Harper had expected it to be worse. It had hurt, but only briefly, and then it had transformed into a rush. A similar feeling to when Maya would kiss her neck and let out those snarling moans that made it feel like Harper’s body had been electrocuted.
It was as though their bodies had fused into one. Like nothing mattered beyond the two of them. And when Maya looked at her afterwards, candlelight dancing over her face… Harper had never seen more adoration than what had been present in her golden-black eyes.
“You said you could help!” Kieran’s voice roared through the warehouse. He was standing nose to nose with the woman. “We’re not safe here. We need to leavenowbefore the Chains move their forces beyond St. Louis. You said that, for a favor, you could get us uncontested territory. I accept that deal. What else do you want from me, Róisín?”
Róisín didn’t look impressed. “I want you to remember the terms I set. I said that I would get you uncontested territory if youwithdrewfrom St. Louis. But you didn’t withdraw. You fled. If you had treated my agents with a modicum of respect, I might have been more willing to look past semantics, but you treated them as little more than chew toys.” Her gaze turned icy. “I’m only here because hearing people beg is rather amusing.”
She looked to the warehouse rafters, her flawless features tensing for a second before her mask fell back into place.
Until her eyes paused on Harper and Evie. The mask didn’t just drop then. It shattered.
“The small one is my mate,” Kieran said when Róisín kept staring. “The Chains stole her. One of my scouts found out she was brought near the border, to provoke me, no doubt. The Chains were still preoccupied when we pulled out of St. Louis, so I retrieved her.”
Róisín didn’t pay attention to him whatsoever. She strode into the warehouse, heels clicking against the floor, Kieran following right after.
“It can’t be…” Róisín whispered, eyes on Evie. She spun on Kieran. “Have you completely lost your mind?”
Kieran had looked ready to growl, but her sharp tone made him falter.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know who that is?” Róisín pointed at Evie, though her eyes remained fixed on Kieran.
“Uh…” He shifted his weight. “No? She had fight in her, so we just brought her along. She’ll make a good hunt.”
“You just brought her along…” All the smugness was gone from her voice, astonishment replacing it. “That isn’t some random woman. That’s Evie Atkins. She is the Claimed human of one of the Chains Regents, you imbecile. The demonic one, no less. That fiend will tear you to pieces for this,andanyone she thinks is working with you, me included. You’ve doomed yourself and every person within a mile of this place.”
Kieran opened his mouth, closed it, and had just opened it again, when his attention flicked back to the door. A few people had staggered in, most either limping or leaning on one another. Booker was at the front of the group, waving Kieran over.
He gave Róisín a cold stare before hurrying to the door. When it looked like Róisín was about to follow, potentially to flee the warehouse, Harper leaned towards her.
“Wait! Don’t go. Please, you have to help us.”
Róisín stopped. Then turned, glacier blue eyes fixed on Harper. A gaze so chilling it made goosebumps rise on her skin.
“Kieran’s clearly scared of you,” Harper said in a rush. “If he wasn’t, he would have torn into you by now, and he wouldn’t be scared unless you could overpower him. You can help. I know you can, so please. Get us out of here.”
Róisín’s eyes flicked to Harper’s pink hair. “You’re the human of that daywalker.”
Harper took a sharp breath. Maya’s name hadn’t even been mentioned, and it still felt like she got stabbed.
“How do you know that?”
“I know everything. Ormostthings. She surprised me. People rarely do that.”
She glanced at the door, shoulders tensing beneath her dark blue business suit. Then she sighed—in irritation, it looked like.
“Assisting you would be unwise. That Alpha may be an idiot, but he’s an infatuated idiot. Breaking you out will bring attention. Given that my faction doesn’t even know I’m here, I can’t afford that.”
“Then just helpher.” Harper gestured at Evie. “He didn’t even mean to take her. You can get her out of here.”
Evie shook her head. “No! Harper, I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
Harper ignored her. She just stared at Róisín, hoping a degree of compassion would show on the woman’s icy features.
Róisín’s expression didn’t change. She brought a handkerchief out of her pocket, dabbing it against her nose. The white fabric came away stained red.
“This has been a long evening,” Róisín said tightly. Outside, the wind howled. “I’m not at my best. But this storm will persist. It may buy you time.”
