Sirens?Of coursesirens were real too. But was this a bad thing? I glanced at Beth out of the corner of my eye. She looked pale and shaken.
The vampire continued in an emotionless voice. “And we all know that if that’s true, it’s doubtful he’s alive.”
Ice moved through my veins, and I felt like his words echoed over and over again through my mind.
“No.”
He looked between me and Beth. “I’m guessing Karma isn’t familiar with those beasts?”
“He’s still alive,” I said, and my voice had an angry note.
The vampire’s mouth opened, as if he was about to laugh, and then he glanced into his pants and seemed to think better of it. But I didn’t care what he said or thought. We’d faced shifters and vampires in my search for my brother, and none of them had managed to hurt Henry. I wasn’t about to believe that some fish had.
Beth tugged on the back of my dress. “Let’s go.”
“No,” I said. “Not until he tells us more. Not until he--”
“That’s all I know!” The anger in his voice made the two women beside him draw back further.
I glared at him, trying to think of a way karma could hurt him for blaming some sirens on this, and for saying my Henry was probably dead. But my whole body was shaking so hard that my teeth were chattering, and I couldn’t think of a way to hurt this man more.
“He’s not lying,” Beth said, after a tense moment.
“But Henry’s still alive,” I told her rather than asked.
She hesitated. “There’s nothing better we can do for Henry right now than go and follow this lead.”
I released a slow breath. Okay, if she believed the vampire, I’d have to have faith that my best friend knew what she was talking about, even if I hated the idea of us leaving this place without Henry. And in the back of my mind, I felt truly afraid for what it meant that my brother was with sirens: creatures that apparently the vampires and witches feared.
Nodding, I turned to go.
“What about fixing my slammer?”
Slammer? Ugh. Some men were just disgusting.
I focused on Atonal and chose my words carefully. “When you’ve convinced the magic you’re not a jerk, that will go away. And be warned, if you try to retaliate and hurt me or kill me or any of my loved ones, it’ll disappear entirely and won’t come back.”
He nodded vigorously with his hand on his crotch. “Understood! You have my word!”
“We gotta go,” Beth whispered, more urgently this time.
She grabbed my hand and tugged me all the way down the stairs, through the quiet downstairs, then up the long flight stairs that led back to the club. Lurch watched us in surprise as Beth dragged me toward the main door. I waved as I stumbled behind her, and he grinned.
When we were outside in the relatively cool night air, I yanked back on her arm. “Beth!” I yelled. “Stop.”
She listened, stopping right there. Between the parking lot lights and the moon overhead, I could make out something of her expression. And what I saw scared me.
“What is it?” Goosebumps blossomed on my skin.
“Listen, Emma, the thing is. If he pissed off the sirens, he’s not missing. He’s dead.”
16
Daniel
Emma and Beth came running through the parking lot like the hounds of hell were on their heels. “Whoa,” I yelled, throwing my arms wide as though I could catch them.
Beth managed to skid to a halt, but Emma landed right in my arms. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. Even the bear within me seemed to stand at attention as I got lost in her earthy scent and the soft curves of her body for a moment too long before my gaze snapped down to her and reality came crashing back into me. Why in the world were they running? And why did Emma look so upset?
