make himself believe it.
How had his coven found him?His heart rate climbed and his chest tightened.
He tried to focus on the facts. Harper doubted he’d missed anything suspicious in the Banks or Docks. He would have sensed the man sooner if he’d been following for a while. Did that mean his coven was watching the port? Was coming here Harper’s mistake? He wouldn’t have thought so, but the port was a potential escape route. Passenger boats were less common than cargo ships, but they did dock in Port Shearwater.
Harper needed to get back to a crowded area and lose the guy. He still couldn’t be tracked magically, so all he needed to do was disappear into the city once more. All wasn’t lost.
He could do this.
At the next intersection, Harper would cut over and head into the Business District. It was only a few blocks away.
He glanced over his shoulder and his heart skipped. The man was much closer. Harper finally got a good look at his face. Recognition hit him like a punch to the gut and a cold sweat broke out on Harper’s skin.
He’d never forget that sneering smile.
Harper’s mouth went dry and the sounds of the port cut off, his pulse pounding in his ears.
He turned and ran.
No, not him. Why did he have to be the one to find me?
Harper’s shoes slapped the pavement. Finch, one of his father’s advisers, was the man who’d assaulted Harper two years ago, and if he’d left the compound to bring Harper back to the coven, Harper couldn’t even think what Finch might be planning.
Harper ran like he never had in his life. Finch would hurt him. He’d threatened to do worse next time. His sick smile filled Harper’s vision, and he gagged, not letting it slow him down even as his vision blurred, his eyes stinging and throat burning.
Something crashed into Harper from the side. He stumbled and fell, his knees screaming in protest against the hard pavement. Before he could get up, hands were on him. Another man hauled Harper to his feet and dragged him down a deserted side street.
Harper yelled, but the sound was cut off as a firm hand slapped over his mouth. He struggled and called up his magic to blast the man off him, but his spell fizzled out as they always did when he tried to cast against his coven.
Harper’s chest tightened.No. This wasn’t happening. He had to get away. He twisted and tried to stomp his attacker’s foot, but the other man was stronger and his grip didn’t falter.
Finch entered the side street, his face twisted in a smirk at the sight of Harper struggling.
Harper tried to scream, but the man holding him shoved something chemical in his face. Harper choked, his vision clouding as his balance wavered. He thrashed, but his arms flopped uselessly and his knees went weak.
Fear drenched him like he’d been dowsed in hot oil, burning every last one of his nerve endings. Something bad was coming, and Harper didn’t think he could face it.
And then his world went black.
15
ASH
Ash followedHarper from his apartment to Port Shearwater, flying along behind him. He’d never seen Harper go so far from home. What was he up to?
