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Harris has been talking for a while now. His voice doesn’t make it past the Pull’s barrier, but Julianna’s silence pushes through. Sensing her smothers the jagged edges of the Pull so I can hear her shuffle back on her heels, creating distance between herself and Harris. I hear the way she fidgets with her purse and nervously tugs on her hair. Her teeth drag across her bottom lip, and she chews at it.
Everything in my body wants to save her. Everything but one all-consuming drive, which stops me from racing down the stairs to Julianna’s side.
The Keystone is inside the column, but the ability to access it isn’t clear. I look for any other logical location for a button or lever that opens the column.
Searching the space, my gaze catches on something large that quickly passes by the window. The Pull only allows me a second to register what it is, but I’m unable to place the streak of darkness in the night sky. It is likely Knox on his flyover. I trust my brothers. I don’t have the ability to drag myself from my mission.
The massive oak desk is the only other logical location to put the access point to the vault. It is an odd focal point in the minimalist space of cool grays and white. It has ornate filigree and turned legs. I bend over the desk, trying the drawers first, and unsurprisingly find them locked. I debate taking my emerald ring off for just a second to use my claws to pick them.
My internal argument is interrupted when Julianna lets out a grunt of effort. Her heels clatter back, and she lets out a curse. Harris grabbed her. I hear the sound of his palm over her soft skin. What feels like Julianna’s delicate fingers slide along my rib cage, gripping me firmly in the center of my chest to push me past the pulse of the Pull, and I’m on my feet.
The Pull beats in waves against me, attempting to tear me from this new embrace.
I promised to protect her,I tell it.
My hand slides over the floral filigree design around the top edge of the desk, and I feel a carved blossom gently give way. A button. What else would it go to but the vault? The Pull digs in further just as the scent of something sickly sweet hits my nose.
This new sensation pushes forward against the demand of the Pull I’m used to. I focus on the scent and realize what it is.
Perspiration, adrenaline, fear.
Julianna is afraid.
I’m running.
Gargoyle speed and stealth are with me still as I reach the bottom of the stairs with nary an eye on me. I have Harris’s arm in my grip before anyone, including the guard, realizes I’m there.
“What the hell?” Harris attempts to yank himself from me and fails.
“What did he do?” I turn to Julianna. Her eyes are large saucers as she looks between Harris and me.
“I’m fine,” she says firmly as she absently rubs over her arm. “I just informed Mr. Harris I wasn’t interested in talking.”
“That’s not what I asked.” I hear my growl turn from human to monster, and I don’t even pretend to control it.
“I handled it.” She lays a hand on my arm, a soothing gesture that only heightens my anger. She shouldn’t be trying to comfort me right now, not when this ass was clearly harassing her.
“I was paying Jules a compliment,” Harris sneers, ignoring Julianna completely.
I squeeze his arm tighter, and he lets out a howl. People are watching. Any moment, Freddy will leave the company of the brunette to figure out what the commotion is about.
“I simply told her that she made a poor impression at our first meeting, but I see her potential now. If Jules wanted to trade up tonight”—he looks over at me in disgust—“she could apologize and I’d—”
“Trade up.” She laughs, then immediately covers her mouth as more eyes turn. She moves in closer to my side and whispers, “Too many people are staring.”
“Julianna.” I growl out.
“I’ve already handled it. It’s over. let’s go,” she insists. She stands in front of me, shoulders back and head held high. I want to hold her to me. I want to tear Harris’s head from his body.
I heard enough from upstairs to know that he did more than offer her a second chance with him. It would’ve taken more than that to have her so worked up.
“Everything good?”
I nod yes. I know where the Keystone is, I know how to access the vault, and we’ve secured an invite to Freddy’s next event. That’s everything I needed to accomplish tonight, but I struggle not to add knocking out Harris to the list.
“Please, let’s just go. He doesn’t matter,” Julianna insists.
Of course it matters, I want to argue. The scent of her fear had pulled me from the Keystone. It shouldn’t have. It didn’t make sense. Even now I should be consumed with the Pull. It should be dictating my every move, but I left it for her.
