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“Yes, they were after me,” Max heard his voice say and he mentally shook his head. “And yes, they were witches.”
She nodded and pulled her drawn up knees under the long T-shirt she wore. “Did you kill them?”
Max nodded once. Drew shuddered.
“Drew, they were going to kill us. I couldn’t let that happen.”
She inhaled deeply. “This doesn’t even seem real, Max. Witches trashed our apartment, and you…killed them. I feel like I’m caught in some nightmare. Witches and warlocks aren’t supposed to exist outside of TV shows and movies.” Drew shook her head, and then her brows crinkled. “But I know what I saw and I saw you…sucking something out of that man, and you were blue. Is that how witches look?”
Max shook his head. “No. That isn’t how witches look.” Another reason why he was scorned by his covenant. While the children were learning to cast spells and incant rituals, he’d been learning how to control his body. He could still remember the laughter and jeers when he’d grow angry from them calling him “half-breed” and his skin would turn sheet-white, revealing blue veins all over his body. When he’d reached puberty, the change had been stronger, with his eyes changing to electric blue, his skin to pale blue and his hair bleeding to black. His father had sequestered him, training him as he learned to control it. Years had gone by without any interaction with children his age, and when he was finally able to be around them, their views on him hadn’t changed for the better. “When I lose control of my emotions, it happens.”
“Oh,” was all she said.
Feeling a twinge of scorn at himself, he turned from her. “Are you thirsty or hungry?” It had been hours since he’d brought her to his safe house. He doubted she’d eaten for the morning, what with his covenant breaking in and destroying the place.
Drew nodded. “Can I have some water, please?”
Max nodded and was heading for the door when he turned to look at her over his shoulder. “Don’t try anything, Drew. I’m not going to hurt you but I will gag you and tie to the bed again if I have to.”
He waited for the nod and then without a backward glance, walked from the room and pulled the door closed behind him.
***
Conall pressed his hand against the small of Vivienne’s back as they walked toward the building. His eyes scanned the bustling downtown area, taking in the faces of already tired humans as they trotted about their days at work. They stopped before the tall apartment building in lower Manhattan and she pressed the intercom button for the floor Max had given her.
“Vivienne?”
“Max?”
“Vivienne, I’ll buzz you—Are you alone?”
Conall glared at the grungy white voice box. Vivienne turned to him. “No. I have a friend with me. Is it okay if he comes up?”
He felt a surge of pride. His hand at her back looped around her tiny waist, pulling her against his side.
“I’ll meet you downstairs.” Max’s voice was curt and Conall fought the urge to slam his fist against the intercom.
Vivienne suddenly turned to face him and the look on her face told him she was about to say something that he wouldn’t like. “Thanks for bringing me here. Maybe it would be best if I went upstairs alone. You don’t have to feel obligated to come upstairs with me.”
“I don’t. I want to,” he interrupted smoothly.
She released a sigh and Conall pulled her tighter against his body. “I can’t believe someone robbed my apartment.”
He was just about to reply when a young woman suddenly pulled open the door, smiled, and held it for them. Vivienne murmured her thanks and Conall held the door as she stepped into the lobby. It was gray, gray tiles and a dirty wall that might have been white or cream at some point. A white light flickered above them and Vivienne hugged herself. Conall stepped closer to her.
The sound of an elevator arriving touched his ears moments before a door at the end of the lobby opened. A man stepped through, approaching them slowly. It took Conall seconds to recognize him. Max was the same friend who’d ripped Vivienne away from him at the club.
“Vivienne,” Max began, heading in their direction, but then he slowed and came to a direct stop when his gaze landed on Conall. He waited for recognition to hit the human’s eyes, barely concealing his need to walk over to and the man and give him a solid right to the face. He needed Vivienne to trust him, and knocking her friend out, no matter how much he wanted to, wasn’t going to make that happen.
That was his train of thought until Vivienne moved quickly, throwing herself against her friend, and Max, hugging her quickly, proceeded to push her behind his body.
