"Could've fooled me, dog."
I growl at him, and Sheridan grabs my arm. "Trey, no. It's not worth it."
I shake her off, ready to go after Nero. Leech won't be so smug when I have my teeth at his throat. Sure, he can appear and disappear at will, but eventually that little trick will tire him out, and when it does, I'll be ready.
"Trey, please." Sheridan touches my back. Her voice cracks a little. "Get me out of here. I want to go."
Fuck. I can't refuse her. "This isn't over." I point at Nero, who just laughs. Frangelico turns his ultra blank face towards his lieutenant and mouths something before disappearing.
"Fuck that's creepy," I say to the empty air where the king stood seconds before. "Come on, Sheridan." I put my arm around her shoulders and she slumps in relief. We hustle all the way up the stairs, out the club and to her car. She turns and leans against her door.
"You okay?" I ask, settling my hands on her hips.
"Yes. You?"
"Yep."
"Thank the fates." She touches my cheek as if checking for damage, then slaps me.
"What the fuck?" I bite back my chuckle because I can tell she's really mad. Plus, it's really cute when she's worried about me.
"What were you thinking? Leaving me all day without answering my calls? Then bursting into my meeting and challenging a vampire? Are you insane?"
I grit my teeth because I wanted to return all those texts and calls, especially the one asking me if I'd spend the night. But I couldn't. I'm not right for Sheridan. She'll figure it out if I distance myself. "I am protecting you."
"I can protect myself." She stamps her foot. "That's why my pack sent me. Remember?"
My amusement vanishes, replaced by that same sick feeling I've had since the call came in this morning about the body. "Oh, I haven't forgotten whose side you're on."
"Oh that's rich. This isn't about pack politics. I'm on your side, Trey. Trying to keep us all from getting killed by leeches. Of course, it's a little hard when you just volunteered."
"He put his hands on you. I couldn't allow that." I bite back the words You belong to me.
Her gaze narrows as if she heard them. "I had it under control. Lucius won't let him harm me."
I bare my teeth at hearing her call the leech by his first name. "You put a lot of trust in the vampire."
"He and I were the only sane ones in there." She shakes her head, eyes sparking. Damn, she's hot when she's mad. "How'd you know I was here, anyway?"
"Tracked your phone."
Her mouth drops open.
I shrug. "You can learn a few things outside of college, too."
"I don't question your intelligence," she protests. "At least, I didn't until you burst into Toxic and challenged a leech to a fight. What were you thinking?"
My wolf is still bristling and possessive, so I can't help but snap, "You saying I can't fight?"
She blows out a breath. "No, Trey. This isn't a male ego thing. Nero is dangerous."
I shrug. If Nero shows up, I'll have garlic and a stake ready.
"I can't believe this." Sheridan throws her hands up. "He could kill you!"
"I thought you said Lucius won't let him."
Sheridan growls.
"Sweetheart, I got it under control." Not really, but imagining ways to hurt the vampire will satisfy some of my wolf's bloodlust. "It's nice that you care."
"Whatever." Sheridan folds her arms under her boobs. Unfortunately, it just pushes them up higher. "The fight's not going to happen. There's no shifter who will agree to fight for a vampire."
"We'll see. I gotta go. Not gonna be late to my own challenge."
"Trey, this is just stupid!"
"It's my honor and it's over you." I mount my bike and face her. Whatever she sees in my expression makes her flinch. "Not stupid to me."
TWELVE YEARS AGO
Trey
BREAKING UP WITH SHERIDAN-HURTING her-makes me want to vomit. I shut myself in my room the next day, smoking weed and trying to forget.
My mom knocks a couple times, but I don't let her in.
She knows what this is. What I've done-for her.
It's not just for her, though. It's for Sheridan, too. I keep reminding myself that, every time her tear-bright eyes swim before my face. She may have sent the acceptance to Stanford in, but she didn't want to go.
I need to do this-not because her dad is an asshole, not because my mom's position in the pack is in danger, but because it's the right thing for Sheridan. She'll get over this hurt and make something of herself. She'll be stronger for it.
She texts me around four in the afternoon.
Sheridan: Is this about Stanford??
I tongue my lip ring, staring at the screen.
Fuck. She's too damn smart-she knows what I'm doing.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I need to seek out and stomp that part of me that's happy she knows. That's relieved that she still believes in me, that she understands I would never hurt her unless I had to.
If I let her believe I'm the good guy, she still won't leave. My mom will still be fucked.
I drag my ass out of bed. A new strategy forms in my head. The fact that it physically makes me ill tells me it's going to work.
Present
SHERIDAN
ONCE AGAIN I find myself clambering down the wall of the river basin in the middle of the night. The shifter equivalent of pistols at dawn.
I lose my footing and skid down the dry rocks.
"Need help?" I startle at the sudden voice at my elbow. Nero appears next to me.
"No," I snap. It was his stupid fault I'm here anyway, scuffing the hell outta my Doc Martens. Well, his and Trey's.
Stupid male wolves. Gotta piss on everything to prove they own it.
"Not gonna piss on me," I mutter.