Page 101 of Tethered to the World
Xander didn’t stop until her hand was pressed against his massive chest. His heart hammered away under her palm, and she couldn’t resist the urge to stroke him.
When Mason went to reach for Edgar over her head, she reached up and cupped his face. His attention immediately dropped to her, his eyes softening as warmth came back into his lavender eyes and his human side returned.
The fighting around them died down as the rest of their team corralled the wolves. Which was when she noticed her guys were a little the worse for wear. They were exhausted and on edge, their clothes torn and bloodied, their bodies covered with bruises and scrapes, but the way they cut a swath through the fight reminded her why they were one of the best teams.
They were efficient and ruthless in achieving their goals.
She was just thankful they were on her side, or she was very much afraid the ending for her would have been very different.
Logan edged his way between her and Mason until he stood in front of her. His eyes traced her injuries, the blood still trickling down the side of her face. Only when he confirmed she was relatively unhurt did he glare at Edgar over her head, as if blaming him for allowing her to become injured. “Prove it.”
Edgar lifted a single brow at the command, then he casually shrugged. “She cares for you, so I will humor you, but if you get in my way while I’m protecting her the way she needs to be protected, we will have issues.”
Before Logan could retort or she could process his ominous words, Edgar dissolved, then reappeared at her side, easily slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her toward him.
For some reason, the action sent heat across her cheeks. His touch left her skin tingling, her hormones urging her to get closer. Needing time to sort out her emotions, she edged away, feeling suddenly shy being near a guy who knew so much about her while she knew so little about him. “I don’t even know your name.”
He gave her a funny look. “I like Edgar.”
She shook her head, unable to call him that.
Edgar was her friend—she didn’t know who the fuck he was.
“Eddie,” her voice was hoarse. “I’ll call you Eddie.”
Her eyes slid past him and settled on the room behind him…the now-empty room.
Erickson and her uncle were gone.
“What the hell!” She shoved away from the guys and hurried into the office. She surveyed the room, but could find no other doors or windows. “Where did they go?”
The guys quickly crowded in behind her.
They split up, systematically searching the room, none of them giving Tyson’s body on the floor more than a casual glance. Camden rifled through the desk, pulling out anything important. Mason guarded the door, while Xander and Logan checked the walls and floors. Eddie stood next to her, casually scanning everything. His eyes flooded with darkness, the fathomless blue eyes vanishing, and she knew he was seeing into the world beyond.
He sidestepped the bookshelves, then disappeared behind one of them, and she quickly scrambled to follow him…only to have hands grab her from behind and hold her back.
“Not you.” Xander pulled her farther away from the passageway. “The last thing we want to do is risk you being recaptured.”
“You need me,” she protested, but he was already shaking his head.
“We need you to be safe more.” He cleared his throat, his hands stroking gently up and down her arms. “We can’t lose you again. We won’t survive it.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, knowing nothing she could say would change his mind. “Fine, but don’t kid yourself that I’m happy about it.” She crossed her arms to keep from snuggling up against him to ease the slight panic still lingering in his eyes.
“I’ll stay with you.” Logan nudged her away from Xander when it looked like he was unable to let her go. “Go, I’ve got her.”
Xander sighed and rubbed the back of his neck before he nodded and followed the others down the secret passageway.
Eddie came back into the room, clearly torn, and she waved him off. “Go. If you find my uncle, you’re the only one capable of killing him.”
He gave her a brisk nod, his eyes lingering for a second longer, clearly torn, then he vanished with the rest. They were gone no more than a heartbeat when a buzzer sounded, and the secret door swung shut. She whirled, expecting a trap…only to find them alone.
“Let’s get out of here.” Logan grabbed her arm and began to haul her out of the room, only for another buzzer to sound and the main door slammed shut with a resounding clank. “Shit!”
Logan shoved her behind him and spun to search the room.
Yet they were still alone.
