Then he realised Drew’s hands were bound, a big, bulky man keeping him in place, with one hand fisted in his bright hair, and a glinting sword held to his throat. The man’s face was in shadow, but Lindsay knew him by his unmistakable scent.
Mercer.
Mercer stepped into the light. His smile was as ugly as the rest of him. “Good evening, cur.”
Lindsay’s wolf clamoured to shift, to attack, scrabbling up to the surface with desperate whines, making Lindsay’s heart thunder in his ears and his blood race. He held the beast back though. It was too risky—one slice of that sword and Drew was dead. Mercer grinned at the knowledge, showing strong, sharp teeth.
“Come in,” he said affably. “We’ve much to talk about.”
Drew’s head lolled. He seemed dazed, an ugly bruise blooming on his temple, his lip swollen and bleeding. He sagged a little on his knees.
“Lindsay?” He sounded confused. “What are you—?”
“It’s all right,” Lindsay said, trying to sound reassuring, as ridiculous as that was. Warily, he stepped further into the room, his gaze shifting between the two men in front of him.
Behind him, the door closed, freezing his blood.
Locks tumbled as Cruikshank sealed it.
This was it, then. A moment he’d been dreading for a hundred years.
“What do you want?” Lindsay bit out.
Mercer jerked his head at Drew who was half-slumped at his feet. Drew didn’t react—was he even conscious? “Not your usual type, is he?” Mercer sneered.
Lindsay didn’t react. “I barely know him,” he said.
“Not what I hear.” Mercer said. He nodded at Cruikshank over Lindsay’s shoulder. “Unlucky for you, he had a boy watching your friend here—before you arrived even. He was looking for a chance at blackmailing him.” He laughed, adding in a conspiratorial tone, “He’s up to all sorts, is Cruikshank. Fingers in every pie—you wouldn’t believe!”
Lindsay just stared at him.
“And then you come along,” Mercer said, grinning now. “Tripping up to this one’s rooms, and him tripping down to yours.” He gave a hearty laugh and nodded at Cruikshank again. “When that auld bastard told me about it, I said, ‘Our cur’s been fucking him, I’ll wager!’and I see a chance, don’t I? To get you back before our master gets home.” He smiled, evilly. “So, let’s sort this out now, shall we?”
“Sort what out?” Lindsay managed, his voice scathing, fear for Drew firmly clamped down. “You can’t beat me in a fair fight, and you know it.” He sneered the words hoping to goad Mercer into shifting and attacking Lindsay, taking his attention from Drew. Mercer had always been hotheaded and quick to anger, prone to shifting before thinking.
But it seemed that Mercer wasn’t so easily manipulated anymore. Though his jaw pulsed and his pale eyes glinted with temper, he kept control of his wolf. “Apparently I was wrong, Cruikshank,” he said, addressing the old man without taking his gaze from Lindsay’s face. “Our friend here doesn’t actually care if I slice this one’s throat.” He pulled Drew’s head back again. “Shall I do it, then?”
Lindsay’s heart thundered and his mind raced, but he couldn’t think of a way out.
“Well?” Mercer prompted, “Have you changed so much? You used to be so sentimental about mortals.” He pressed the sword a little closer to Drew’s throat and widened his eyes. “Now?” he whispered.
Drew stirred, moaning, and Lindsay’s wolf howled with pain.
“No,” he said, defeated.
“Good,” Mercer replied with satisfaction. He glanced at Cruikshank. “Get the collar.”
Lindsay flinched, unable to disguise his reaction to that word, and Mercer’s grin widened. Cruikshank headed for his desk, pulling out his key ring.
Drew stirred again and tried to pull free of Mercer’s grip. “Whatisthis?” he slurred, dazed and distressed, and Lindsay stepped towards him instinctively.
“Don’t move!” Mercer snapped, and Lindsay froze, hands curling into fists in frustration. “Not another step or I’ll end him, understand?”
Drew moaned and tried to pull away again.
“Stay still,” Lindsay instructed softly, and Drew subsided, as though soothed by Lindsay’s voice.
Cruikshank was moving towards them again, a hessian bag in his hands. He stopped a few feet from Lindsay and opened the bag, drawing out a silver circlet with a stout fastening, which he immediately dropped. Cursing, he stared at his hand, then at Mercer, a question in his eyes.
