Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
He blinked at Alaric in utter shock. “Did you just heal me?”
The elf nodded, slumping slightly. His skin had turned unnaturally pale.
“It takes something out of you, doesn’t it?”
Alaric studied Ezra for several moments. “Interesting that you noticed.”
“You’re white as a sheet. How could I not?”
“It’s not just the healing. It took a lot of energy to incapacitate the sylph. Elementals are very powerful beings.”
“Then you used more to heal me? You should have waited until your strength was back.”
Alaric just studied him with a thoughtful expression that held a faint hint of surprise. “You had a concussion. I couldn’t wait.” He looked around the destroyed lobby. “This changes things, Ezra. Sylphs cost a fortune to hire. Whoever’s doing this means business. We need to move to a safe house—you’re no longer safe at home.”
Ezra opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut on the first words that had come to his tongue. This…man…had just used the last of his strength to take away Ezra’s pain. He deserved better than his normal sharp tongue. “You want me to hide? What about talking to those who might know something?”
“We can still do that, but we’ll stay the nights in a safer location. We can’t go back to your apartment. I’ll have a coworker get some of your clothes, if that’s okay.”
“How will he get in?”
“You wouldn’t believe the assets on our payroll. Finn can get into anywhere.”
“That’s…convenient.”
Alaric’s smile made his breath catch. The elf really shouldn’t be that gorgeous.
“I’ll tell Finn you think so. He’s a sucker for admiration.” He slowly stood, his exhaustion clear.
It bothered Ezra that Alaric had weakened himself with that healing, but at the same time he was so damn thankful. That beating had left him in miserable pain. And that slam to the head had been scary as hell. He didn’t doubt he’d had a concussion. But now, he felt normal. No, better than normal. Hell, that ache he’d carried in his foot for years from one of his father’s more painful lessons was actually gone.
“I have to call Xavier,” Alaric murmured as he pulled out his phone.
Ezra listened to the call, watching as Alaric stayed mostly silent and his frown deepened with every second.
“I understand. I’ll need some backup. Oh, he’s that close? Send him.” When he hung up, he held out his hand to help Ezra up. “Xavier told me something you aren’t going to like.”
“What’s that?”
“The person after you has put a bounty on you. The reward is so high, the sylph makes sense now.”
“How much is it?”
“Two million dollars.”
“Whoa,” Ezra muttered, barely able to breathe. He’d been scared before, but that fear had now turned to a kind of bottomless terror that made him reach out to brace one hand on the wall. “I’m surprised the first two guys didn’t just shoot me.”
“Xavier believes they were hired directly. But when they failed and you hired us, the price on your head went out.”
“Went out where? How did your boss find out?”
“Dark web. We have people who can find anything there, including Xavier. He has his finger on the pulse of everything.”
He shut his eyes, that terror sucking him into a vortex of helplessness he hated. He controlled his life and had since he’d realized he was the only one looking out for himself.
“Ezra,” Alaric said softly as he turned Ezra to face him.
Ezra opened his eyes, meeting that pretty, purple gaze.
“I will keep you safe. And it won’t only be me. We’re adding another preternatural and taking you somewhere secure.”
“For that much money, they’ll be relentless. Hell, in another couple of months, I could pay several times that for them not to kill me. My father might have hated me but I’m still in the will and getting so much, two million will be a drop in the bucket.”
“Is your husband—”
“Ex-husband! Soon to be anyway.”
“The divorce isn’t final.”
“Not yet. But he’s rich, too. He’d have no reason to kill me for money.” Ezra paused, taking a shaky breath. “But Brian hates me, which is why I still want to question Jake.”
“Then that’s what we’re going to do. Bain should be here soon—he was already on his way to investigate the sylph’s disturbance. Once he’s here, we’ll go up.”
“Bain?”
“Coworker and friend. And don’t let his appearance fool you. He’s strong, and his alternate form is terrifying.”
“Aw, you say the sweetest things.”
Ezra whipped around to face the speaker, eyes flaring wide. The man who gracefully stepped over all the debris was absolutely stunning, with silvery-blond hair in a high ponytail and beautiful, androgynous features. He wore blue leather pants that showed every lean muscle in his legs and a colorful shirt that actually sparkled like it had been sewn with glitter. “Wow, is everyone who works at your company gorgeous? Is it a prerequisite?” he blurted out.