whimpered.
“Perhaps. Or maybe she’ll save herself by answering a few questions.”
Jai Li's almond shaped eyes squinted with worry. “I hope Corey's okay. We were supposed to meet back at the car, but he hasn't returned yet.” She moved away from them to peer out into the lot.
Her petite body moved with catlike grace and confidence.
Marcus gripped the captive's shoulders and thrust her against the wall. Tears leaked from her eyes, but they remained closed.
“You have to get out of here. Starr’s put a price on your head. She fears you're more dangerous than the mistress.” The woman glanced up at him then snapped her eyes shut again. “Don't let her get you.”
Marcus and Jai Li exchanged a frown. She may have opened up, but Marcus wasn't ready to trust her yet. “What's your name, meat bag?”
“Wren,” the purple haired woman answered without hesitation.
“You’re coming with us, Wren.”
Jai Li gripped her other arm, and they led her toward the parked cars. Thus far, none of Starr's people were in sight.
Wren stumbled alongside them, unable to break free. “You want to know Starr's whereabouts?”
“For starters,” Jai Li growled.
“Well, we've got a problem because I don't know. The people who are closest to her scatter throughout the city. No one stays in the same place more than a few days at a time. She invokes a spell to keep you from finding her. You could stand outside her door and not even realize she's on the other side.”
“Change of plans.” Marcus shoved Wren toward the car.
“Wait! Where are we going?” Wren stiffened her legs, refusing to move.
“To see Emily Cross.” He practically salivated at the idea. Ever since their encounter in the mortuary, she'd invaded his dreams and stayed on his mind. Maybe if he could see her again, he could get rid of this enchantment she seemed to have over him. He'd prolonged searching her out in hopes that his infatuation would pass. In his daydreams, she was a siren who tempted him with rose petal lips, smoldering green eyes, and the cutest freckles he'd ever seen.
“Why?” Wren tried to jerk her arms free.
“I'd like to see firsthand how she reads the dead.” Not to mention he wanted to taste her, touch her, and thoroughly explore her abilities. It was unlike him to entertain fantasies like this, especially when they centered on a mortal creature.
Wren may have reacted, but it was interrupted by Jai Li.
“There he is!” Jai Li shouted, rousing him out of the fantasy.
Corey, tall and thin with spiky hair and studded leather wristbands, skidded around the corner of the liquor store across the street. He appeared out of breath as he stumbled toward them. The clink of metal from his bondage pants and the coppery stench of blood followed him across the street. “They’re on my tail.”
Marcus tossed Jai Li the keys to the car. Corey dove into the backseat.
“Take him back to Isabella, but make sure no one tails you.”
“She's coming,” Wren murmured, but didn't seem happy about it. Her eyes were wide with fear and her chin quivered.
The hairs on the back of Marcus’s neck stood up with apprehension. Trent and a couple of his helpers had just entered the parking lot. A platinum-haired black woman stood across the street between the buildings Corey had just passed.
Wren managed to twist away. She tottered toward Ace, who burst out of the alley they'd just left.
Starr Carter and three humans stalked closer. The witch turned up her hands, and Marcus swore a faint glow shimmered within her cupped palms. Her eyes seemed to shine with an unusual radiance. He was mesmerized by whatever she had done and almost missed the shadows of the others creeping closer.
The car roared to life. Leaning across the seat, Jai Li opened the passenger’s door. “There’s too many. Let’s go!”
Marcus slid across the hood of the car. Jai Li had already let the car roll away from the curb by the time he lunged inside. She laid
“Perhaps. Or maybe she’ll save herself by answering a few questions.”
Jai Li's almond shaped eyes squinted with worry. “I hope Corey's okay. We were supposed to meet back at the car, but he hasn't returned yet.” She moved away from them to peer out into the lot.
Her petite body moved with catlike grace and confidence.
Marcus gripped the captive's shoulders and thrust her against the wall. Tears leaked from her eyes, but they remained closed.
“You have to get out of here. Starr’s put a price on your head. She fears you're more dangerous than the mistress.” The woman glanced up at him then snapped her eyes shut again. “Don't let her get you.”
Marcus and Jai Li exchanged a frown. She may have opened up, but Marcus wasn't ready to trust her yet. “What's your name, meat bag?”
“Wren,” the purple haired woman answered without hesitation.
“You’re coming with us, Wren.”
Jai Li gripped her other arm, and they led her toward the parked cars. Thus far, none of Starr's people were in sight.
Wren stumbled alongside them, unable to break free. “You want to know Starr's whereabouts?”
“For starters,” Jai Li growled.
“Well, we've got a problem because I don't know. The people who are closest to her scatter throughout the city. No one stays in the same place more than a few days at a time. She invokes a spell to keep you from finding her. You could stand outside her door and not even realize she's on the other side.”
“Change of plans.” Marcus shoved Wren toward the car.
“Wait! Where are we going?” Wren stiffened her legs, refusing to move.
“To see Emily Cross.” He practically salivated at the idea. Ever since their encounter in the mortuary, she'd invaded his dreams and stayed on his mind. Maybe if he could see her again, he could get rid of this enchantment she seemed to have over him. He'd prolonged searching her out in hopes that his infatuation would pass. In his daydreams, she was a siren who tempted him with rose petal lips, smoldering green eyes, and the cutest freckles he'd ever seen.
“Why?” Wren tried to jerk her arms free.
“I'd like to see firsthand how she reads the dead.” Not to mention he wanted to taste her, touch her, and thoroughly explore her abilities. It was unlike him to entertain fantasies like this, especially when they centered on a mortal creature.
Wren may have reacted, but it was interrupted by Jai Li.
“There he is!” Jai Li shouted, rousing him out of the fantasy.
Corey, tall and thin with spiky hair and studded leather wristbands, skidded around the corner of the liquor store across the street. He appeared out of breath as he stumbled toward them. The clink of metal from his bondage pants and the coppery stench of blood followed him across the street. “They’re on my tail.”
Marcus tossed Jai Li the keys to the car. Corey dove into the backseat.
“Take him back to Isabella, but make sure no one tails you.”
“She's coming,” Wren murmured, but didn't seem happy about it. Her eyes were wide with fear and her chin quivered.
The hairs on the back of Marcus’s neck stood up with apprehension. Trent and a couple of his helpers had just entered the parking lot. A platinum-haired black woman stood across the street between the buildings Corey had just passed.
Wren managed to twist away. She tottered toward Ace, who burst out of the alley they'd just left.
Starr Carter and three humans stalked closer. The witch turned up her hands, and Marcus swore a faint glow shimmered within her cupped palms. Her eyes seemed to shine with an unusual radiance. He was mesmerized by whatever she had done and almost missed the shadows of the others creeping closer.
The car roared to life. Leaning across the seat, Jai Li opened the passenger’s door. “There’s too many. Let’s go!”
Marcus slid across the hood of the car. Jai Li had already let the car roll away from the curb by the time he lunged inside. She laid
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