Page 18 of Galen

Dressed in combat boots, black pants, and a simple black tee, he reminded me of a military operative. Or a ring-stealing assassin. Someone dangerous.

“Who are you?”

His gray eyes watched me just like they had the first day I met him. “My name is Galen.”

“Where am I?”

“My home.”

“Why?”

A tic started in his jaw. “Because.”

“Because?” I asked with a scoff. “Thanks for the elaboration. That makes things crystal clear.”

He stared at me, said nothing.

“I’m going home,” I said, trying to find the will to move. I felt like I’d been run over by a car. My muscles ached and weighed heavily.

“No, you’re not.”

“I don’t know what the hell you dragged me into, but it stops now. I want no part of whatever illegal thing you have going on here.”

“It’s too late for that, I’m afraid.” Galen stepped closer toward the bed. “You’re safe here. I promise.”

“Your promises mean nothing. I don’t know you from Adam, and I definitely don’t trust the word of a criminal.” Even if he was incredibly hot. “Now take me home.”

“No.”

“You can’t keep me here.”

Definitely the wrong thing to say.

A challenge sparked in his eyes. “I’d like to see you try to leave.”

“God.” I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

“If I planned to kill you, I would’ve let you bleed to death instead of helping you.”

“Fair enough. So, what happened at my shop? What attacked me? It seemed like some kind of animal.”

“It wasn’t an animal.”

“Then what was it?”

“It’s a lot for me to explain.”

“Try,” I said as a ball of worry knotted in my gut. “Because I’m kinda going out of my mind here.”

“Very well.” Galen came over to sit on the bed. “If you really want to know. They were shades.”

“Shades?”

“Low-level demons.”

“Demons? You have to be joking.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he asked with a straight face.