Page 11 of Galen

“Calm down, goddammit,” I growled.

“Wait.” He peered up at me. “You’re the guy from earlier.”

“Aren’t you perceptive?” I snatched the bat from his grip and tossed it aside, the metal clanking against the hardwood floor. He flinched at the sound. I released the hold on his wrist. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

“To rob me, then?” He flipped on the light and glared at me as he rubbed at his wrist. Beneath the attitude, I could tell he was scared. Who wouldn’t be? “Like that’s so much better.”

“Just to take this,” I said, closing the lid on the box and grabbing it off the shelf. With the lid closed, the dark power was contained inside. I didn’t feel nearly as uneasy.

“The ring? Why?”

It was a ring? Interesting.

“A family heirloom,” I lied. “It’s very sentimental to me.”

“Why is it in a creepy box?” he asked, narrowing his hazel eyes. They appeared more green right then with bursts of orange around the pupils. My gaze trailed to his slightly stubbled jaw and his full bottom lip. The top one was thinner. His nose had a rounded tip which I found endearing for some reason.

“I wasn’t aware it was creepy.”

“If it’s so special to you, why didn’t you tell me about it when you came in earlier?” The man stepped toward me, which, admittedly, surprised me a bit. I towered over him by at least seven inches. He had to tilt his head nearly all the way to hold eye contact with me. “And heirloom or not, it doesn’t excuse the fact that you’re breaking and entering.”

“I didn’t break anything. It’s not my fault your alarm is a piece of shit.”

“Wow. So you’re a criminalandan asshole. Good to know.”

“I killed all of the shades,”Castor said to me, linking his mind with mine.“But I sense more coming. A lot more. You need to hurry.”

“As enthralling as this conversation is, I’m afraid I must be going.”

“Not so fast.” He slapped a hand to my chest as I tried to pass him. The warmth of his palm seeped through the material of my shirt. I tried to ignore how much I liked it. “I can’t let you steal from me. I’m not an idiot. That’s not a family heirloom.”

“Fine. Name your price.”

“Huh?” He walked after me as I left the storage room. “What kind of thief are you?”

“I’m not a thief.” I headed down the hall toward the exit.

“Says the man who’s thieving.”

“Would you rather me not pay you?”

“No.” He grabbed my arm, then quickly let go when I whirled around to face him. “I didn’t get the chance to fully examine it. I don’t know what it’s worth.”

“Galen. Hurry.”

“Will five grand work?” I asked, losing patience.

“Five thousand dollars?” The man gaped. “Um. Isn’t that a bit… I don’t know… much?”

“Look, I don’t have time for this.” The back of my neck prickled with the oncoming horde of shades. They were scurrying through town, heading right for us.

I ran for the door.

“Wait!” he called after me. I spun on my heels and saw him several feet away, his eyes wide with alarm. Humans were so fragile. Weak. If the shades swarmed his shop, he’d be torn to shreds in minutes. I needed to get this box as far away from him as possible. “I didn’t get your name.”

“You don’t need it.”

And then I left, securing the door behind me.