Page 58 of Because the Night

I attempt a smile. “Getting kidnapped from a bathroom wasn’t on either of our bingo cards.”

Henry just sighs.

Benedict gives me a wink. “Nice baseball bat.”

“Very Father coded, isn’t it?” asks Henry. “I told you they make a nice couple.”

I turn back and tell the remaining human, “Run. Get to safety.”

“Skye, you’re limping and there’s blood on you. Let me try another question, and hopefully this time you’ll give me an honest response,” says Lucas. “Who hurt you?”

“Thugs hired by Marc.”

Lucas growls low in his throat. “I am going to fucking kill them. Then, for once and for all, I am going to kill my brother.”

“You can’t.”

“Oh yes, I can.”

“No,” I say patiently. “You can’t kill them because I already did that. But feel free to put an end to your brother. I would really appreciate it.”

There’s no imagining the surprise on their faces. Lucas just blinks. “You killed them?”

“Yes. I mean…I had some help, but…yeah.”

“Huh,” says Henry. “Good job, little sister.”

Nicholas gives me a nod of approval.

With the fresh blood in me, I can move more easily. My hair is half in, half out of the now-lopsided bun, and my evening dress is bedraggled. No idea what my makeup is like; though, I doubt it’s good with the amount of crying I’ve been doing. Just about every nail is chipped or broken. It shouldn’t matter that I’m a wreck. But everything seems to be catching up with me now.

Lucas holds out a hand and I reach for it, but my own is streaked with blood and ash. Just covered in it. And I don’t like the way my limb is shaking either.

The sky outside is lightening. I can feel it care of the lethargy creeping into my limbs. It’s like the dawn has this deadly pull on me. An entire night was lost to this kidnapping fuckery. What a waste.

“It’s decision time. We staying or going?” asks Nico.

I frown. “But Marc—”

“Isn’t here,” says Lucas. “He was just sighted to the north of the city. Samuel informed us a few minutes ago.”

“He’s not here?”

Lucas shakes his head. “You need to feed and rest. And we need to discuss next steps. Do you need me to carry you?”

“No,” I say. “Thank you.”

Outside is Benedict’s G Wagon for us and a Ducati motorbike for Nico. Lucas hovers as I limp along. We’re not even that far from home or the hotel. Marc’s goons obviously didn’t hide me all that well. Not knowing I have secret psychic powers giving me a kick along in this life is one thing. But their general ineptness is a little bewildering. Leaving me alone with the human whom I might have managed to overpower, etcetera. I don’t know. It just doesn’t quite make sense. Tonight is probably a prime example of getting what you paid for because Marc’s goons were not great at their jobs.

I wince when I put my weight on my leg climbing out of the vehicle at home. But it’s almost back to normal. Three stories of white walls and terracotta roof tiles tower over me. It’s never been a more welcome sight. The scent of the climbing roses and jasmine. I made it back in one piece. Go me.

Nico escorts us home, then rides off at speed. Hunting our enemies, no doubt.

Lucas sweeps me up into his arms. “Enough.”

“I can walk.”

“Not well, you can’t.”

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