Chapter 10
Elizabeth took a bite of her sandwich as Max and Dylan followed her into the woods. Evan escaping from a mental institution was the only answer she could come up with. The only thing left of the shifters’ dead bodies was little more than white ash scattered in the dirt and on the green fallen leaves. When a shifter died, the myth was true that it turned back into its human shell; what wasn’t known was why some continued disintegrating until nothing was left but ash.
Evan couldn’t be telling the truth. It just didn’t make sense. None of it did. She wasn’t a royal. She didn’t have or need a protector now, and even if there was a speck of truth to Evan’s claims, there was no way in hell she’d return to a father who had thrown her out like the trash. Nope. She shook her head. Colton Trapp could deal with this dipwad. She had more pressing things to worry about, like who was abducting the women and where the heck they were being held.
That thought had her pausing mid-step. She spun around to face the house. “Evan knew.”
“Knew what, Lizzie?” Max asked.
“He knew my past. He knew about the lab, the vials…” She let her thoughts trail off.
“Even if he knew some of whatever happened to you, why act as your protector now? Why not before when it sounded like it mattered most?” Dylan shrugged and kicked around the leaves, looking for clues as to who might have sent the shifters.
“I’m not talking about my past. He followed the missing girls out of the club.” Her mouth parted. He had the answers she needed to break this damn case.
Elizabeth left the boys in their search and jogged up to the house. Flinging the back door open, she stomped inside.
Evan was pinned against the wall with Rhys’ fingers wrapped around his throat. “Put me down, bear, before I have to kill you, and then she’ll really get pissed at me.”
“I’d like to see you try.” Rhys banged Evan even harder against the wall.
“What the hell are you two doing?” Elizabeth demanded through gritted teeth. “Rhys, drop him. And Evan… don’t you dare threaten him again, or I don’t care who the hell you are, I’ll kill you myself.”
“You don’t need to fight my battles, Lizzie,” Rhys growled and released his hold. Evan dropped into a crouch. His muscles strung tight.
“She’s the only reason you’re still breathing, bear,” Evan choked out as he stood.
“What happened?” she demanded.
Evan prodded. “You might as well tell her.”
“Your Guard claims that he’s destined to be your mate,” Rhys growled.
Elizabeth’s gaze shot to Evan’s as she moved to stand beside Rhys. She entwined their fingers in a reassuring grip. “Now I know you’re on crack. I can feel the pull between Rhys and me. Hell, I can’t even deny that. You can’t even explain it, other than what happens between mates.”
Rhys glanced down at her, letting go of her hand. He cupped her face and held her gaze. Lowering his head, he pressed a kiss to her lips. He understood what she’d just said. Her words weren’t to appease anyone other than herself. She’d meant what she said, regardless if they’d yet to seal the deal. Rhys cared about her. He might not love her yet, but there was potential where once there had been nothing but a dismal, empty shell of a life for her. He brought color and feelings into her life when everything she’d felt had been stolen from her a year ago. Spending one day with Rhys might not have convinced her she loved him, but she knew she cared and that he cared about her, which was more than Evan could argue.
Evan’s lips twisted at the corners. “You haven’t claimed him, and he hasn’t claimed you.”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s a full moon tonight. If he’d bitten you or you him, then he’d be dead. It’s part of your genetics,” Evan answered, not in a threat but as if it was a natural response.
“I’ve known him less than forty-eight hours,” She whispered as she turned back to Evan.
She heard the car pull up without even having to look out the window. “Rhys, I need a few minutes alone with Evan.”
“Are you sure?” Worry clouded his gaze.
She cupped his face. “I’m sure. Colton is about to drag him down to the precinct, and I need a few minutes to ask him my own questions.”
He ran the pad of his thumb across her lips before walking out the front door to buy her some time.
She had to work quickly. She spun around to face Evan. “You followed the women out of the club. You knew about me and the lab. My guess is you know exactly who is behind the abductions and where they’re holding these women.”
Evan raised his brow but didn’t answer her question. “Finally piece it together, did you?”
“Why are they doing this?”
