“Not until you answer my questions. Those deadmen?”
She scowled, all thoughts of being calm and rational flying out the window. He’d accosted her outside the club, kidnapped her, and now he expected her to answer his damn questions? “Just what the hell are you talking about? What deadmen?”
Sure, he was infuriatingly good-looking, but then so was TedBundy.
At the thought of the serial killer who’d charmed and murdered several college girls, Shae sprang to her feet and bulleted for the door. He grabbed her around the waist. Crap, she’d forgotten how fast he couldmove.
“Lemme go!” She hit him, but he merely swept her into his arms like she was some delicate freakin’ daisy and carried her back. Furious, she bit him. Hard. And hoped her teeth did some real damage to hisbiceps.
An annoyed grunt escaped him. “Stop that, you littlehellcat.”
Like a bag of unwanted grain, he dropped her on her butt, back on the matagain.
Pain jarred up her spine, and she clenched her teeth. But the three angry, red streaks scored on his powerful forearm had herblinking.
She’ddone that? Shocked to her core at her dreadful behavior, Shae opened her mouth to apologize but when she met those burning yellow eyes that had taken on hints of orange, a spurt of anger cut through her guilt. “This is kidnapping. I’m gonna have your barbaric ass thrown injail!”
“Try. When you’re ready to talk, scream. Maybe I’ll hear you, maybe I won’t.” His eyes like flint, he stalked out, shutting the door quietly behind him, only to stride back inside. He crossed to the far end of the room, grabbed all the swords from the stand there, and walked out again. Leaving behind a small fridge. Right then, she wanted to fling the appliance at his arrogant head. Except he looked like he could break her neck with just onehand.
She had to get out of here before he cameback.
Jumping to her feet, she ran for the door and tried the handle, not surprised to find the barbarian had locked her inside. Her teeth ground in frustration. She glanced around the barren place. Where the heck wasshe?
A basement in a warehouse? Another state? This place could demand its own zip code. It was freakin’ huge. But getting that knuckle-dragging brute to tell her anything…hell, it would be easier if she simply wished forwings.
The interior, though well maintained, had high rectangular windows that she had no hope of squeezing through. Recessed lights were embedded in the ceiling and rugged stone walls flowed around her. Yep,trapped.
She paced the slate-colored tiles covering the floor. Sweat beaded on her brow and neck, the heat inside herrising.
Why the hell was she feeling this way? Like a lit detonator about to gooff?
With trembling fingers, she retrieved a barrette from her jacket pocket and pulled her waist-length hair into a high ponytail, trying to cool down. Shae hurried to the small fridge and found it stacked with energy drinks and water. She grabbed a bottle of water, unscrewed the top, and drank some, fighting to calm down so the dizziness wouldn’t take over and make her blackout.
Wouldn’t that movie-reject be thrilled at how weak shewas?
As she stomped back to the black mat, his question bounced around in her head. Dead men? She didn’t recall any, but there’d certainly be one tonight when she got her hands onhimand strangled him with his damnhair!
* * *
Dagan left the basement,frustration riding him hard. Sending a telepathic message to Michael that he had the woman, he strode into the empty kitchen. With the other warriors still out on patrol, only their females and Hedori would bearound.
To be sure, he scanned and found Echo in the library with her tutor, and Blaéz’s mate in her quarters. Good. Or those two would go poking their noses in his business if they knew another female was here. They wouldn’t care that she could be a dangerous psi. Best the little hellcat remained in the basement. Once Michael confirmed what she was, then he would be done withthis.
His thumbs hooked in his back pockets, Dagan stopped at the open French doors and stared out into the moonlit night, inhaling deep breaths of cold air. Yet nothing could wipe out the tightness in his body or the compelling scent that seemed determined to haunthim.
He rubbed his forearms where she’d scratched him. Hell, she’d bitten him, too! He checked his arm. The little hellcat’s teeth had punctured his skin but hadn’t drawnblood.
His pocket vibrated. Pulling out her cell, he frowned at the abridged message. Ash Stiles. This had to be the human who was with her.I hope you’re okay, doll. How about lunch? Callme.
At the shimmer in the air, he pushed the phone back into his pocket as Michael took form, his aviator shades perched on hishead.
“I have the female—”Who made me lose control.No need for Michael to know how he’d reacted to her or what he’d done. Or that he’d been on a short fuse ever since to go after an innocent human and break his neck. “Her name’s Shae. She has the conflicting vibes of a psionic and something else I can’t quite isolate. And someone took a shot ather.”
“Where isshe?”
“Basement.”
About to enter the kitchen, Michael paused, cutting him an amused look. “Yes, it would be safer downthere.”
