Page 60 of Flock This

Something caught Harrison’s jacket and yanked him forward, the action pressing me between Harrison’s hard body and something else.

Something else with a beating heart—Ruben?

When Ruben spoke again, his voice came out deep and low. “Make sure you get her out of here safely.”

“Obviously.”

“And don’t think this is the last we’ll speak of this, Grey. I intend to give you an exceptionally long lecture about your poor choices the next time I see you.” The warmth and pressure of Ruben’s body disappeared without another word, leaving me dazed.

Why was it that every time I thought I had a good plan, that I thought I was ahead of the game, one of the asshole men in my life pulled the rug right out from beneath me again?

Well, I hope he enjoys salt!

* * * *

“Change.”

The order came a moment before the limo pulled onto the road, the action causing me to stumble.

Harrison had let me out of his pocket as soon as we’d gotten into the vehicle, the dark partition between the front and back letting us speak in private.

It annoyed me how people demanded that of me, as though I were a thing to dance to their tune. However, he also wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t have a discussion with him in this form, and if he wanted to kill me, he could have done so at any point.

So I took a deep breath and did as he asked, leaving me naked on the seat, panting hard. Even if changing didn’t hurt the way it did for Weres, it was hardly fun. Fabric struck me, and I realized it was the trench coat Harrison had worn. It still felt warm, and it smelled of him.

I hated that it gave me that same sense of safety as when he’d stroked me in the elevator. Still, I tugged it around me and held it closed at the front.

Not that Harrison showed any signs of interest. Nudity wasn’t that big of a deal to most of us in the Spirit world. Perhaps it was because we understood just how animalistic we all were, at our core, so nudity wasn’t that important. We lacked some of the hang-ups of others when it came to sex, understood it as a basic urge, and didn’t demonize it the way humans did.

“How did you know it was me?” I asked.

“Which time? When I saw you at my sister’s, I had no idea who you were. I noticed you only because my powers did not seem to affect you. Later, when information about William’s death and your warrant came out, I was able to put the pieces together. Lastly, when I saw you move in that box, I thought, what are the chances of another crow shifter being there? One whose emotional presence I don’t sense? It seemed a fair guess.”

“How can you be related to Ignis? She’s nice and friendly and you…” I trailed off instead of finishing the thought when I realized nothing I was about to say would be good for me.

He didn’t seem to take offense, however. “Ignis is a very weak empath. It allows her to do her job. I, however, was cursed with far stronger abilities.”

I put my hands on my cheeks. “Oh, poor me, I’m so powerful. How did I end up sooo unlucky.” I dropped my hands and offered him a bored look. “Humblebrags are so last year.”

He tilted his head to the side. “I’m serious. With those of my clan, the more power one holds, the worse the side effects. Powers of the mind are doorways. The larger the door, the more can pass through, but it passes both ways.”

I frowned as I tried to make sense of his words, but in the end I couldn’t get them into any useful form. Instead, I moved on. “Why’d you help me?”

“I wonder.”

I grit my teeth at that entirely unhelpful answer. Instead of arguing, I glanced out of the window at the road that passed us by, only to realize where we were.

“You’re taking me back to the Castle?”

“It’s where you’re staying, isn’t it? Last I heard, Kelvin is doing quite a bit of digging looking for something. I would guess that’s you.”

Just the mention of Kelvin made my heart speed. I didn’t think I was quite ready to face him just yet, but I also didn’t think it would get any better if I put it off any longer. In fact, rather than calming down he’d probably just end up angrier.

The limo pulled into the underground parking structure, then came to a stop by the elevators. It waited there, and Harrison said nothing else as he stared at me.

I should get out. I knew I shouldn’t say a word, that I should just thank my lucky stars that I’d made it this far alive and count my blessings. However, much like most good advice, I ignored it and stared back at Harrison, trying to peer beneath that perfect, flat exterior to whatever rested beneath.

He didn’t smile back at me, didn’t mock me. Instead, he waved his hand in dismissal. “I doubt this will be the last time we meet, Mischief.”

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