“Back the fuck off,” Ivory warned.
Lauren glanced to me, but I had nothing to offer. This was one of those times where I was too scared to freak out. Whatever part of the brain reacts to such events just shut right down. Just like it always did when a situation was too much for me to handle.
Lauren clutched Ivory’s hand, her eyes wide, her stance wooden. Her olive complexion paled, and the skin above her cheekbones and around her lips turned ashen. Clearly her freak-out meter wasn’t broken like mine.
The dark-haired Cruor circled behind me. She placed her hands on my arms. My skin crawled, and I shrank closer to Charles. Her hair grazed my neck as she leaned over my shoulder.
Charles pushed her away, holding her at arm’s length, and glared at her.
She giggled. “She’s cute. Is she your new girlfriend, Charlie?”
Each time she said his name in her singsong way, anger overtook my fear. I locked my gaze on him. “Do you know her?”
Her irritating grin stretched into something plain sickening. “Of course he knows us, honey. Or hasn’t he told you?”
Chapter 13
THE DARK-HAIRED Cruor-woman looked at Charles and laughed. “This is rich. You should drop by more often.”
His fists clenched—one at his side, the other at the base of my spine. “Back off, Thalia.”
She giggled. A tangle of eggplant-black curls tumbled down her back as she sauntered in front of him and snaked her arms around his neck. “Oh, don’t be like that. You used to be fun.”
She walked her fingers up the side of his arm and clicked her teeth. “Don’t you remember? Oh, but these last few months—where have you been? I’ve been so lonely.”
The pout on her face filtered into her voice. I wanted to smack her. My hearing blotted and my stomach churned. The stress frenzied the voices in my mind worse than ever, but soon a warm push at my mind calmed them away. The Cruor were trying to influence me. I pushed back. Not this time.
“Cut the crap, Thalia,” Charles said, a warning cloud settling across his features. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“I’m just playing, Charlie.” She cinched her gaze on my friends and me. Violet rimmed her large pupils—two large voids illuminated with an eerie glow. At least she wasn’t hungry, not with such a bright glow to her eyes. “How did you meet these… girls…anyway?”
Charles’ energy was palpable; a barely controlled anger coiled in his body as Thalia spoke. He shoved her away and grabbed my hand. “We’re leaving.”
“Not so fast!” She snapped her fingers, and two stocky Cruor emerged from the crowd. They blocked Charles’ path. A willowy, red-haired woman appeared at their side, her smile unnatural.
Thalia scowled. “Check them, Circe.”
Circe’s large green eyes widened. “Yes,” she hissed. She flitted between my friends and me, grasping locks of hair and inhaling deeply. Her nostrils flared at Ivory’s scent, but she passed her over. She reached me and nuzzled a long strand of my hair. As I leaned away, she smiled and stroked my head. “Such a life, this one!”
“Enough, Circe. Thank you.”
Once Circe disappeared into the crowd, Thalia smiled at Charles. “That one”—she bit her thumbnail and indicated me with her pinky—“would be valuable.”
A vein pulsed in Charles’ neck and a soft hum vibrated through his body. Why didn’t he just shift?
“Surely you aren’t attached?” she asked, dropping her hand away from her mouth.
“You are outside your rights, Thalia.”
“Temper, temper.” She sighed, the sound sickening coming from her. “But, my sweet Charlie, we’ve missed you. And what of Adonis and Blake? Have you forgotten who your real friends are?”
“These women know nothing. Do not cross me.” His voice sounded rougher, more gravelly.
“Cross you? Oh Charlie, I’d never cross you.” She patted his chest and winked. “You’ve already been crossed.”
A young, scrawny Cruor pushed his way through the crowd. He bowed toward Thalia. “I’m sure Charles can handle this…misunderstanding. He’s been around longer than both of us put together.” He arched his eyebrows.
Thalia stepped back, cocked her head to one side, and tapped a finger against her cheek. “Fine. We have their scents.” To Charles, she added, “Pray you handle this well.”
She turned up her nose and spun on her heel, then threw her hand to the air as she stormed off. The Cruor scattered, some following her into the house while others disappeared into the shadows.
The young Cruor remained. “You owe me.”
“Thanks, Adonis. Could you…?” He nodded towards Lauren, who trembled behind Ivory. “Escort them to their car first. We’ll meet you there.”
“You got it,” Adonis said. “But be careful, man. Thalia’s been into some things lately…And Blake—”
“Blake doesn’t concern me.”
Adonis lifted his hands. “Just keep an eye out, that’s all.”