Rhyers House, Mane Country
ALAZAR
âI came to see you. To warn you.â Alazareth was never one for beating around the point.
Sheâs not going to like this. He already felt uneasy.
And trying to control Savage Jack is like putting a driter in a cage.
âTo warn me?â The pretty redhead leapt to her feet. For the first time Alazareth realized how lovely she looked in finery. She wore a pale blue dress made of some glossy fabric. A matching ribbon wove through hair piled loosely atop her head with a few twirls tracing sun-kissed cheeks.
She already knows of what or she wouldnât be this upset. Well perhaps the appealing sight of her in finery will tamper whatever temper Savage Jack is in.
The man had said nothing the whole ride to Rhyers House, buried deep in Mane Country. Several daysâ ride from the Blue Lark Assassinâs Guild in Dread Hideout.
âAbout what?â Rhyers asked protectively.
He mentioned sheâd become like a little sister to him. Wait until he sees the creature that calls her mate. Alazar was half amused at the shock heâd see in Rhyersâ face at the discovery.
âHeâs here.â
Her blue eyes rounded. âI thought you said he wouldnât find me?â She gave Rhyers a betrayed look.
He sputtered.
Itâs not his fault.
âHe didnât. Iâm showing him.â Alazar explained.
Making her turn the betrayed gaze on him. âWhen?â She cried. Horrified. Gaze flitting as though looking for an escape. Her eyes drifted to a window at the back of the house where the curtains billowed open and it was a straight shot over the lawns and into the trees.
You wonât make it. Heâll hunt you down. Alazar was sure.
âWhen!â She cried again.
âNow.â
âOh noâ¦â She shook her head frantically. Backing up. âNo. No!â She turned and fled from the parlor into the entryway, heading for the stairs. âHeâs not taking me back! He wonât find me!â She barreled up the stairs.
Whereâs she going? To hide under her bed?
âYouâre too late, Murah.â Savage Jack boomed from the entryway.
When did he come in? I didnât hear the door. Alazar frowned.
The bloody man is as quiet as Rhyers. Alazareth glanced at the tall dark-haired man who seemed as startled as he was.
He didnât hear him eitherâ¦Thatâs unsettling.
She froze on the stairs. Ducking her head. Holding very still.
âWhatâs she doing?â Rhyers asked. âWhy isnât she turning around?â
âI donât know.â Alazar shrugged. âPeople tend to this around Savage Jack.â
âFreeze?â
âThey seem to think itâll make them invisible.â
âCertainly, thatâs never worked?â Rhyers looked at him astonished.
No. It hasnât. But they try anyway.
Seems to be instinctâ¦
âNeverâ¦But, they keep trying.â
âI see you.â He announced. Voice crystal clear as it shattered the dead silence like a canon.
She remained unmoving.
âDonât make me chase you up the stairs.â
She stiffened.
Surely sheâs not going to run? Alazarâs brows shot up.
âDonât. Donât do it.â Savage Jack warned.
But Alazareth was certain they all knew what was about to happen. No one was shocked when she jumped into motion.
Clutching her blue skirt and diving up the stairs, two at a time.
Growling, Savage Jack rushed up the stairs after her.
She squawked and ran faster.
âIs he going to hurt her?â Rhyers looked worried. Taking a step forward.
Alazar put a hand to his chest to stop him. âI donât think so.â
I hope not.
But heâll kill you for trying to intervene either way.
âThe look of him was depraved.â
Heâs not wrong. Alazar considered what itâd look like to see Savage Jack for the first time. Black hide clothing, dirtied boots, kill beads clicking in twisted lengths of hair, a fierce expression, and cutting blue eyes.
He does look brutal. But not nearly as much as he is.
Alazar cleared his throat before urging. âLetâs just wait down here.â
âWhat if he harms her?â Rhyers gnawed a cheek. âThat didnât move like a normal man.â
âItâs not.â
âWhat was it?â
Damned if I know.
I havenât the faintest idea what he is. Some kind of Dread.
âWellâ¦â
How the hell do you describe Savage Jack? You could describe a hundred men but when you pointed to Savage Jack youâd pause and say⦠âAnd then thereâs thatâ¦â
âHeâs the King of Assassins.â Alazar reluctantly admitted.
âAnd you brought him here?â Rhyersâ light green eyes rounded to nearly the same extent as Dimurahâs had.
âWell,â Alazar winced. âOnce I told him I knew where she was, Iâd little choice.â
âWhy?â
âI think their mates.â
Kind of.
âLike we have mates?â
Sort of.
âYesâ¦â Alazar shifted uncomfortably.
âYou sound unsure. Is she his mate or he hers?â
Alazar mulled over the question. Blue-green eyes shifting upward and side to side as he considered both options. Unable to make a determination. âIâm not wholly certainâ¦â
âSo, he may be kidnapping her?â Rhyersâ voice rose.
Itâs plausible.
âPerhapsâ¦â
âI find you less than reassuring.â Rhyers said dryly. âIâve told you sheâs like a young sister to me.â
âWell, thatâs good. I fear if you found her as much else, heâd be trying to cut your throat.â Alazar nodded to the ceiling where there were several thumps from the floor above. And a grunt like someone had been punched.
They both stared at above them apprehensively.
âWas that her?â
âIâd doubt it.â Alazar gnawed a cheek before asking sideways. âShe wasnât armed, was she?â