The head of the short man behind the counter shot up, his eyes flaring wide.
Ivor approached him, forcing a seductive smile that did exactly what he hoped. The clerk’s knees buckled so he leaned heavily on the counter, desire glazing over his eyes.
“I need to know if a tall, thin, red-headed man is checked in here. Name is Rowan Forrest.”
His pheromones were doing their job because the clerk instantly nodded and Ivor’s breath stopped. Finally!
“He was here two days ago, but he’s long gone now. Is there something else I could do for you? Anything.”
The disappointment threatened to crush Ivor. “Do you know where he went?”
The clerk shook his head. “No idea. He didn’t even check out. Just took off sometime during the night.” He ran his gaze up and down Ivor’s body and licked his lips. “You’re welcome to stay here. Get a room. My best one is free.” He paused. “And I’m off shift in an hour.”
Ivor forced himself to smile at the spelled man. It wasn’t his fault that Ivor had pushed so much magic on him after all. “Thanks for the offer, but no.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes pleaded now as he started breathing heavily.
Ivor reined in his magic until that glazed expression finally left the clerk’s face. He blinked and glanced around the room, his brows nearly meeting in a frown of confusion.
“Thanks for your help,” Ivor said before turning to walk back out.
He stood on the sidewalk and took a deep breath of the cold winter air. Rowan had been here and taken off. If he’d been killed, the clerk would have told him that.
But he’d obviously had to run, which more than likely meant the draugr had been here, too.
Ivor clenched his hands into fists.
He could only hope that Rowan stayed one step ahead of that creature. That he was smart.
He damn sure needed to be.
Chapter Six
Rowan
Rowan missed his Kindle. He had his phone that he could read on, but it just wasn’t the same. His Kindle had become a type of security blanket. Though it didn’t really matter because he couldn’t concentrate to read anyway.
Fear was a part of his every waking moment, and nightmares had taken over his sleep, so he mostly just dozed. He was now in his fourth motel, and they’d all become a blur of cheap paintings and uncomfortable beds. He was still in the same clothes he’d worn to work last, and though the idea of trying to shop scared him, he was going to have to give in and buy some clothes.
This particular room was worse than the rest. It felt like the heater was spitting out dust, making him thirsty as hell.
Making sure he had everything on him—just in case—he left to get a soda from the machine he’d spotted in an alcove near the motel’s office. His steps were slow and methodical, exhaustion pulling at every muscle. He’d never been on the run like this before, but he couldn’t shake the need to keep moving.
He was also upset because he’d lost his job when he hadn’t shown up for work the second night. He’d tried to explain it wasan emergency, but Angler wouldn’t listen. The chef had flat out fired him. Rowan had loved working there—well, loved the other people and the way he’d mostly had freedom to create unique desserts. Finding another job like that one in his small town was going to be damn hard. He would spend the rest of the evening looking at job postings on his phone. He’d luckily had a charger in his car so that was one thing he could be thankful about.
These motels were eating into his meager savings, and he had no job.
What the fuck was he going to do?
Cold soda in hand, he started to step out of the small alcove but halted as the most rancid smell invaded his nose. It was worse than the garbage bins the day before trash day. And terrifyingly familiar.
Gaze darting around, he spotted the zombie creature lurching through the parking lot. It truly was a nightmarish creature with its visible bones and empty eye sockets. He seen it move fast, but this slow, creeping stagger made him shudder.
How had it found him?
He quickly stepped back, watching and waiting as it headed toward his room, then halted and veered his direction. The alcove had two open ends, so he ran to the back of the motel and then past several rooms until he reached the side. He nearly tripped over a fallen branch but caught himself against the wall. His heart was pounding hard, fear giving him tunnel vision as he hurried around the side of the motel and ran to the front. The zombie was just entering the alcove, so he ran to his car and peeled out of the motel’s parking lot.
His hands were sweating on the wheel despite the cold.
