CHAPTERSEVEN
MARCUS
The waitfor Harrison seemed interminable. Merry remained silent, her back still to the corner. I hovered by the door and tried to appear harmless. Considering the way she watched me, I didn't think I succeeded.
Thirty minutes later, a car door slammed outside. Merry jumped and her eyes went to the front door. A few moments later, Harrison knocked.
When I opened the door, Merry gasped. Harrison no longer looked as gentle and unassuming as he usually did. His eyes were intense and lighter than usual. The aura of power that he kept locked down shimmered around him, nearly visible in the late morning light. This wasn't the easygoing manager of The Magic Bean. This was the alpha wolf who carried magic in his blood and bones.
Merry must have felt it because she visibly shivered.
"Are either of you hurt?" Harrison asked.
Merry shook her head and I answered, "No."
He nodded once. "Good. We need to go. I left Arien alone at the shop and with everything that's happened today, I need to get back. Are you ready to go?" he asked Merry.
"Yes, but what about my things from the hotel? My car?"
"I can go pick them up for you."
Merry tried to hide her wince, but we both caught it.
"How about if Ava and Savannah pack it up for you and bring it later tonight?" I suggested. "Harrison or Macgrath can drive your car out to the house."
"Okay."
Harrison opened the front door and his head swiveled as he looked around. He inhaled deeply. "We're clear."
Merry hesitated before she came to stand beside me. She wouldn't look directly at me, but at Harrison's back where he stood in the doorway. I hated the fact that she was afraid of me now.
Then, she surprised me by saying, "Thank you for putting yourself between Marcel and me."
I had no idea what to say, but I had to say something. "Anytime."
She glanced up at me then, her skepticism written all over her face.
"I told you that I would protect you. I keep my word."
Merry studied me for several moments. "Against my better judgment, I believe you."
"You should."
Harrison turned back to us. "Merry, you'll walk just behind me. Marcus, stay to her right and close. If they're downwind, I can't smell them, so you'll be between her and anyone who might try to flank us."
Merry shivered at his words. "I don't understand why this is happening," she whispered. "I barely spoke two words to him while I was at the interview."
I remained silent. I had no idea what was happening either, but I had my suspicions based on her nightmares. It wouldn't have surprised me at all if Rhiannon had promised Merry to other vampires, like Dumont, and now he expected to collect. It was something the witch would have done without qualm.
"Let's go."
I kept pace with Merry as we followed Harrison out the front door. He gave me a split second to relock the front door and we were moving again. Harrison helped Merry into the back seat of my truck and I climbed into the front and started the vehicle.
"I'll follow you to your house," Harrison stated before he shut the back door.
"Can I ride up front?" Merry asked from behind me.
"Yes, but you'll have to climb over."
