Ivy flinched a little, her back pressing against the wall of the alley. “I—I don't know much. He normally texts me with what he wants, but occasionally he mindspeaks to me, so I know he's got to be some sort of mythic shifter. Um. I know he's rich. Oh, and he's got a thing about pegasus shifters.”
“You mean he hates us?” Chase tried to think if anyone could want him dead. The list was, he had to admit, potentially quite long.
“No, the opposite. He was very clear on this job that I mustn't harm any pegasus shifters.” Ivy glared at him, rubbing her side absently. “Clearly you didn't know that, though. You should thank me, Rainbow Dash. It's pretty hard to hold back when someone's trying to kick your ribs in.”
Chase furrowed his brow, trying to make the pieces fit together. He had a nagging sense that it should be obvious, that he just wasn't seeing something…
“Ivy,” he said slowly. “Did you say that your employer told you to start this fire?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Connie fought with all her strength, but Killian easily restrained her as Sammy strolled into the room. The shark shifter was followed by a lean, cold-eyed man, clearly one of his thugs.
Connie filled her lungs and screamed as loud as she could, desperately hoping to attract the attention of someone in the neighboring apartments. She only got off one yell, though, before Sammy's henchman slapped a calloused hand over her mouth.
“I'm afraid there's no one nearby to hear you,” Killian told her, stepping back as Sammy's man took over the job of restraining her. The pegasus shifter turned to Sammy, frowning. “I thought you were just going to send someone. If anyone asks me if you were here—”
“Now, why would they have any reason to do that?” Sammy replied. He kept his hands in his suit pockets, being careful not to touch anything. “Just wanted to make sure the job was done properly.”
Killian jerked his chin at the henchman. “You're positive no one will be able to recognize him?”
“See, that's the nice thing about working with undersea types.” Sammy's sharp smile flashed. “A lot of us hardly ever come up on land. Makes it real easy to find someone for this sort of quiet work.”
“Good.” Killian looked at the henchman. “Tell me you're a wyvern shifter. Out loud.”
“I'm a… wyvern shifter?” the thug said, baffled.
“That'll do.” The pegasus shifter took a small, sheathed knife out of his pocket. “I need to be able to say that I thought you were one. We're ready, then.”
Killian unsheathed the knife. It was only a small blade, but Killian handled it as gingerly as if it was a loaded gun. The edge of the steel looked corroded, and was coated in some thick, oily fluid.
Killian held the handle in the tips of his fingers, offering it to Sammy's henchman. The man glanced at it, then looked questioningly at Sammy.
The shark shifter rocked a little on the balls of his feet. “Now, I can't tell you what to do, son. But I will just say that the little lady here has been a mighty sharp thorn in my side. Not that I'd ever want anyone to hurt her seriously, mind.”
With a shrug, Sammy's henchman took the proffered knife in one hand, still restraining Connie with his other arm. Connie tried to cringe away from the blade, but even one-handed, the thug easily held her motionless.
With a quick, practiced flick, he drew the sharp edge across her cheek.
It happened so fast that Connie didn't even feel any pain. Then she realized that she couldn't feel anything. The absolute numbness spread out from the cut and across her face, terrifyingly fast.
“I hope it doesn't hurt,” Killian said to her, in genuine concern. “I specifically told my wyvern to make me a poison that wouldn't hurt. I don't want you to suffer, Connie.”
“You… won't… get away,” Connie forced out around her numb tongue. “Chase…”
“Will never know the truth,” Killian finished for her, calmly. He held his arms outspread, cocking his head at Sammy's henchman. “I need to be able to truthfully say that I tried to fight you off. Please, make it look good.”
Connie collapsed helplessly to the floor as the man released her. She could only watch, paralysis spreading through every muscle of her body, as Sammy's thug delivered a swift, thorough beating to Killian.
Chase, she thought desperately.
She remembered Ash saying that mythic shifters were telepathic. Chase was her mate. Would he be able to sense her distress?
CHASE! she called out mentally, praying that he could hear her. Praying that he was on his way.
“Enough,” Killian gasped after a few brutal minutes. He held up a hand. “That'll do.”
The henchman glanced at Sammy, who lifted one finger, scratching his nose. The henchman swiveled on one foot, swinging one last blow straight at Killian's face. The pegasus shifter cried out, hunching over.