Isobel changed direction at once. Within the space of a few seconds, she had Cole at Sean’s side.
“What the fuck happened?” Cole demanded. “One secondeveryone is dry humping, and then they’re fighting.” He looked at Isobel, then Red, then said to Sean, “Who the hell are they?”
Breathing hard, Sean patted Cole’s shoulders to make sure he was okay. “I have no idea. I’m still drunk, but I think they saved my life.”
Red pushed them toward the exit. “Come with us, and we’ll tell you everything.”
We’ll tell you everything.
What a lure.
The four of them snuck through the inebriated, panicking crowds. Where did all the purple eyes go?
“What do they want?” Sean asked, glancing behind himself.
“They want you dead,” Red replied.
His heart jolted. “What?Why?”
Before either of them could answer, they reached the club entrance and drew up short. The wide, glitzy space was clogged with purple eyes.
Sean’s stomach dropped. If fear was a color, it would be purple. Roiling, rainbow-y purple. Hungry, demonic eyes trained on him, eager for the hunt.
What the hell did these creatures want from him?
As one, the four of them turned and ran. Dozens of Purple Eyes gave chase. Sean sensed the danger right at his back, burning through the alcohol and fear, leaving only the will to survive. Red beelined through the joint like she’d memorized every inch of it. They skirted the main bar, then sprinted around the periphery to a grand staircase.
Chaos had taken over. Screams. Fights. Music.
Halfway up the stairs, a man leapt onto Sean’s back, knocking him to the ground. Sean threw his hand out to catch himself, but the squared noses of each stair slammed into his body, bruising his chest, stomach, and legs. His arm took the brunt of the weight, and something in his wrist snapped with a sickening pang.
Sean elbowed the guy in the ribs, but his arm met somethingsharp. Pain tore through his skin when it sliced deep. He grunted, trying to buck the guy off. Red hauled him off Sean. She pressed her hands to his chest, and the purple light receded from the guy’s eyes.
At the same time, the strike force intercepted the Purple Eyes at the base of the stairs. The music finally cut off.
“Run, Autumn!” a man yelled at Red, right before he was tackled to the ground.
Bleeding, wrist broken, Sean darted after Autumn and Isobel. He attacked when necessary, shoving Purple Eyes toward the girls to do their weird hand thing. Autumn made a sharp right and weaved them through more booths. Sean took up the rear, the better to keep an eye on Cole, who now sported a black eye. At a discreet door in the back corner labeledEmployees Only, Autumn swiped a card she’d clearly stolen.
The four of them jogged single file through an empty, fluorescent hallway. They passed an employee break room boasting two people who peeked up as they flew by.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked him.
“I’ll be fine,” Sean replied, though he wasn’t sure if it was true. An aching throb pulsed from his wrist, and he cradled it against his chest. Blood dripped from the cut near his elbow. To distract himself, he turned toward Autumn. “Where are we going?”
“Far, far away,” she answered.
“I need a better answer than that,” Cole said in his usual blunt way. He had a sheen of sweat over his skin and a look in his eye that spoke of frank distrust. “This is fucked up. Who are these people?”
She glanced at him and did a double take. Her steps slowed. After a moment, Isobel shot her a funny look and pushed her shoulder.
Autumn resumed her pace, shaking herself. “We need to get Caden safe.”
“Who the hell is Caden?” Cole demanded.
“I am,” Sean said without thinking. “I mean—that’s my first name. I don’t knowhow they knew it.”
“Hey!” shouted a voice down the hall. A girl poked her head out of a doorway. “You guys can’t be back here. I’m calling security.”
