Page 4 of Crossed Fates

He grunted again, and the muscles in his back tightened.

“Ooooh, am I special? Please say yes. A girl always likes to be special.”

Vex turned in his seat and glared at me. “I wouldn’t be so mouthy if I were you. The boss wants you for himself, and trust me, he’ll cut off that tongue if you don’t keep it in your mouth.”

Two sets of feet scurried down the stairs, interrupting me.Again.

I’m going to kill you just for being a pest, I decided as Luther came into view.I mean, honestly, how is a girl supposed to work around here with all these constant interruptions? And could you not scurry? It makes you sound like a damn mouse.

The newcomer—Neo, I presumed—stood at least six inches shorter than Luther.

How strange for a shifter, I mused, catching his scent as he hit the bottom step. Perhaps he worked for Vex because he wanted to feel like a bigger man.

Because it was true what they said—size really did matter, especially for a wolf.

Neo’s gaze went right to me as though he could hear me mocking his petite frame. I merely smiled in response. He eyed me curiously for a moment, then walked toward my cage, stopping a foot away.

“What breed of wolf are you?”

“Whatbreedare you?” I countered. But I already knew.Bitten wolf. His smell and the lack of a feral animalistic gleam in his eyes gave him away. Totemic breeds typically had their beasts lurking in their gazes, Lycans were a distinct two-legged shifter type, and Fenrir weren’t real wolves—only their eyes shifted.

“Neo, take this to the warehouse on Grand,” Vex said, drawing Neo’s attention away from me as he handed him a sheet of paper.

Neo snatched it and glanced at me curiously one more time before departing.

Apparently, he was just as bad at small talk as the other two.

I sighed.This is going to take me all night at this rate.

Luther’s red eyes locked onto me again, and he inched closer. “I should taste her to make sure she’s good enough to be sold.” His mouth curved into a greasy smile.

Ew.

Also, I was a little offended at the implication.

“My blood is like heroin, vamp,” I taunted. “One taste and you’ll be hooked. But you should have some self-control. Didn’t anyone ever teach you to say no to drugs?”

Vex made a sound that might have been a chuckle. If so, he was rusty at it. “Feisty,” he grunted. “It’s a pity I won’t be the one to bring you to heel.”

“Sir Wanna-Bite isn’t enough of a challenge for you?” I drawled. “Imagine that.”

Luther’s face turned red, and he took a threatening step forward, but Vex—who remained deadpan—yanked him backward just as a commotion broke out upstairs.

Vex stood, looking closely at the camera feeds. “Fucking E.V.I.E.,” he growled. He spun around and pointed a finger at Luther. “Watch her,” he commanded as he stalked toward the stairs. At the last second, he narrowed his gaze and added, “No biting.”

Luther double-blinked and nodded. “Of course.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

Vex jogged up, leaving me alone with the weak little shit.

Well, I tried to do this the easy way.I began fiddling with my cuffs.But it seems a simple interrogation is just not going to work here.

Luther’s stare turned menacing as he approached.

“If you’re going for intimidation, you might want to grow a foot or so,” I jibed. Honestly, the insult would be better served to his buddy Neo, but the little pip-squeak had run off with his tail between his legs, ready to do Vex’s bidding.

Luther sneered and sibilated, “I’m going to make you bleed.”