I'd pricked her about Kelly .
.
.
not that she'd hurt him, but that he might not do her bidding if he'd known what she wanted.
"But that is a common problem with humans .
Especially humans who involve themselves in matters that are none of their business." There was a pause as if she was weighing some matter.
Then she said, "You would be wise not to irk me when I hold something you value." There were two distinct sounds right as she finished.
The first was something striking flesh, the second a muffled cry.
We all stilled, listening for a hint of identity.
"Male," mouthed Darryl.
I nodded.
I'd caught that as well.
The cry was followed by a third sound: someone who was gagged trying to talk.
He was furious.
There was something about the sound .
.
.
not Stefan, not Zee.
Mary Jo caught my shoulder.
Her face was pale and pinched.
"Gabriel," she mouthed.
That was it.
Mary Jo had spent some time doing guard-Mercy- at-work duty this summer, working with me and Gabriel.
She knew him, too.
I hadn't been listening for Gabriel--because I thought he was safe.
I closed my eyes in momentary despair.
Stefan was a vampire; Zee was a fae other fae gave a good deal of respectful space to.
Gabriel was a seventeen-year-old with no supernatural powers.
He didn't stand a chance against one of the fae.
Jesse made a little sound, then jerked her hands to her mouth, but the fae on the other end caught the noise.