19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Zelyah
I don’t know why I did it. I shouldn’t have done it, but something compelled me to do it. Agent Cooper looks at me with rage for what I’ve done.
“Zelyah . . .” he says angrily.
I couldn’t let him shoot Rhett and Killian, I just couldn’t. I don’t know what it is about these guys that make me drawn to them. Intricate tattoos adorn Killian’s golden-brown skin, a stark contrast to the shimmer of white hair catching in the light. A barbell glints just under his right brow, and everything about him stands out like a beacon of raw strength. On the other hand, Rhett exudes a dark, brooding intensity, his bronze eyes burning with an inner fire that terrifies and fascinates me.
Agent Cooper had pulled his gun out in one swift movement, and when his trigger finger moved, I just knew he was going to pull it. At the last second, I pushed his hands upward, making sure he didn’t wound Killian. I just couldn’t let the agent shoot him, even knowing they work for the Arcana Society and have an oath bound by magic to be loyal to them. Maybe I am stupid. My abuelita would be so mad at me for not letting Agent Cooper bring him down. Hell, she’d be mad that I even got caught in the first place.
Los vieras dejado que se maten ellos mismos. Te estas me tiendo en algo que no vas a poder salir. Her words hover in my mind, telling me I should have let them kill each other because I’m digging myself deep into something I won’t be able to get out of.
“Zelyah . . .” Agent Cooper’s voice booms again. “They serve the Arcana Society. They have no choice but to follow orders. They have no free will. If the Arcana Society wants you dead, Rhett and Killian will do it, even if they don’t want to.”
I understand the consequences of his words. I can’t be on the Arcana Society’s radar, yet here are two men standing before me who work for them. Agent Cooper could get away with killing them. He’s a prince and an FBI agent, after all, he’s got all the right connections. I guess I just like to live dangerously. In a flash, Rhett gets up and punches Agent Cooper in the face. I barely see when his fist makes contact.
Killian goes back and sits on top of the desk, folding his hands on his thighs. They throw punches at each other. Cooper may be leaner, but he’s skilled. I’m actually surprised he can handle his own. He didn’t do shit in Faerie. Where was that energy when I was fighting those hooded figures? That reminds me, I need to ask him who they were.
“Should we stop the fight?” I ask Killian, who looks to be at ease with the tension in the room.
Of the two of them, he seems like the flirty one, and he knows it by the way he carries himself. Rhett doesn’t look like he dates as much as Killian does. A bubble of jealousy runs through me at the thought of them dating someone other than me. I barely know the guys. I’m not sure why I felt so possessive for a second.
“Nah. They’ll eventually tire out.”
I don’t know how long this will take, so I take a seat in Agent Cooper’s chair. My butt relaxes, and I lean back watching the two gorgeous men fight. Killian tilts his body so that he can see the brawl while keeping an eye on me.
There is no hair pulling, but they’re kicking each other’s nuts when the opportunity presents itself. Killian cringes, but still, he won’t do anything. Agent Cooper’s library is getting smashed, and I want to pick up the books that spilled to the floor, but I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire. They’re moving way too fast.
I look at the brown file with my name scribbled on top in angry red letters. I grab it from the desk and open it. There’s no new information. Mostly I wanted to see if they suspected something else about me, but it looks like this file has cleared me.
Thirty minutes later, they’re both panting, looking bloody and bruised. Their punches become weaker.
“You two done?” Killian asks.
“I’m not letting you take her,” Agent Cooper quickly responds. He goes for another hit, but Killian stops it mid-punch.
“Well, we aren’t leaving here without her,” Rhett says, still looking at Agent Cooper like he’s a bug he’d like to squash.
“I need her for a case, and you two just want to fuck her.” I flinch at his words. “Once I’m done with the case, she’s free to go.”
“We don’t want to just fuck her we want to get to know her, too.” Killian gives me a flirty smile, and my face burns. I look back at Agent Cooper when he growls.
“It’s an important case. Someone’s out there killing young supernatural women.” That sobers Killian and Rhett up, and they stand a little straighter.
“Anything we can do to help?” Rhett asks.
“Yeah, you both can leave.” Killian and Rhett frown.
“If you want me to work for you, Agent Cooper, you’ll let them stay.” His eye twitches, and I think I’ve reached his limit of patience with me. He looks pretty tired, and so am I. It’s been an exhausting night—or morning now.
“I won’t be letting these two stay in my home.” I knew he’d say that, but I’m prepared.
“Then I’m leaving.” I get up from his cushioned seat and make my way out the door. Hoping he’d stop me before I leave. I actually have no place to go this late err . . . this early in the morning.
Before I get to the door, Agent Cooper jolts forward with his hand out. “Wait.” I try not to let my relief show. “You trust them?” he asks.
I look back at all three men. They look surprised.
“No, but they seem nicer than you. You need me, Agent Cooper. You have nothing to hold me in your home anymore. Radnor cleared me the day you captured me. I’m doing this because I also want to find the killer.” And kill him slowly and feed off of him , I think to myself.
He grits his teeth together before answering, “Fine, they can stay in the pool house.”
I gasp in surprise but quickly feign boredom the same way the fae do when they make deals. I actually didn’t think he’d cave this easily. The other two men look as surprised as I am. I get this tingling feeling in the pit of my stomach that I ignore.
“What supernatural are you guys hunting in LA? Maybe I could help,” I ask.
Maybe I should’ve waited until we’ve all had some sleep to bring up these conversations with the newcomers. Tonight will take a lot of energy to kill and feed and not get caught, but I’m so intrigued by them that I want to hear every detail about their visit.
“Oh.” They look at each other before answering. “We’re tracking a Succubus.”
My heart drops to my stomach. I think I’m going to be sick.