CHAPTER 8 ARCH #3
“Okay, that helps, thanks. Anything else?”
“His magic was bad. Like rotten. Shot through with black instead of sparkling. I’ve never seen anything like it. And he had a connection to the monster. A strong one, like a mate bond.” Oz closed his eyes and shuddered. “I hope it wasn’t. The connection was... wrong. Diseased.”
I typed this into my phone. “And the monster? What kind of magic did it have?”
He cocked his head, and his eyebrows scrunched up. “It was a Wonder, but I’d never seen its kind before.”
“What did it look like?”
He shuddered again. “Mostly humanoid. Male, I’m pretty sure.
It stank like old blood and body odor. It had long hair on its head, like down to its waist. Its eyes were red, and it had fangs and claws.
It was fast when it moved. You couldn’t see it coming.
” His breathing sped up, and his heart rate increased.
Getting out of his chair, Manny stood next to Oz and put both arms around him. Once again I felt glad they had each other. My earlier jealousy and disappointment over not getting to date Manny was more wistful now. Oz needed Manny. I’d be fine without him.
I wanted to suggest we move to the living room so they could sit together on the sofa, but I didn’t want to interrupt Oz’s thoughts.
“Okay, thanks. This is really helpful, Oz. Just a couple more questions. Um, you said you were put into the monster’s cell to feed it. What does that mean?”
Another shudder, and he closed his eyes. He gripped Manny’s arm with both hands. “The guy in charge liked to walk around and announce it was time to feed his pet. That happened once every day or so. He’d pick someone, and the guards would drag whoever it was from their cage.”
I kept my expression calm, but my Hunter side wanted to go on a rampage. We hadn’t found the head trafficker, and the only guards we’d taken had died of their injuries. They’d all been Wonders, preying on their own kind. “And they’d take you to the monster?”
He nodded. “The guy in charge liked to lead the way. He kept the monster in a big cell away from everyone else. It was next to a large metal door?” He looked at me.
“Thanks. I don’t remember that room, but we’ve still got the building on lockdown and I can go check.”
“Yeah, okay. Anyway, the guards would throw you inside, and the monster would shout at you to either get out or kill it.”
I frowned. “You mentioned that before. Can you clarify about it asking you to kill it?”
He swallowed, then he picked up his phone and typed.
It would say, Please kill me. I don’t want to hurt you.
Please let me die. But then the guards would make a cut in my throat and it would jump on me and put its fangs in my neck.
The first time I thought it would tear my throat out but it never did.
It drank my blood. It might’ve been a vampire but I don’t know. Tears were running down Oz’s face.
“Shit, Oz, that’s awful.” I wanted to hug him, but it wasn’t my place. Besides, Manny was already hugging Oz. He didn’t need me. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. They kept you shackled the entire time?”
He nodded and took the phone back to type again. I would’ve killed him like he wanted, but he was too fast for me to get my fangs in him, and I couldn’t shift all the way because of the shackles.
Fuck. “Anything else you think I should know?”
He shook his head then pressed his face into Manny’s chest.
I saved my notes, dying to get to the office and find out who’d interviewed Oz after the rescue.
It was supposed to be my day off, but that might mean it was the best time to do this research.
I needed to find out who’d interviewed all of the rescued Wonders.
I’d have remembered reading about the head honcho walking past all the abductees every couple of days.
Our entire team would’ve been following up to try to get a sketch of the guy.
But it wasn’t in any of the interview transcripts.
I lifted my gaze to Manny’s. “I’m sorry this turned into a witness interview. I really only meant to come here to apologize for being a jerk.”
Oz turned back to me, wiping his eyes with his knuckles. “If this can help find that fucker and stop him from kidnapping more Wonders, then I’m glad you came.”
Manny nodded. “Agreed. And, Arch, I don’t know what was going on with you last year, but I forgive you for being an overbearing asshole.”
I barked out a laugh. “Thanks.” I smiled at them. “Would either of you be willing to give me your phone number so I can keep you updated?”
They both agreed, so I passed my phone over. When they’d entered their numbers, I texted each of them so they’d have mine. I stood up. “Oz, thanks for the delicious breakfast. Manny, I hope you can go back to sleep. See you.” I let myself out.
My heart ached for Oz, but at least Manny was there for him. I didn’t have time to worry about those two anyway, no matter how beautiful they were together.
Time to get to the office and find out who on my team was working for the traffickers.