“Oh, I like him, Wren. We should definitely try to keep him alive.”
“Theo,” Wren cut in sharply. “You aren’t helping.”
Since I didn’t think it would be a good thing to catch the ire ofanothermonster with claws that could tear me apart, I did the wise thing and pressed my lips together before I hurled an insult at him.
I could be reasonable.
Sometimes.
But I was fairly certain I was about to break down if I didn’t get some kind of answer to all of this.
“I want to tell him… I think maybe… I might be able to now. But I should be the one who does. You know what happened before, Wren.” Sephtis’s voice was so soft, so calm, and it infuriated me.
Before.
ObviouslyWrenknew what was going on, even though I didn’t… and I couldn’t understand the streak of anger at the familiar way he said his name, or the ugly sensation that chased it when Wren nodded slowly.
“I can see the thread between you, though.” He stepped forward, skating his fingers through the air between Sephtis and me in a slow line that made my body tingle for some reason. As he did it, I almost thought I caught a spark of color—red, like the petals that had danced between us the first time we’d met. “It’s real. I can feel how real it is. He might resist it… but…”
“I won’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. I’m not even sure if I can…” Sephtis shook his head, and I felt that anger in my chest building to a near tipping point.
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here.” I snapped, and Wren turned to me with a small smirk. I wanted to threaten him, and maybe it showed in my gaze, because behind him, Theo took a step forward, his hands slightly raised at his sides, those dark claws tipped upward.
No… I knew what those felt like. I didn’t need a repeat experience. Apparently Wren could tell something was wrong too, because he stepped back and slid an arm around Theo’s waist. The man instantly settled, though the look he gave me made me question if he stillliked menow.
I really didn’t give a shit if anyone liked me—I just wanted to know what the hell was going on.
“Is there any way to make this a two-way thing?” Wren pulled a chain from beneath his shirt. “Because it seems like you’re the one who might need help now.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Wren. I can’t ask you to get involved.”
Wren shook his head. “I owe you everything. You don’t understand what you did for me that night. You saved Theo… I…” He shook his head and stretched his hand out, and Theo laced their fingers together, the last of his anger bleeding away into a softer expression. “I’ll help you if I can. If you need it.”
Sephtis glanced down at their joined hands, then back up at the pendant on his neck. “If I concentrate, I can call you. You’ll know where I am.” He hesitated for a breath before he stepped forward and placed a hand on Wren’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
Wren nodded, then bumped against Theo affectionately. “Come on, we should go before Aiden realizes what we’re doing.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Don’t want to get Daddy pissed at us, do we?” But he released Wren’s fingers and took a step away. My jaw dropped when they both rolled their shoulders and wings spread behind them.
Wings.
Impossibility after impossibility, but it seemed like tonight was the night for it. Maybe I really was dead, because I watched as the two men took off into the sky. Angels. Right.
Once they were gone, I swung my attention back to the man behind me—theassholewho kept interfering with my life. At least some small part of me was aware that he was just protecting me—an even smaller part remembered that the only reason I’d gotten hurt was because I’d put myself between him and the monster that attacked us.
No, I wasn’t going to think about that. Right now, I stalked toward him. I didn’t know if I was going to hit him again, or if I wanted to tangle my fingers in his hair and take the kiss I’d tried to get earlier by force. At least then I could taste the lie on his tongue when he refused to tell me what was going on.
Whatever I was going to do was cut off as a sound spilled through the air. At first, I thought it was just dogs, but the note carried… and carried. It raised up into an unnatural, near feverish pitch. The sound slid across my skin and slipped into my bones, singing out one word over and over again.
Danger.
Chapter 10
Sephtis
I’d gotten awaywith my ruse for so long, but it was obvious that Death was tired of my games. The sound of the hounds baying in the distance told me as much, and even though Cole looked like he was ready to tear me limb from limb, that didn’t stop his fingers clutching the fabric of my sweater to tug slightly, like pulling me close could somehow make what he’d just heard go away.
“We need to move. Now.”
