“Where is it?” he demanded.
I clutched at his wrist and opened and closed my mouth to demonstrate my problem—his hold was stopping me from speaking. Impatiently, he relaxed his grip a little, but he didn’t take his hand away.
“Where’swhat?”
“The fucking family bible.”
About to tell him I didn’t have a clue it even existed, I changed my mind. His eyes weren’t right. They were shining, over-excited. And the strength in him… In that instant, I knew he’d break my neck if I upset him.
“It’s been moved.” I played desperately for time as my mind raced. Could I tell him it was in the priest hole and shove him inside as he peered in, shutting the door on him? Or tell him Archer had it in his room—no. If he kept hold of my throat, I wouldn’t be able to warn Archer, and I’d left him fast asleep. He’d be vulnerable and defenceless.
“What thefuckdo you think you’re doing?” Archer’s growl, deep andfurious.
He stood in the doorway, exuding menace and authority even though he was barefoot and wore only his burgundy sleep pants. For an instant, I thought I could see the shadow of his wings outstretched in threat. “Let Ollie go.”
Chris’s fingers tightened, and I choked.
Archer stalked towards us, his dragon visible in his eyes, rage and violence swirling around him.
“Stop.” Chris barked it out. “Or I’ll break his neck.” He meant it. This was really, really bad, and everything was going dark.
Archer froze.
Chris’s grip loosened slightly, and I sucked in much-needed air. “He’s on drugs,” I got out in Archer’s direction, needing to warn him Chris wasn’t rational.
“What do you want?” Archer demanded of Chris, taut with tension.
“To take what’s mine.” Chris’s face twisted in rage. “Give me that fucking bible.”
Confusion bled through Archer’s ferocity at the unexpected order. “What? Why?”
“Don’t act clueless. If you don’t give it to me, I’m going to take it, and you know what? Iwantyou to try and stop me. This has been a long time coming.”
“I have no idea where it is,” Archer said. “And I’m not going to fight you, Chris.”
I wished he hadn’t sounded so contemptuous, because Chris’s fingers jerked around my neck.
“You will if I kill your little fuck toy.”
Chapter Thirty-one
ARCHER
The terror on Ollie’s face was a punch to the heart. I’d failed him.
“Leave him.” I didn’t know what my voice was doing, but it didn’t sound like me. “I’ll fight you right now, but leave Ollie alone.”
Pleading, that was what my voice had done. Not something I’d ever done before, but for Ollie I’d sacrifice my pride, my dignity,everything.
“Please, Chris.”
The smile that curved his mouth was dragonish—this wasn’t the Chris that I knew. But he released Ollie and stepped away from him, and that was all that mattered.
I was between them in a heartbeat, desperate to check Ollie was unhurt but unable to turn my back on the threat to us both.
“Outside. One minute,” Chris said, before leaving me alone with Ollie.
I turned to him, and he threw himself against me. “It’s okay,” I said, holding him as he trembled. “You’re okay now.”
