Page 66 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Shut up.”

She laughed as I walked away. Running wasn’t my favorite thing. Okay, it was probably my least favorite thing. But we’d both agreed being able to run worked to our benefit. If only I didn’t get so sweaty. I hated when my shirt stuck to my back or my hairline got wet.

Changing into running shorts and a t-shirt, I hopped on the machine. My mind quieted as I gradually sped up. Alternating between a run and a jog, I managed ten minutes before all hell broke loose.

“Kelsey, he’s kicking a puppy!” Zoe yelled.

The words were followed by a bang.

Fear punched me in the chest, and I leapt from the treadmill.

“Zoe!” I yelled as I ran.

There was no answer.

CHAPTERFOUR

A quick scanof the living room confirmed my worst fears. Zoe wasn’t there, and the front door was standing wide open. Swearing under my breath, I bolted outside, only hesitating a moment before veering to the side of the house.

I knew right where my stupid sister would be and prayed our neighbor was truly as harmless as she thought.

However, when I rounded the corner, I halted. The man looked anything but safe. He stood with his hands fisted at his sides and his stance wide as he glared down at Zoe, who was glaring right back at him. I was going to kill her if he didn’t kill us both first.

I kept my gaze locked on the snow under my shoes as I slowly approached the pair. Without speaking, I grabbed Zoe and started pulling her away.

A hand wrapped around my upper arm. I shifted my gaze from the snow to the long, golden fingers that prevented my escape.

“Let me go,” I said, tightening my hold on Zoe.

“What will you give me?” he asked, his voice smooth and slightly accented.

“Nothing. We’re under the protection of the Council and the fury who lives here.”

His feet moved closer to me, and my already racing pulse started to hammer harder in my chest.

“I didn’t break any rules. I didn’t leave my house when I wasn’t supposed to. I didn’t trespass.”

The last words were spoken softly against my ear. A shiver raced through me, and for a second, I would have sworn he purred.

Zoe tapped my side, thankfully keeping quiet, and bringing me back to the moment.

“She made a mistake,” I said. “It won’t happen again.”

“Do you refuse payment?” he asked.

“I own nothing. Everything I have has been loaned to me from the Council. And they made it clear we wouldn’t be able to take anything with us if we leave.” That was one of the tricks Ashlyn mentioned in her books. If you have to talk to save yourself, never outright agree or disagree. Speak softly and carry a big stick. The stick being Megan, the local fury.

The man growled a low rumble of displeasure and released my arm.

“Then I will take what is only yours to give.” He reached up, pinched a hank of my hair, and with a nail, cut it away.

In shock, I looked up and met his gaze.

“My eyes do not glow. They glint like treasure.” He lifted my twist of hair to his nose, closed his eyes, and inhaled its scent. Then, he started to make a clicking noise.

I lifted a foot, and his eyes snapped open. They did glint in the light, and it scared me how much I couldn’t stop looking at them.

“Run away while you still can, my little human,” he said softly.

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