Chapter 5 #2
Cold realization slipped into my belly. If Luke had gotten ahold of the number to lure me outside, could he be using it to track me? I pulled it from my pocket. The goblin snatched it. A second later, it disappeared, just like the helmets had.
“Wait, you can’t just take my phone! That’s like—”
“Looks like I just did. Now, get inside.”
“You expect me to…walk in there?”
“Need me to use smaller words?”
“Not sure. I don’t speak asshole.”
His gaze hardened. “Then we're going to have communication problems, sugar, because it's my native tongue.”
“What happened to toning it down?!” I shot back.
“Let’s go.” He moved behind me, prodding my back between my shoulder blades, sending me forward involuntarily.
“Excuse me?” I rounded on him. “What. The. Actual. Fuck?!”
He made a sound of annoyance, then reached for me.
My training chose that moment to kick in—better late than never.
My fist flew through the air and I landed a satisfying right hook to his cheek.
I heard a crunch. For a moment, I smugly thought I’d broken his jaw.
He stumbled backwards, more from shock than anything as his eyes clouded over with surprise.
He swiped away blood where I’d busted his lip—
And then the pain hit.
“Holy…fuck,” I screeched, shaking my hand out. “Owww. Ow, ow, ow.” It struck all at once, nearly as bad as my broken wrist. I tried to move my fingers, only for it to intensify.
The goblin swore under his breath, eyes darkening at the sight of my injury.
“You are so fucking reckless.” Then, with a wave of his hand, my entire body seized up and I could no longer move.
I screeched in fury as I struggled against the invisible bonds.
“Going to have to hog-tie you if you can’t stop getting yourself into trouble. ”
“Let me go,” I seethed.
“It’s for your own fucking good.” Another wave of his hand and I was suddenly floating inches off the ground.
He stalked for the house.
“You can’t treat me like this—!” Another invisible bond wrapped around my mouth cutting off the remainder of my tirade.
The more I struggled the worse it got. His magic clamped around me so tightly I couldn’t do more than jerk my head.
My arms were pinned at my side, the fingers of my injured hand screaming.
The front door loomed before us. He punched in a code on the tech security panel before pressing a finger against the pad. There was a zapping sound followed by a dim blue glow that momentarily blanketed the house before disappearing.
If I hadn’t been so angry I might have been impressed.
He stepped inside, then used his magic to propel me through the door and into the entryway. The door slammed behind us and the magical leash around me disappeared. My feet dropped two inches, landing with a thud on the wood floor.
“You are such a fucking asshole—” The words ended in a hiss as my hand flared with pain—because I’d tried to clench it.
He whirled around and lifted it, clicking his tongue as he examined my broken bones. “Second time tonight, sugar. Let’s not make a habit of this, yeah?” A warm rush flowed beneath my skin and the injury disappeared.
I sagged with relief, my anger dissipating.
“Not going to apologize?” he said, lifting an eyebrow.
“You deserved it.”
The corner of his mouth twitched but he merely dropped my hand and walked away.
I took in the interior of the house. Everything was designed with comfort and style in mind.
Through an arch on my left, I spotted an elaborately carved dining table and chairs, presided over by a chandelier filled with glittering orbs.
On my right, a spacious sitting room was dominated by a luxurious dark blue sectional.
It was covered in knitted blankets and throw pillows.
There was a detached ottoman with a wooden tray.
It held a vase of fresh cut flowers and an electric candle display.
Soft lights glowed from lamps and wall sconces around the room. Tasteful art hung from the walls, showing black and white images of the city. A giant television screen sat above a gas fireplace, framed in gold. Like it was a fancy painting.
Was this place really his?
The goblin stood at a liquor cabinet that I hadn’t spotted until just now.
I moved into the living room, then hesitated, glancing back at the door.
There was a mat for shoes. I kicked off my boots before making my way into the room.
He walked over with two snifters, both filled with amber liquid. He handed me one.
I was surprised by the gesture until he opened his mouth, once again ruining everything. “Sit. Let’s talk.”
“No.”
“Don’t make me make you.”
“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”
“I would. You know I would.”
“You’re insufferable!” I stomped over and sank onto the sofa, taking liberties with his pillows to messily arrange them around me. I grabbed a throw blanket to spread it over me. The goblin lifted an impatient brow while I got comfortable. “Is there a problem?” My voice came out extra sweet.
“Nope.” He chose a seat at the other end of the sectional and leaned back, comfortably spreading his muscled thighs while throwing an arm over the back. The moment those green eyes fell on me, a hot flush crept up my neck.
