She stirred on the gurney, her movements slow and uncoordinated – and James took advantage of the distraction, bounding over to her and hauling her up into a sitting position in a single smooth motion, the deadly syringe held at her neck. Any movements Rhys may have been making in her direction stilled into utter motionlessness. Even his griffin froze.
“What’s wrong, Rhys?” James taunted. “Griffin got your tongue? Not willing to do what needs to be done, and take down a threat while it’s distracted with its hostage?”
What happened to you?Rhys didn’t say, even as he tried to lock eyes with Maisie, who still looked pretty out of it, her head lolling, her eyes unfocused.
He didn’t know how much more betrayal he could take. Of all the people,James?He’d been genuine when he’d taken Rhys under his wing during his Academy days. He was certain of it.
James shook his head at the lack of response. “And to think you were my best student. I guess all good things must come to an end.” He shook Maisie’s shoulder, her head rolling back and forth with the motion, and Rhysseethed, his fists clenching. “Okay, love – upsy-daisy.”
He hauled Maisie to her feet, holding up most of her body weight with one arm wrapped around her side, while the syringe was held close to her throat with the other hand.
“Rhys?” Maisie said again, her head still hanging limply.
“Aren’t you going to console her, Rhys?” James said mockingly. “Your mate is calling for you.”
“It’s okay, Maisie,” Rhys said, even as his griffin screamed at him to twist off James’s head like a bottle top. “Everything’s going to be fine. You can rest soon.”
“That’s more like it,” James said, as he led Maisie to the door, her feet dragging as she tried to keep up with him. “Did you hear that, Maisie? Everything’s going to be fine.”
As he reached the door, he smirked. “After you, Rhys. Hands where I can see them. Don’t even think about trying to grab yourself a scalpel or anything else that could be used as a weapon on the way out.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he muttered as he went through the door.It’ll be much more satisfying to tear you apart with my bare hands, anyway.
There was nobody else out there – he supposed that James had used his cronies to clear the area.
He walked down the corridor, chafing at the bit, desperate to grab Maisie and rip that fucker James to shreds… but he knew he couldn’t. Not yet, anyway. He’d always been a bit of a hothead, much as he hated to admit it, but right now he needed to keep his cool and wait for the right moment.
You’ve been training your entire adult life for this. Just keep your head on straight. The moment will come.
It was easier said than done. Even though he was walking ahead of the other two, he could hear the shuffling of Maisie’s feet, the panting of her breath, her confused questions. He wanted nothing more in the world than to turn around… but, as long as he could hear her behind him, alive and mostly well, he knew that his best option was to just keep going.
“Where to, boss?” he asked, his voice light, but with a definite acidic undertone.
“Into the lift, if you please,” James replied jovially. “If you could take us to the roof, that would be most appreciated, thank you.”
The roof. That’s not good.
On the contrary,his griffin snarled.That’s the best possible place.
That was true, he supposed. The roof would give the griffin the best possible chance of winning a fight – and when it came to the possibility of being spotted shifting by a member of the public, both Rhys and the griffin had zero fucks left to give.
The lift rose upward, dented and battered from its earlier boar-versus-griffin showdown, but still functional. Enough time had passed since then for Rhys’s injuries to heal, and he was able andextremelywilling to go a second round with this arsehole.
This time, there won’t be enough of you left for the authorities to identify.
The doors opened at the roof level, and Rhys exited, followed by James, who was still dragging Maisie along with that fucking needle held to her neck… and now they were way up off the ground, to boot.
I won’t let anything happen to you,he promised, willing the thoughts to pass through the mate bond.You and I are walking out of here, and then we’re going away somewhere where no one else can find us. Just the two of us.
James faced him, arm around Maisie’s unresisting body, an infuriating smirk plastered on his face. The afternoon breeze swirled and blustered around them, bringing faint traffic sounds from the street far below.
“Okay,” Rhys said. “Time to talk.”
Chapter 21
Well, my annual leave isn’t exactly going as planned.
Maisie listened closely as Rhys talked to this James arsehole, who still –ugh– had his arm around her waist. She wanted nothing more than to yank it aside and run across the rooftop to Rhys, but she had a charade to keep up.
