Page 58 of Fangs & Fur

Ambrose and Cassius watch closely while Milo pats the cats at the foot of the staircase, keeping his eyes trained on the front door.

My heart is a raging mess as I jump between wanting to stop this interrogation or screaming at Richard to speak. We are running out of time. The Soultracker will come back.

Ambrose groans and pinches his nose. “Do I need to start ripping fingernails out to get him squealing?”

Xander still clutches me closely and for a moment his lips twitch with an evil smile. “I’m not against that idea.”

I slap his arm and shoot him a look. “Maybe I ask him?”

“Noah! Baby!” Richard pipes up as my voice carries through the room. “Tell your friends this is a big misunderstanding. Come on, baby.”

His voice is like a grater in my head. I never expected to be hearing it again after finding Moonfell. But here I am.

Stepping out from behind Xander, who growls slowly, I take a small step towards Richard. I hate the way Richard’s dull eyes track me as if silently scrutinizing me. Or how he smiles from his spot on the floor. It’s not a real smile. I’ve seen it countless times before. From the way it doesn't reach his eyes nor how his cheeks lift. Like he’s trained his lips to move upwards without actually portraying any kindness.

“Richard,” I start. “How did you find me?”

His smile drops. “Tell your friends to leave first.”

“Not a chance,” Xander growls and slides his arm around my waist, pulling me back from my ex-boyfriend.

Ambrose groans from behind the couch. “This is taking too long. Let me give him something to scream about.”

Richard tenses and a strike of fear slashes across his face. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

The group chuckles. And it’s Harlan who snaps first. With his vampire speed he practically throws himself on top of Richard, straddling his waist and clutching Richard's head with heavy hands.

Richard yelps but Harlan is faster as he uses more compulsion. “How did you find Noah?”

My mind whites out for a moment and everyone seems to also flinch at Harlan’s voice. It’s no longer his youthful, lighthearted rhythm but instead a gravelly, sour tone.

Richard hisses and pinches his eyes shut but his body shakes and more blood trickles from his nostril. Letting out a pained squeak he finally talks.

“A witch. She led me here.” He sucks in a gasp as if his words physically hurt.

“How?” Harlan coughs but manages to continue his assault.

The room tilts and I'm overcome with a wave of dizziness. Xander holds me tight, keeping my knees from buckling. Everyone watches closely and I'm sure none of us breathe.

“How?” Harlan growls and coughs again, yet tiny droplets of dark red blood spray from his lips and cover his chin. He quickly wipes it away, focusing all of his attention back on Richard.

Richard seethes, “A spell. The doll. She told me I could find Noah by following the monster.”

Harlan tilts his head, sizing up his prey. The doll in my grasp grows heavier by the second and I find myself staring intently at it. This tiny, insignificant thing in my hand has caused so much death and pain?

“Why the—” Harlan hacks up a glob of blood and spits it right at Richard, “creature?”

Richard shakes beneath the little vampire who straddles his waist, but Harlan doesn’t budge. Redness strikes up Harlan’s neck and he swallows profusely.

“I-I don’t know.” Richard’s eyes dart around the room as if seeking for something, only to have Harlan grasping his face tighter and directing his attention back to the interrogation. “She just said it would find Noah and stop anyone who got in my way.”

Cassius sighs and Ambrose curses under his breath.

“So he’s an idiot,” Xander growls at Richard. “You find some off-market witch to conjure a demon to hunt Noah’s soul just so you could find him and torture him some more? Haven’t you already done enough!?”

Richard's gaze snaps to Xander and the fear in his features sinks until Richard’s entire being goes still. My heart leaps into my throat. I’ve seen this before. The silence before the explosion.

“Xan?” I tug at Xander’s hand trying to pull him back. I haven’t noticed how close Xander has gotten to Richard as he looms over the human.