Page 66 of Veil of Blood and Bone

His gaze flicks to me and skitters past in the next beat.

“It figures. He has no appreciation for culture. I quite liked the credenza. Not garbage.” Wren glances at Forest and sniffs. “As if you would appreciate it, either.”

Forest keeps one hand on my bicep and rounds to the side. “I know you?”

Wren grins, showing lines of straight teeth with somehow more bite than a hungry piranha. “Right. They’re not all back yet. Poor baby.” He pats his pockets. “I know I have the note here somewhere? I’ll let you read it for yourself so we can spare the lengthy catch up.”

A throaty grunt sounds from the settee.

I jerk away from Forest, coming out of my skin. Audra hunches in on herself with a shiver.

Hot vamp, or Nicholas I guess, gathers her in his arms and is already striding toward the off-kilter door of the office at the rear of the building.

Tremors from the fight must have rattled the old foundation. Unsurprisingly, he balances Audra and wrenches it open with a squeal of protesting hinges.

Forest shakes his head and pulls me along with a grumble.

My tongue knots, working from one side of my mouth to the other. This is no coincidence. Somehow the oddity of the two attacks—monster attacks—coincide with these three strangers who aren’t strangers at all.

But why? How do I fit in?

And how do I get off the ride?

Nicholas has already made himself comfortable in the office. Barnes, rather than a typical rolling chair, prefers a wingback with a floral print like he channeled his inner Dame from Downton Abbey.

Nicholas kicks the chair aside to make more room and rests Audra on its sagging cushions. He shrugs out of his jacket, using it to prop behind her head.

The man has muscles to spare. Tall and angular, his arms bulge against his shirt and when he pushes up his sleeves⁠—

Forearms shouldn’t be sexy.

Veins like his should definitely not be sexy.

“What a gentleman,” Wren purrs. He chuckles and leans into the door. “Even in the direst of times, that old school Cult charm is hard to resist.”

“Shut the hell up.” Nicholas grumbles darkly, shooting Wren a heavy look.

A confused Forest stays at my side, and I lean into his warmth like he’s the safest of the three. Which is not exactly valid considering we’re speckled in troll blood like confetti.

“You guys talk like you know each other,” I repeat. I push a hand against my throbbing temple. “Someone explain it to me.”

Wren sniffs, smiles, earrings glinting on his pointed ears. “We know you too, monster.”

“No, you don’t,” I reply. “I’ve never met you before in my life. But I know I’m stuck inside some True Blood bullshit, and one of you better start talking.”

Nicholas ignores me and pushes two fingers against the side of Audra’s neck. “Strong.”

“You had your doubts?” Wren crosses his arms.

“Double checking,” Nicholas clarifies.

He slides claws up to her chin, and I don’t think. I’m there in a heartbeat to slap the vampire’s hand away.

“Don’t,” I warn when he looks ready to argue. “Don’t touch her.”

His gaze goes thunderous. “I saved her life.”

Panic shifts to fury. The slow trickle becomes a stream and burns away everything else that has no place in this moment. The air in the room tightens. The heat thaws whatever chill was left over from the fight.