Chapter 6 #2
“No, he is not. He’s a bad man. When your dad received your emails, he got in touch with me.
He gave me the heads up and instead of going to your place, I traced you here as I had a feeling the monster would come after you.
I’m sorry I was late, and that he put his hands on you.
” Owen’s thumbs brush gently against my cheekbones, and he huffs out a self-deprecating sound.
“I thought my being here would be comforting. I’m sorry I got that wrong, that I frightened you. ”
I blink at him.
His eyes, this close, have a dark blue ring around the outside. So pretty. There’s a knock at the door. I flinch.
“That would be for me,” he says gruffly. Owen lets go of my face. With a tight smile, he pats the bed and then rises elegantly from the floor and prowls to the door.
I lean forward to peek around the jutting bathroom wall that’s blocking the bed from the view of the door.
I huff. I can’t see, as the hellhound’s bulk takes up the whole entrance.
There’s no getting past him. Saying he just has wide shoulders, a narrow waist, chiselled chest, and washboard abdominals does not do the hellhound justice.
He is big. He must be almost seven-foot tall.
“I got the scuba guys,” says a rough female voice. I cover a snigger with my palm. I’m not the only one who thought their combat gear was stupid. “Rat shifters. Where’s the elf?”
“Stepped.”
“Ah shit. What’s the score, Nanny Hound?
Ten-nil? You’re slipping.” Looks like I am also not the only one to pick up that the hellhound is on babysitting duty.
Nanny hound. Great. “Old wolf, ya need to catch up. Next time, I’ll handle the damsel and you grab the bad guys.
What? Bad day at the office? Are you losing your touch?
” The hellhound growls and the woman’s throaty laugh threads through the room.
The laugh raises the hairs on my arms and an unshakeable sense of foreboding creeps along my spine. Along with that laugh, came the trickle of her power. She is so loaded up… My lips buzz.
“How’s the girl?”
Fuck that. I scoop up Daisy and wiggle to the head of the bed, which is as far away as we can get from her without going through the window. To keep my hands busy, I scratch a finger between Daisy’s horns.
“Safe.”
“Good. I bought the stuff you wanted. You know I am no good at this female crap, so don’t blame me if I got the wrong stuff. She should be able to brush her teeth and there are at least a few changes of clothes. I might have forgotten knickers…”
“Thanks, Forrest.”
“Soooo, do I get to meet her?”
Oh no. No, thank you. There’s a rustle of clothing and the floor in the hallway squeaks as if she is bouncing on her toes.
“Not today.”
“Oh, come on, Owen. Jodie said I’d love her little sister. I’ve met everyone in the coven but this one. Please?” she throatily whines.
“No,” he growls back.
Forrest. I am sure I’ve heard that name before, but not from my sister. There is a bump and a scraping sound against the door. I strain my ears at the sound of… wheels. He must have pulled a case inside the room. “I will see you in an hour.”
“Nice to meet you, Tues—” Owen slams the door in her face.
Wow, rude.
And I am so glad. I shiver; I can understand why he didn’t want me to meet her.
Owen is on protective duty, and he’s taking his babysitting seriously.
His shifter nose must have caught the stench of my fear.
The way my body reacted when she laughed.
Oh boy, and the power she has. Bloody hell, it comes off her in waves.
I’ve never felt anything like it. Instinctively, I wanted to climb out the bloody window.
She is dangerous. I rub my arms and do a full-body shiver.
Crap, if she feels like that in the corridor, I can only imagine what it would be like standing next to her. I don’t know what the heck type of creature she is, and I don’t want to find out.
The fact she could arrest, um—I frown—take down the huge Power Ranger rat shifters by herself? Yeah. She is beyond scary.
I lift my eyes. Owen is standing silently in front of me. While I was stuck in my head, he brought me a suitcase.
“Thank you for all this,” I croak.
“Are you okay?” I nod. “Did you hear all that?” I nod again.
“Okay, find something to wear in here. You’re going on a trip.
While you were sleeping, your dad arranged a safe house.
Oh, and the guild has contacted your work and explained what’s happening.
You’re on emergency leave until this mess is sorted. ”
I puff out my cheeks. Great. I guess my department managers can handle things for a few days. Being hunted by some psycho elf takes priority, I guess.
“Okay, thank you,” I mutter.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t a portal nearby. So, Flash, if you think you’re up for it, we are going to have to drive.”
My brain grinds to a halt… Flash? Owen’s face is carefully blank, but I can feel the growing horror race across mine. Is that a twinkle in his grey eyes? My chest and neck prickle with embarrassed heat. Oh bloody hell, he’s talking about my bottom.
Flash. I’m a bloody flasher. Ha.
Once again, I am absolutely mortified. Daisy’s scales rub against my hand, and I pick her up from my lap and gently clutch her to me.
“I can drive myself to the safe house. I’ll be fine,” I squeak.