Page 14 of The Shade of Things
Eli hauled the man out and slammed him up against the wall. “Shit won’t just happen, it’ll rain down unless you talk.”
Even I got a flutter in my belly at his commanding tone, but Ian flinched again like he expected the beating.
“Eli, stop.”
“Five years ago,” Eli said. “Who took you?”
Ian’s arms shot up in defense, the fight in his hazel eyes dimmed. His hands trembled, then he clenched them into fists at his sides. “Aliens,” he sneered.
Eli shoved his arm across the man’s neck and leaned his weight into it. Ian went red, scrabbling at my ex, but he was no match.
I grabbed Eli’s shoulder. “He’s been hurt by vamps. Don’t make it worse.”
My ex dipped his gaze down to the bruised skin and he released Ian, who gulped down air. “Who took you?” he repeated gently, his head tilted, and his eyebrows raised.
Ian half twisted away, his shoulders up at his ears, but when Eli continued to remain silent, waiting for the answer, Ian’s brow furrowed. Almost like he didn’t understand Eli’s genuine concern.
“I don’t know.” A forlorn expression crossed Ian’s face. “I don’t, man.”
I stepped closer. “A young woman shopping with her friend vanished into thin air like you did. Can you tell us anything to help find her?”
Ian went white as a sheet. He tried to back away, but as he was against the wall, he hyperventilated instead.
Sighing, Eli gently led him to the bed. “Sit with your head between your knees and breathe.”
I took the spot on Ian’s other side. “I don’t know what your abductors did to you, but you can help save this girl and bring them down.”
“Leave him alone,” Celeste snapped.
Clea had the vampire in a headlock out in the hallway. The slender operative of Asian heritage wasn’t expending any energy to keep Celeste subdued. How strong was this Ohrist? Not a strand of her dyed-black bob was amiss, nor did any scratch mar the skin under her tank top, her left arm and collarbone covered in intricate tattoos.
I decided then and there that I wanted to be her. “Aww. You brought me a present.”
“I’m following orders,” Clea said through a tight jaw.
Celeste gasped out Ian’s name, unable to say more because the Ohrist had tightened her chokehold.
Eli picked up the discarded knife and held it to Ian’s throat. “Okay, vamp. If you’re that invested in his well-being, make him talk.”
Celeste’s eyes darted to the knife and her quivering food source, then in a blur of movement, she punched Clea’s gut.
Clea grunted, losing her hold long enough for the vampire to dart free.
Celeste got two steps closer to her blood donor before Clea grabbed the back of her shirt with one hand and wrenched the vamp’s head sideways with her other.
Celeste screeched and made a gurgled choking sound. “You made me swallow my gum.”
I must have been gazing at Clea with hearts in my eyes because Eli elbowed me and hissed, “Focus.”
I snapped back to attention, leaning closer to Ian. “Every vamp in that ballroom knows you chose Celeste,” I said. “Help us or Clea will kill Celeste and we’ll drop you in their midst for the taking.” I crossed my arms with a cold smile. “You say you’d rather be with someone like Damien than locked up, but get real. How long do you think you’d last with one of that crowd?”
Clea raised an eyebrow as if impressed, and I resisted the urge to preen. “I don’t take orders from you,” she said flatly.
Give me a break already. I jabbed a finger at her. “You need to get over your issues with me. I’m not some mercenary, I am a very good person.”
Clea gave me her classic deadpan stare.
I pasted a smile on my face and moderated my tone. “Clea, would you please let Celeste go? A Sapien is missing and we’re running out of time.”
