Page 39 of Untraced Magic
He grabbed my wrist. “He thinks you’re not of our kind. Stay behind me and don’t move,” he ordered.
Ourkind? What the hell…?
Tyler turned toward the voice in the alley, where a figure stood hidden within the shadows. Under a black hooded coat, his cheekbones cut sharp angles into his features, his face unknown to me.
“You,” the word dripped off Tyler’s lips like bile.
“Did you not learn your lesson, young Tyler?” the man cautioned. He clasped his hands in front of him in a weirdly traditional way.
Lesson? Who the hell was this guy?
Tyler stiffened. “You know the rules, leave her alone. Besides, sheisof our kind. I’ve seen it.” Tyler growled.
The stranger pondered this for a moment, daring to take a few steps closer. “I’m intrigued. You say she is not human, yet I cannot sense her?”
Tyler extended to his full height in front of me, and I had to crane my neck to see past him.
Out of the darkness sauntered another guy, this one taller but not by much, shadows hiding half his face. He wore black jeans and a leather jacket. I sucked in a breath, noting the same jet-black hair I recognized from earlier, only now, droplets of rain sat like diamonds on each strand.
I stepped out from behind Tyler. “Jett?” I exclaimed, as a gust of wind whipped a sheet of rain at us.
Tyler’s grip tightened on my wrist, holding me in place.
Jett’s eyes darted between Tyler and me. “I thought you were saving the last drink of the night for me, young Morgan?”
What’s with thisyoungshit? We were all grown adults. They obviously knew each other, but I didn’t recall seeing them together in the bar.
The stranger’s attention slid between us and Jett. “You know her?”
Jett’s gaze never left mine, a prickle crawling over my skin as if giving a warning. “I believe we have met, yes.”
Danger licked the air, his ice blues glistening. He cocked his head to the side, a sly smile twisting his lips.
“Tyler, let’s go,” I said, squeezing his shoulder.
His hand inched me backwards until I stood directly behind him again. “Don’t move,” he ordered, his stare locked in front of him. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave,” Tyler cautioned.
Jett’s irises flickered with amusement.
Tyler’s voice came louder this time, in a way I could only describe as a growl. “Now,” he warned. He released his grip on me, his hands bunching into fists on either side of him.
Jett moved to join the curious stranger, grazing his lips with his thumb. “As much as Ilovethis chat, I’m done with the pleasantries, and the lovely Morgan here looks absolutely delicious,”
My blood ran cold, chilling my bones.
Jett made out a fake yawn, then sprung toward us. So fast I questioned what I saw.
Suddenly, an inferno of fire sent him flying in the air, back to where his friend stood, shaking his head. My legs gave way, connecting me with the ground, my hands covering my head, my knees, clawing at air.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard screaming. I couldn’t think, couldn’t move. Pinned to the doorstep, the cold seeped through my pants, water leaking from my hair, dripping down my back.
Tyler’s voice came from somewhere. “Next time, it won’t just be your pretty little jacket that melts.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, fearing for my life. This was all too much. My thoughts were lost somewhere between the reality I knew and what I’d just seen.
Strong arms hoisted me to my feet, tucking underneath my shoulders. Tyler’s face appeared in my vision, his hands grabbing my chin, as if waking me from a deep slumber. Forcing reality back on me.
“We need to gonow,” he urged.
