Page 104 of Vengeance and Vipers

My eyes pass over a Lower Fae by the other side of the bar, and I do a double-take. His back is to me, but I’m sure I recognize him. He turns to talk to someone, and I gasp, throwing myself back into the hallway and against the wall, my heart hammering in my chest. I haven’t seen that fucker in years, but I’d know him anywhere. More importantly, though,he knows me.

I need to get out of here without him seeing me.

There’s a stairwell.

I noticed it when Iron brought me down the hallway earlier. I’m shaking so badly I can hardly walk as I turn and try to make it to the last door on the left as quickly as possible, hoping against hope that it’s unlocked and there’s no alarm on it.

I reach it and push the bar. It swings open, and there’s no buzzing or ringing that I can hear. I slip past the threshold and close it gently behind me, taking off my shoes and carrying them as I run silently down three flights of stairs.

When the steps run out, I push through another door at the bottom and find myself in an alleyway. There’s garbage and broken glass. It’s dark, the only light coming from a neon sign on the side of the building that bathes everything in green and blue light. I have no idea where I am, not even if I’m still in the human world.

I slip my shoes back on and walk down the steps, skirting around the refuse and trying to ignore the smell of rot.

There’s a sound by the dumpsters down at the end of the alley, and I slip into the shadows near the building out of the sign’s dim light, glad it’s dark out, until I hear an animalistic growl just behind me.

I freeze and cringe as I turn, finding a pair of glowing red eyes behind me.

What the hell is this thing?

I take in the creature before me. It’s like a huge dog, but not a wolf or a shifter. It’s like a giant, shaggy Doberman.

‘Hello, puppy,’ I try.

It snarls at me, and I take a step back, but it doesn’t move. I’m scared, but I’m not wet-my-pants terrified after some of the weird shit I saw and heard in the Mountain.

‘I had a friend scarier than you,’ I tell it, deciding that, like the supes upstairs, showing fear equals death. ‘Now, hush. I’m not here to take your food or fight. I’m just going to hide out in the shadows with you for a little while.’

It makes doggy-talking noises at me and sits down. Something moves behind it, and I realize it’s got two tails that are now wagging.

‘Good boy,’ I say.

The tails wag harder, thudding against the ground.

I grin and put my hand out.

He sniffs it and tilts his head adorably.

‘I know,’ I coo, ‘I don’t have a scent at the moment, but I probably don’t smell all that exciting anyway, even if you could scent me.’

I hear more growls in the shadows and see five more sets of eyes appear in the darkness at the first dog’s back.

Shit.

But he swings his head back towards them and snarls. The eyes disappear.

Thanks, bud,’ I murmur at my new friend.

I peer around the corner as I hear the door open, getting ready to run if it’s the fae, but it’s Krase who comes out into the street.

I relax immediately, wondering how he found me so fast.

‘She’s out here,’ he says, staring at his phone, and I let out a small sound of annoyance.

‘He’s got me tagged like a dog,’ I mutter.

I’m sort of glad but also annoyed that I’m glad that he knows where I am all the time.

I side-eye the hound. ‘No offense.’