my imagination, but I was sure Doherty’s shoulders relaxed a little. Whichever fae prince this was, he was a threat to the director, maybe even our world.
The director gave a small nod towards me.
I glanced up at Rawson, searching for any sign of the man beneath, ready to plead for my life, but it wasn’t him who moved. Red eyes raised a familiar looking dart gun. I didn’t fight. There was no point. A dart pierced my neck. Pain instantly burned through my body, ripping through my cells. With a gasp I dropped to my knees and the ground tilted as I pitched sideways. My wolf howled and thrashed to get free, but she was imprisoned in my paralysed body. I watched through heavy lids as the tall fae snapped his fingers in front of Blue’s face and she dropped to her knees. She must have completely lost control of her actions, but she managed to meet my gaze. We were both in a bad place, but we were fighters, so no matter what happened now, we would survive. I tried to let her see I would get out. “I’ll find you,” I whispered. Her swallow was answer enough.
The fae made a summoning gesture towards the portal, and two armoured fae stepped through. They grabbed Blue, hoisted her under her arms, and dragged her into the vortex.
The fae didn’t even glance back at me. He merely stepped into the portal and disappeared, the portal closing behind him.
My breathing was quick and shallow as I stared impotently at the empty space. The only faerie, besides Som, I’d seen summon and disperse a portal had been Walker.
Strong hands gripped me and flipped me onto my back.
My vision blurred as my heart slowed, and my wolf became silent. Sensing my body shutting down, Fire flared through my blood; a defense mechanism as the prelude to death.
Red eyes squatted beside me, blocking my view of Doherty and Rawson.
“Don’t.” He shook his head, and his hand gripped mine, absorbing the heat from my body. Red flames flared in his eyes. “The drug will not kill you, and he doesn’t recognise you. Keep her hidden, don’t give him your secret, or your life will get far worse.”
I gritted my teeth and tried to keep my eyes open. What did he mean her? Did he know what I was? “I can’t. Stop.”
“I know. That’s why you need to sleep. It’s safer for everyone, including you.” There was another sharp sting and his harsh features faded into a blur. My eyes closed, my wolf howled from far away, and the flames faded from my blood.
Chapter 2
Ember
* * *
My head jolted side to side and my chin bounced on my chest, sending shooting pains down my neck and spine. Shit! I snapped open my eyes and raised my head, then groaned. My head pounded like there was a hammer bashing the inside of my skull.
It had been the same last time I’d been darted by red eyes, or...maybe I’d just call him Red.
I blinked rapidly. I couldn’t see where I was, but the sway and bounce of the seat underneath me told me this wasn’t a cell but a moving vehicle.
Wanting to rub my eyes, I tried to raise my arm, only it didn’t move. There was a harsh metallic sound when I tried again. What the hell? I peered down. My arms and torso were wreathed in silver chains, and my wrists were handcuffed together in my lap. I hissed as pain from my burned wrists along with the numbness in my backside all registered through the fog of my pounding head. I’d probably been in this upright position for a while.
I squeezed my eyes shut against the pounding in my skull, letting my nausea settle. The weight of another presence pressed against my awareness, so tentatively, I opened them again and slowly raised my head.
Red regarded me steadily.
I held his stare. “What’re you looking at, dickhead?” Yeah, maybe my verbal attack didn’t hold quite the force and venom I’d have liked. My voice reverberated like a fog horn in my skull, but barely more than a rasp escaped my lips.
His eyes narrowed almost as if he was laughing at me, but he kept his face expressionless and merely lifted a finger to his lips, then nodded to where Rawson slumbered next to me. My eyes widened. The Were was held down by chains just like mine, only there were more of them. Was he that unpredictable?
“Piss off!”