Page 106 of Bent Out of Shade
“We seem to be alone.” I mopped the sweat from my cleavage and checked my cell phone, but there still wasn’t any reception. “You know what’ll help? Music.” I discarded my first choice of “I Will Survive” in favor of an enthusiastic rendition of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive.” Yes. There was a theme. Whatever.
I even encouraged Emmett to hum along, our voices growing louder as Laurent grew stiller. By the top, I was using my good shoulder to shove him onto the landing, while Emmett heaved from the other side.
By the time we got Laurent across the kitchen, Emmett was swaying and the pain blazing down my arm from my injury made me nauseous. I wasn’t sure how much more any of us could handle, but if we waited here in the kitchen until our help came we’d be exposed.
“We stick with the plan,” I said.
The moon was higher now, hitting us like a spotlight the moment we stepped outside. I let it bathe Laurent, but he didn’t shift to wolf form like I’d hoped. Instead, he let out a low moan that didn’t let up.
Sweat burned my eyes, and I had to keep taking breaks, but we got most of the way down the back stairs. Our hiding spot in the bushes was close enough to taste.
Suddenly, Emmett lost his footing on the final stair, rolling his ankle.
I carefully set Laurent down, but he flopped limply into the dirt, still moaning. His closed lids fluttered madly, his face was flushed, and he was perspiring. I pressed my lips to his forehead to check his temperature and my heart sank.
“Don’t you dare die on me,” I snapped. “I did not buy that corset for nothing.”
Emmett hissed, attempting to stand up. Even with my help, he couldn’t put any weight on that foot, but more worrying was the gray sheen covering his red skin.
I hid my clenched fists behind my back and shoved down a scream. “Crawl over to those bushes, okay?”
He got onto all fours as best he could but limp-crawled in the other direction. “Wolf,” he mumbled.
“Don’t ever doubt yourself or your ability to keep people safe, all right?” Hopefully this stubborn, wonderful golem hadn’t heard the shakiness in my voice. “You’re a survivor, my friend.”
He nodded.
I positioned Laurent over Emmett’s back, once again carrying the shifter’s shoulders and head.
About twenty feet from our hiding spot, a car crunched up the gravel out front of the large house.
Emmett and I exchanged panicked glances, and he hauled butt to the bushes, collapsing as car doors slammed.
Gritting my teeth, I tugged Laurent far enough behind the brambles that none of him stuck out, then I kissed Emmett’s forehead, mindful of his mangled jaw. “You’re the bravest partner ever,” I whispered. “Can you muffle Laurent?”
He nodded weakly and fell onto his back, one hand over the shifter’s mouth.
Keeping one hand on Laurent’s chest to make sure he was breathing, shallow as it was, I grabbed my phone, my eyes welling up at the sight of those two beautiful bars. Emmett needed Jude stat. I’d call her to meet us after I phoned Juliette.
“It’s over,” Ryann called out, coming around from the side of the house. Her pink leggings and oversize sweater with a unicorn on it did nothing to diminish the power she projected. “Show yourself.”
I dropped the cell into the dirt. Was she here for me?
“Copy that.”
I’d heard that man’s voice before. Frowning, I peered through the bushes.
Hawaiian shirt Lonestar touched his ear. “The house is empty. Did BatKian get to Vincenzo or did the other vamp get away?”
Ryann swore, which was so unlike her that I flinched. “Have they broken the ward across Blood Alley yet? Do we have Sabrina in custody?”
My pulse spiked. Holy fuck.
Emmett dropped his hand because Laurent’s face was shifting into a deformed muzzle. He’d stopped moaning, but white foam leaked from his mouth.
Wiping Laurent’s fur with my sleeve, I called up my contacts with a shaking hand, almost missing Ryann saying my name.
“No,” Hawaiian shirt Lonestar said. “Detective Chu would have checked in if he’d found her. Same with Tatiana if Miriam had called. Last I heard, her phone hadn’t been turned on for Anna to track.”