His eyes dropped to my chest as he said, “Interesting necklaces.”
Ignoring the statement, I lifted the glass to my lips and took a sip.
Warmth and flavor rushed over my tongue, down my throat, immediately dulling some of my irritation.
My eyes darted up to him in surprise. I took another sip, savoring it before I swallowed.
“This isn’t, like, poisoned or anything is it? ”
“Unbelievable,” he muttered, then took a sip of his own.
“What?” I groused. “You can’t blame me for wondering—”
“What happened in that alley?”
“You’re joking, right?” He simply stared at me. “I don’t even know you! You expect me to just start answering questions after dragging me—?!”
“Oh, pardon me for being so rude.” With careful movements, he set his drink on the side table and stood, offering me an exaggerated bow before reclaiming his seat. “My name is Bastian Croft. I would say it’s a pleasure, Eleanor, but then I’d be lying.”
I made a sound of disgust. “Ha ha ha, very cute little act. No one calls me Eleanor. It’s Elle, or it used to be before I stopped going by that. Do your friends call you Bas? Do you even have friends? Or does your charming personality drive everyone away before they get the chance?”
He stared at me, expression unchanging.
“Fine. Whatever.” I looked down at my drink and took a sip to calm my ire. Honestly, I didn’t care if it was poisoned. Death would be better than putting up with Bastian Croft.
What kind of name was that, anyway?
“You done with the sass, sugar?” I snorted, throwing him a glare. “Great. Fantastic. Glad we cleared that up. Now, tell me what happened in the alley.”
I didn’t owe him anything—certainly not an explanation—merely because he’d rescued me.
He must have sensed my refusal to talk because he added, “By all means, take your time. You aren’t leaving until I get answers.”
“Excuse me?” I sputtered, sitting up straighter. “You can’t… You can’t keep me here. I’ll leave when I want.” I glanced at the door, then back at him.
“Oh? And how do you plan to get home?”
“I’ll walk.”
“In the middle of the night? All the way back to West Cross?”
I opened and closed my mouth, because he had a point. “Fine. You win. I was ambushed, all right?”
“Gonna need more than that.”
My irritated growl could have rivaled his.
But I gave in, telling him how I’d been on the phone.
How I’d stepped outside for better reception, only to be ambushed.
How I’d broken free, only to have my wrist broken.
“And then you showed up, all dark knight and whatnot, and kidnapped me on your bike.”
“I see.” He shifted on the sofa, which drew my attention—annoyingly—to his trim hips, to the way his jeans fit him so perfectly. I couldn’t seem to look away, watching shamelessly as he lazily lifted his glass to his lips, as they puckered slightly, as his throat bobbed when he took a swallow.
Then I blinked and snapped the hell out of it. “Great. Cool. Now that I’ve answered your question, it’s only fair that you answer mine.”
The grin that spread across his lips was all predator. If I blinked and focused hard enough, those blunted, perfect teeth would turn to narrow points. “Is that what you think, sugar? That I'm in the business of giving mouthy little females exactly what they're asking for?”
I tutted, ignoring the jibe. “Why were you at the coffee shop earlier? And Vortex? Are you—were you following me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh-kay? Why?”
“To get answers.”
“Answers,” I repeated, not quite comprehending.
“To a few questions.”
I huffed, staring back at him. He didn’t blink, didn’t even move. It was a little unnerving.
“Fine. What do you want to know? I work in a nightclub. My life is as mundane as it gets. And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m quite human.
I know what you are. I know goblins do all the dirty work for the fae.
Trust me, I’ve never had anything to do with them.
There’s nothing I can say that would possibly be of interest.”
“That so?”
“Yep.” I rolled my lips between my teeth.
“How well do you know Professor Miller?”
My hand froze, glass halfway to my mouth. “What?”
“Jane Miller. How well do you know her?” His eyes flashed back toward my chest, to my necklaces.
My stomach dropped. “I… I don’t.”
“Oh?”
“Oh.”
“That’s interesting,” he mused, rubbing his jaw.
I scoffed, dismissive. “Why’s that?”
“Because Jane Miller died last week, and when her family reviewed her will, they were unhappy to learn that she left everything to you.”
“What?” The glass slipped from my fingers, whiskey soaking into the plush throw blanket. Professor Miller had left me…everything? But that meant—
“Oh, my God!”
“Yep.” Bastian grinned like a cat who ate the canary. “So… about those questions.”