Page 10 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

“Fuck,” he muttered.

He was moving before he realized it, descending the stairs and striding through the club, then through the front door. He was out onto the street in seconds. His street bike was parked just beside the curb. A quick wave of his hand and his helmet appeared.

There were people gathered in small clusters along the curb, chatting, laughing, waiting for ride shares. They scooted out of his way, gaping as he passed. Whether it was his towering stature or the fuck off look he usually wore, they stayed out of his way. Most were supernaturals, but a few were humans. His glamor was one of the best in the supernatural world—thanks to his unique brand of magic. So they probably couldn’t tell what, exactly, he was. Not unless they had enough magic to see through his disguise.

Had Eleanor? It seemed unlikely, given that she was human. And yet…

Her reaction to him in the coffee shop had been interesting. Her initial response had been one of fear, but she’d quickly reverted. There had been a moment when her eyes lingered on his ears, his teeth, that he worried she could see through his glamor.

He wasn’t sure what it was about her. But something made his goblin side roar to the surface and purr with curiosity. He told himself it was purely the hunter in him. Because that was easier than the alternative.

He felt for the gold again, using his goblin senses, his affinity for metals, to pinpoint her location. Grabbing his helmet, he shoved it over his head and climbed onto his bike, revving it to life. With a quick thrust, he set off in search of his quarry.

He ignored the coldness in his fingertips, the sense of rising worry. This was the middle of Walton. One of the largest cities in the country. With a higher-than-normal presence of supernaturals. This particular sector of Midtown held far too many dangers for someone like her to be outside in the middle of the night. Especially in a fucking gold top that shone like a beacon.

She was nothing to him. Nothing but a potential lead. And yet, his fingers grew colder, urging him to hurry.

In all his years, he’d never failed on a job. It had earned him a reputation among supernaturals. Something real fucking hard to do for a goblin, since they were treated like dirt. Not that he cared about his reputation all that much. He didn’t give a flying fuck what other people thought about him. But he did like getting paid. Gold, preferably.

Rounding the corner, he put on a burst of speed, searching for Eleanor. She was drawing closer; he felt the gold at her neck. It was time to make his move. He had a job to do, and he’d be damned if he let this little human slip through his fingers.

5

Abject fear made my mind go blank. Two years of self-defense right out the window as my body went rigid with shock. My eyes watered from the hand tangled in my hair, sending pain along my scalp. It fell away, only to wrap me in a chokehold.

“Thought you could hide from me?” Luke’s hot breath fanned my ear.

“Luke, please,” I gasped, immediately falling into old habits, my scars ripped wide open. Dormant instincts screamed at me to submit, to make myself smaller.

Several more bodies materialized, reminding me to fight. Keeping my movements small, I slipped my phone into the side pocket of my pants. I needed to get back into the club. To Eaden.

“How’d you find me?” I managed, trying to distract him.

“Tony, you got the car ready?” Luke said, ignoring me. “Let’s get her out of here.”

He dragged me away from the back door.

Acid bubbled up into my throat. I couldn’t let him take me. I couldn’t go through this again.

I pressed my chin into his forearm, keeping ahold of it with both hands, then I stepped forward, pulling and shifting my weight. I kicked the heel of my foot up, hitting him in the groin. Just like I’d practiced a thousand times.

Luke grunted, bending forward. “Stupid bitch!”

A shot of triumph burst through me as I broke free, trying to get around him toward the door. For a second, I thought I made it.

“What the fuck?!” he hissed, darting forward. He grabbed my wrist and jerked me off balance. A crack reverberated through my hand. First, there was a moment of nothing, then searing pain shot up my arm. I screamed, stunned.

A loud roar filled my ears. A blur of movement and then a motorcycle skidded to a stop beside us. The rider removed his helmet, giving me an eyeful of black hair, piercings, and tattoos. Our eyes locked. It felt like a million years passed between us in a single heartbeat.

Then my heart took off in a gallop.

“Get on!” the goblin growled.

I pulled against Luke, trying to break free.

A dagger appeared in the goblin’s hand. Luke grunted as it sank into his chest. He stumbled back, releasing me. I gasped, blinking, then rushed forward, swinging my leg over the back of the bike. We were moving before I could fully position myself.

All I could do was cling to my rescuer.