Page 15 of Lucifer's Mirror
“You’re a wolf?” I say.
He gives me a perplexed look. “So?” Like it’s a completely normal thing to be. “And ‘now’ means right now.”
I nod. “We need to get Zayne to a hospital.”
His glance shifts from me to Zayne. “No time. I’ll finish him off quickly.”
His words take a moment to settle in. “You’ll what?” I squeak.
“He’s human.” Then he frowns. “Isn’t he?”
“Of course, he’s human.”
“He’s been bitten. It will likely be a mercy killing.” He takes a step toward us, and I jump to my feet.
“Not freaking happening,” I growl. He comes to a halt right in front of me. I block his path. No way is he getting anywhere near Zayne. I push him in the chest, but he doesn’t shift. “Zayne is my friend,” I say, enunciating each word. “You are not killing my friend.” I have no clue how I’ll stop him, but I will. I straighten my shoulders and glare into his golden eyes.
He must see the resolve there because he frowns. “He’ll likely die anyway. Slowly and painfully. And if he doesn’t…” His frown deepens. “Do you understand what you’re consigning him to?”
I have no freaking clue. But that’s pretty much the story of my life at the moment. So I’ll worry about it later, along with monsters with crimson eyes and men who turn into wolves. Or is it wolves that turn into men? “I don’t care. You are not killing my friend. Accept it.”
His nostrils flare, but he gives a sharp nod. He steps forward, but I hold my ground. I don’t trust him. “Give me your word that you won’t hurt him.”
His eyes narrow. “You have my word I won’t harm your friend. I think you’ll regret this decision, but we don’t have time to argue the point right now. Move.”
I swallow, not convinced I’m doing the right thing. He studies me for a moment, and for the first time, I see something softer in his eyes—understanding, maybe. Or pity.
“You have to come with me, Amber. Those things will return for you. And next time, they will succeed. You don’t want to go where they’ll take you.” When I remain silent, he steps close and holds out his hand. “Trust me, Amber. I will keep you safe from the monsters.”
“Yeah, says the freaking werewolf,” I mutter.
It occurs to me that I can definitely cross Khaosti off my very short "who-wrote-the-note" list. He would hardly tell me to leave, then come and find me again when I do. And while I have no idea why, I do trust him. He calls to something deep inside me—fanciful, I know—but I’ve come to trust my feelings. Besides, something is happening, something far stranger than my dreams of discovering I was a lost princess, and I want to know what. I also want to stay alive, and he’s saved me twice now. I slowly reach out and take his hand. A tingle of electricity runs between us, and his eyes widen. He feels this too. Whateverthisis.
Maybe I’m not the only one who will live to regret tonight.
Chapter 9
Coma Dream or Nightmare Reality?
Zayneisquiet.Ithink he’s lost consciousness, but I can see the rise and fall of his chest. Khaosti hunkers down, then tosses Zayne over his shoulder and straightens as though my six-foot friend weighs nothing.
Without another word, Khaosti heads off around the house with Zayne dangling over his shoulder. I hurry after them.
Maybe I should tell him to leave. And call an ambulance. And the police. And tell them… what? That we were attacked by shadows with red eyes that vanished in a puff of smoke when bitten by a werewolf? A hysterical urge to laugh builds up in my throat. Maybe I’m back in my coma and this is all a dream.
I have a strange feeling Khaosti wouldn’t take kindly to me suggesting I stay here. And I don’t really want to. He’s saved me from those things twice now. Maybe he won’t bother a third time. Maybe he’ll decide I’m not worth the effort. Besides, I still want to know whatever he knows. Did Khaosti know me before? How could I forget someone who looks like him?
I follow him down the drive and through the open gate. The same black SUV he drove last night is parked at the curbside, skewed as though it stopped in a hurry.
Khaosti opens the back door and slides Zayne inside, so he sprawls half-sitting, half-lying on the back seat.
“Should we do something? Bandage his neck? Stop the bleeding?”
Khaosti glances at me over his shoulder, irritation stamped on his features. I suspect he already thinks I’m more trouble than I’m worth. “When we’ve put some distance between us and this place. Unless you want to stick around and see if any more of your friends turn up.”
He’s got a point. There’s no room in the back, so I climb into the front passenger seat as Khaosti gets into the driver’s side, and we’re moving within seconds.
I peer over my shoulder. Zayne’s eyes are still closed, and his face is pale. “Will he be all right?” I ask.