head.
“That bastard!” Cornelius snarled, anger and rage flooding every nook and cranny of his psyche, pushing aside his fear and self-loathing. “How dare he threaten her? At least, tell me Pete is doing something about it!” He glared at Vane’s lounging form, referring to his father even as he struggled to control his urge to scramble toward his cell phone and see if he had any messages.
“Your father is out of town…in Cleveland, I believe,” Vane replied.
“Shit,” he hissed. This time he gave in to his urge and snatched up his phone. As he dialed his sister’s number, he asked, “What did he say, exactly?”
Vane lifted one shoulder in half a shrug. “The usual for threats, I suppose. Return to me or I’ll use your sister as a substitute.”
Cornelius’s stomach plummeted. Sure, he’d figured that would be the threat. Or maybe, I’ll kidnap your sister or I’ll kill your sister . Those would almost be better. Never would he want anyone to go through what he’d endured.
His sister’s line picked up and relief filled Cornelius. It was short-lived.
“Hello, darling,” Corbin’s smooth southern drawl sounded over the line. That had been what had attracted Cornelius in the first place. The way the man spoke. He’d loved to listen to his master speak. “I was wondering when you’d call. Your sister says you talk at least once a week these days.”
Cringing, Cornelius reminded himself that Corbin was not his master, not now, not ever again. Finding his courage, he ordered, “Leave my sister alone. Get away from her.”
“How quickly you forget your place, pet.” Corbin growled, his tone chilly. “ You don’t give the orders in this relationship. I do.”
Cornelius pulled his knees to his chest, hating his initial reaction to mumble an apology. He wrapped his free arm around his knees and clutched his phone tightly, pressing it almost too hard to his ear. He struggled to force his mouth and tongue to form words, any words.
Suddenly, he felt a massive hand settle on his back, stroking lightly. Cornelius looked up and found Vane standing over him. He didn’t offer platitudes, or even a smile, but suddenly a low rumbling came from the gargoyle, sounding almost like thick chains being dragged slowly across the ground.
His jaw sagged open when he realized Vane was trilling for him.
It wasn’t as soothing as Einan’s but just the idea of the huge gargoyle doing that—someone who’d been through troubles of his own, from the few things Einan had said about him—it was…sweet.
It also gave him enough courage to state, “We’re not in a relationship, Corbin. I left. We’re done.” He paused for just a second, then figured he might as well go for broke and demanded, “Give Natalie her phone and leave her alone.”
Corbin snarled. “Sure, pet.”
A second later, Natalie’s quavering voice came through the line. “C-Cornelius? P-please. Help m-me.”
Cornelius hated the absolute terror he heard. He hated Corbin for putting it there.
“I will,” he promised. He’d do anything to keep her safe, even if that meant returning to Corbin to do it.
His ex came back on the line. “Now come to Natalie’s home. Don’t keep me waiting.”
The cold excitement in Corbin’s voice sent chills down Cornelius’s spine. He lowered his gaze on instinct, even though the other shifter wasn’t even in the room. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Good, pet,” Corbin crooned. “And, pet, come alone.” Then, the line went dead.
A sob escaped Cornelius’s throat as he lowered his phone. He desperately wished Einan were home. His mate would know what to do. Still, Cornelius realized he couldn’t sit around and wallow. His sister needed him. Now.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, Cornelius rose to his feet and away from Vane. He turned to look at the huge creature and found himself the recipient of a narrow-eyed stare. If the guy hadn’t been so nice to him, it would have
“That bastard!” Cornelius snarled, anger and rage flooding every nook and cranny of his psyche, pushing aside his fear and self-loathing. “How dare he threaten her? At least, tell me Pete is doing something about it!” He glared at Vane’s lounging form, referring to his father even as he struggled to control his urge to scramble toward his cell phone and see if he had any messages.
“Your father is out of town…in Cleveland, I believe,” Vane replied.
“Shit,” he hissed. This time he gave in to his urge and snatched up his phone. As he dialed his sister’s number, he asked, “What did he say, exactly?”
Vane lifted one shoulder in half a shrug. “The usual for threats, I suppose. Return to me or I’ll use your sister as a substitute.”
Cornelius’s stomach plummeted. Sure, he’d figured that would be the threat. Or maybe, I’ll kidnap your sister or I’ll kill your sister . Those would almost be better. Never would he want anyone to go through what he’d endured.
His sister’s line picked up and relief filled Cornelius. It was short-lived.
“Hello, darling,” Corbin’s smooth southern drawl sounded over the line. That had been what had attracted Cornelius in the first place. The way the man spoke. He’d loved to listen to his master speak. “I was wondering when you’d call. Your sister says you talk at least once a week these days.”
Cringing, Cornelius reminded himself that Corbin was not his master, not now, not ever again. Finding his courage, he ordered, “Leave my sister alone. Get away from her.”
“How quickly you forget your place, pet.” Corbin growled, his tone chilly. “ You don’t give the orders in this relationship. I do.”
Cornelius pulled his knees to his chest, hating his initial reaction to mumble an apology. He wrapped his free arm around his knees and clutched his phone tightly, pressing it almost too hard to his ear. He struggled to force his mouth and tongue to form words, any words.
Suddenly, he felt a massive hand settle on his back, stroking lightly. Cornelius looked up and found Vane standing over him. He didn’t offer platitudes, or even a smile, but suddenly a low rumbling came from the gargoyle, sounding almost like thick chains being dragged slowly across the ground.
His jaw sagged open when he realized Vane was trilling for him.
It wasn’t as soothing as Einan’s but just the idea of the huge gargoyle doing that—someone who’d been through troubles of his own, from the few things Einan had said about him—it was…sweet.
It also gave him enough courage to state, “We’re not in a relationship, Corbin. I left. We’re done.” He paused for just a second, then figured he might as well go for broke and demanded, “Give Natalie her phone and leave her alone.”
Corbin snarled. “Sure, pet.”
A second later, Natalie’s quavering voice came through the line. “C-Cornelius? P-please. Help m-me.”
Cornelius hated the absolute terror he heard. He hated Corbin for putting it there.
“I will,” he promised. He’d do anything to keep her safe, even if that meant returning to Corbin to do it.
His ex came back on the line. “Now come to Natalie’s home. Don’t keep me waiting.”
The cold excitement in Corbin’s voice sent chills down Cornelius’s spine. He lowered his gaze on instinct, even though the other shifter wasn’t even in the room. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Good, pet,” Corbin crooned. “And, pet, come alone.” Then, the line went dead.
A sob escaped Cornelius’s throat as he lowered his phone. He desperately wished Einan were home. His mate would know what to do. Still, Cornelius realized he couldn’t sit around and wallow. His sister needed him. Now.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, Cornelius rose to his feet and away from Vane. He turned to look at the huge creature and found himself the recipient of a narrow-eyed stare. If the guy hadn’t been so nice to him, it would have
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