Page 29 of Mortal Blood
“Thaden who?” I asked, melting against his chest. “Anyway, I didn’t see you kicking him out of our dorm when he was watching us last year.”
“What happened to ‘Thaden who’?” he teased.
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“Your wish…”
His lips closed over mine, and everything else faded into the background.
…For about ten seconds.
“Well, well, what do we have here then?”
The sneering voice raised my strictly metaphorical hackles, and I blew out an irritated sigh.
“Fuck sake, should have just stayed in our room,” I murmured to Cole, and then louder, “What do you want, Kallan?”
I turned, utterly unsurprised to find him flanked by Harvey and Eva. He really was taking the whole safety-in-numbers thing seriously. Probably wise, given that he spent most of his spare time trying to rile Cole. Not to mention certain threats he’d madeabout wars and kidnapping last year.
“Just thought I’d pop by and say hi,” he smirked.
“And I just grew a third leg.”
He flicked a glance at my arm and I grimaced. Right. The whole shifting thing. I shook my head irritably.
“Just drop whatever lame threat is on your mind, and leave. I’ve got better things to do with my afternoon than trade insults with a wannabe.”
“Oh, wannabe, is it?” He shared a look with his two smirking sidekicks that sent a trickle of unease down my spine. “Don’t worry, we’ll be on our way soon enough. I just wanted to see if there was much of a family resemblance. See, Harvey here says you’ve got the same eyes as your mom, but I think the resemblance is more below the neck…if you know what I mean.”
I surged forward, and it was only Cole’s quick arm that stopped me slamming into him.
“Leave it,” Cole breathed, dropping his arm to wrap it around my waist. “He’s just trying to get a reaction.”
And I’d given him one. Obviously. But still…
“I think you’re both wrong,” Eva said. “It’s that common as muck mouth they both share.”
Kallan laughed. “You’re right. But her mom doesn’t have nearly as much attitude as her. Maybe the Iron Shadows’ doctors put her in her place. Maybe I’ll do the same for you, Cali, when we win the war. All bets are off now, after all.”
My mouth went dry. They knew where she was. They’d seen her.Spokento her. The war…
“Get out of here, Kallan,” Cole said, aggression and dangerrolling off him in waves. “Before I make you.”
“Gladly. See you later, Cali.”
He blew a mocking kiss, and this time it was me holding Cole back as Kallan sauntered away, laughing.
“Cole,” I whispered, and he turned back to me in a heartbeat. My voice was hoarse and raspy, and my throat was so closed it was hard to get the words out.
“We don’t know anything yet,” he said. “He could be lying.”
“But he might not be.”
Cole nodded. “I know. We need to find Jax. Can you walk?”
I hardened my eyes, thinking of the thousand things I’d do to Kallan if he’d laid so much as a finger on my mom. Shit. Mymom.
“Into hell, if I have to.”
