Page 45

I startled and turned to see that Bel had abandoned his table. “Hi.”

“I’m going to run to the deli and get us some lunch,” he said. “Do you want salad or a sandwich?”

Nausea swirled in my stomach at the thought of food. “I’m not hungry.”

“Blue, you haven’t eaten all day.” His amber eyes were worried, and his tone was pleading. “At least it’ll be here for you in case you change your mind.”

My heart ached at his kindness. “Salad, please.”

He winced at my small voice and leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead. “Okay. I’ll only be a few minutes. Promise.”

I nodded, words failing me at the overwhelming sensitivity of this man. After he left, I dug deep to find a shred of energy to get some actual work done. The rolling cart was full of books, and I yawned again as I pushed it over to the elevator. Most of them were textbooks and research materials that belonged upstairs around the study lounge. The ancient metal door slid open, and I shoved the cart through, following behind to push the button. It took ages to go up one floor, grating on my already frayed nerves.

To make matters worse, Margo and her two sidekicks were sitting at a table, open books piled around them. I’d been so zoned out that I didn’t even notice them come in. The fact that she hadn’t immediately jumped into harassing me was nothing short of a miracle. But as I pushed the cart past their table and none of them looked my way, a strange feeling twisted in my gut. Some instinct told me she was…off. My magic coiled like a cornered viper.

Chalking it up to nerves and my already fragile state of mind, I headed for the first section on my list and got busy shelving. Ten minutes slipped by without issue, and the cart was almost empty. The antique bell at the front desk dinged, announcing that a patron was waiting. Suppressing a groan, I left the cart and made for the stairs instead of the elevator, but when I reached the top step and craned my neck to look down, there was no one there.

I didn’t even have time to turn around before the hard shove came against my back.

Suddenly I was weightless.

Flying.

Falling.

The first impact on the stairs knocked the wind out of me, lungs seizing. The second was punctuated by a snap that stole my breath all over again. When I finally smacked into the banister at the bottom, everything was spinning. Through my daze, I saw Margo and her friends at the top of the stairs. Gina turned her phone to me and tapped the screen with a vicious smile. A bell just like the one at the desk rang out.

“That’s for what you did to Tommy, you freak,” she sneered as they passed where I was still crumpled and reeling.

Margo paused to look down at me, and a scream lodged in my throat, trapped by the fist of fear around it. Her eyes were pitch-black, the whites completely blotted out. They were lifeless, swirling voids. Like the guy at the club. Like the people who’d stalked me.

“She’s coming for you.” Her grin was demented.

Then they just walked away, and I could only stare after them while my heart pounded against my throbbing ribs. My body felt numb, my ears were ringing, my vision was blurry, and yet I was still struggling to believe that I was broken at the bottom of the stairs.

Because Margo pushed me down them.

Margo, with her black, soulless eyes.

30

BELLAMY

Anything yet?

I drummed my fingers against the back of my phone while I waited for the reply from Quinn. There was a woman behind me on the sidewalk who was probably wondering where the hell I came from. I was usually more careful when I traveled through the shadows, but right now I didn’t give a shit. I just wanted to be back with my girl. She was fraying a little more every day, and if we didn’t tell her everything soon, we were going to lose her.

Q

Rami talked to Jabari again this morning. Still no news.

I don’t buy it. He’s our fucking Alpha. He has to know something.

I fired off the text before jerking the door to the deli open, making the chime rattle with a dissonant sound.

I have a meeting with one of the lycan packs tonight. They might be able to track him.

My teeth ground together as I joined the line of people waiting to place their orders.