“I’m here, now,” Mason growled. “You will let us in that house or you will die. Your choice.”
The men exchanged a few glances then nodded. “Sorry, Mason, it won’t happen again.”
“It better not.” He shoved his door open. “If it does, I’ll break your legs with my teeth.”
“Easy, friend,” I hissed under my breath. “I’m in no condition to fight.”
“You’re never in a condition to fight,” Mason said cheerfully. “That’s why I let you live, it wouldn’t be fair.”
“Hilarious.” I opened my car door and tried to weave toward the front door, only to be intercepted by Mason’s gruff arms. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” He nodded to the two vampires eying us warily. “Ever.”
“Fine.” I winked at the vampires. “Like what you see?”
One scowled while the other sniffed, his fangs elongated past his bottom lip.
“Don’t worry, he has that effect on everyone.” Mason pushed open the door. “She’s… close.”
“Oh good, as long as she’s close,” I snapped. “I can’t last much longer. I need to see her, I have to see her.”
“And what exactly—” He heaved me higher into his arms. “—is your plan? Hey, Hope, nice seeing you, aren’t you proud of me I haven’t had sex with a stranger in twenty-four hours.”
My heart sank.
“No.” I fought to keep the emotion out of my throat. “That’s—that’s not what this is.”
“So it’s not a booty call, then?” Timber’s voice sounded from down the hall. “Because that’s exactly what it looks like.”
“Alex!” Hope called my name.
I closed my eyes as her voice washed over me.
“Hope.” My body trembled, shook with need for her.
She rounded the corner, joining Timber. A thousand different feelings hit me at once, love, protectiveness, and finally, the most painful of all.
Jealousy.
Timber’s arms swirled with blue fire.
They matched Hope’s.
And just like that, a part of me died, the part still holding onto what we had, what we could have.
“No.” I shook my head at them. “No.”
Timber’s black-rimmed eyes shed red tears. “If you touch her, I will kill you.”
“Do your worst.” I answered in a smug voice I most definitely didn’t feel.
Just as Timber took a step toward me, he paused, as if his feet were stuck in mud. “What the hell?”
“Hell.” A dark voice boomed. “I doubt it’s as nice as I’m being.”
Bannik appeared out of the shadows, and fear slammed into me. “Mason, get her out, now!”
“No.” Bannik grinned up at me. “Silly siren, I’m not here for the elf, though her blood would be quite useful for later. No… I need you.”