Leander gave a wry laugh.“I will not talk.I’m the one who trusted a drug dealer.”
“Not elaborating on my stupidity is a great kindness,” Heng said, his voice weary and thin in a way Leander wasn’t used to hearing.“Thank you for coming to my aid.”
“I don’t think you would have needed aid if not for me.”
“I’ve seen a lot of obsessed partners.She would have come after him eventually,” Xi said.
“Since I have no interest in a relationship with her, I agree.If she was determined to be my wife, we would have come into conflict eventually.I am only regretful that her schemes nearly cost your life,” Heng told Xi.
He shrugged.“It’s not the first time someone’s tried to kill me.I doubt it’s the last.”
“I would hope that it is the last.Magical China is not so dangerous that one must watch for assassins.This is not a historical drama, even if we prefer to take fashion tips from one.”Heng smiled, and while he was still pale, there was genuine humor there.
“There are three people watching the hotel who might challenge that assumption,” Leander pointed out.
“Oh shit,” Xi said.The profanity didn’t translate well into Chinese, but Leander understood the general meaning, and Heng looked concerned enough that he must have as well.“Little Ms.Obsessed has just walked into the shadows with our watchers.”
“En...his mother,” Heng cursed at the idea of Min helping their watchers.Not even Xi’s confused expression at the literal translation of the vulgar term was enough to dent the horror Leander felt.She could lead them straight to Leander and Xi, even back to the village.If those were Druwolf’s men, that was all the help they would need to kill all of them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“We need to get outof this room,” Xi said.
“My clothes...”Heng lurched toward the dresser, but Xi intercepted him.
“Are not worth your life.”Xi pulled Heng toward the exit.
“Iamtrying to divest myself of worldly concerns,” Heng said, his voice rich with humor.He followed Xi without complaint.
“How can you find any of this humorous?She can lead them back to the village.Are you an idiot not to realize that?”Leander demanded, and then he flushed at his own unacceptable behavior.
Heng grinned at him.“Your concern is noted,” he said as if Leander hadn’t just been totally out of line.Keeping a sarcastic retort behind his teeth, Leander followed.
Xi led them to the end of the hall.“Three people are moving toward us.I’m going to lose them when they go into the sunshine.Is there another way out of here?”
“Staff exit.”Heng turned and headed back to an unmarked door in the middle of the corridor before raising his arm.“I’ll create an illusion to distract—” Heng gasped and fell to one knee.He braced one hand against the floor and the other clutched his chest.
