Ignoring the woman eyeballing him for the past several minutes as she swayed, holding onto the playing jukebox, he slipped his hand inside his coat pocket and stroked the hilt of the ebony dagger.
Where the hell was its owner?
Two days and nearly half the night was over, and still no sign of Ely.
Scowling, his drink untouched, he stalked out into the frigid night and prowled the backstreet, sidestepping a grate hissing steam. The Bowery, he knew, was Ely’s current patrolling designation. So, she couldn’t be staying away from her job since these Guardians took their work damn seriously. Then why the hell wasn’t she around?
Was she avoidinghim?
His mind stretched like an elastic band at the thought and snapped back painfully at the reminder of why she would.
You wanted it.Youtore her to shreds!
No, he couldn’t blame her. Still, Ely wasn’t the type to hide. Hell, he wished he had her cell number. He could call Shadow, but that would raise questions. He didn’t want to make things tough for Ely, especially knowing how in-your-face those fucking Guardians were toward his kind.
His inner radar clanged, prickles of warning sliding along his spine, causing him to slow his rampant trawling. He glanced up the alley. Well, what do you know? Two of those mofos strolled toward him. If they were here, then was Ely on duty elsewhere?
Scowling, Nate stepped back and leaned against the warehouse wall, picking up who one of the duo was. To keep himself busy until they passed, he pulled out his cell. He had just three numbers on it. His sire’s, a fast-food joint when he needed sustenance, and a car parts store.
Nik and his pal, who eyed Nate like he was fresh meat to clobber, sauntered closer.
Nik nodded.
“You know this asshole?” Blond dick asked Nik, flicking a thumb at Nate.
“Yeah. Shadow’s kin, Nate.”
“Oh,rrright. The demon. Pity.”
Aware Blondie was needling him, Nate slipped his cell and hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t throttle the bastard. With a nod at Nik, he strode past them, heading toward the garage.
“Hope Ely is good where she is,” Blondie murmured.
Nate stopped dead.
“It aided Aethan, so it must help her, too,” Nik responded.
Who the fuck was Aethan? And help her with what?
She hadn’t been hurt during the fight. Hell, the beast would have sensed that and rejoiced in her pain and torment, wanting her death next.
What was wrong with her? He pivoted, striding back to them. “Is Ely hurt?”
Both turned.
“What is it to you?” Blondie asked, stepping up into his grill.
Nate didn’t move, nailed him with a cold, fuck-you stare. “Not that it’s any of your business, I met her when she came to the garage with Shadow. My sire cares for Shadow like his own. Her friend falls into the same category.”
Not an outright lie. Aba, though initially wary, did like Ely. Hell, who wouldn’t? She just had to step into a room to brighten it with her innate glow.
Nik gave a slight incline of his head. However, his tight expression indicated he wasn’t happy his mate had come to the garage without him. It didn’t surprise Nate.
From the moment he’d met Ely, despite his overwhelming desire for her, the urge to protect her superseded everything he considered important. It even unsettled him when she was out of sight. Now his gut fisted with worry over her safety.
“What’s wrong with Ely?” he reiterated, keeping his cool with these silent mofos.Control.He’d learned this the hard fucking way with his constant battle to rein in the beast side.
“Sick,” Blondie retorted.
