Diamonds in the Rough by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author:Jennifer L. Armentrout
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Ink
Published: 2014-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Seconds later, and I still had no idea what just happened.

Dez was the first to reach us. He placed a hand on my shoulder and gently moved me aside as he knelt. “Maddox?” he said to the pale, unmoving Warden. When there was no response, he placed a hand on Maddox’s chest. “Christ.”

I folded my arms over my chest. I knew that Maddox had to be alive. A fall wouldn’t kill a Warden, but in their human form, they were susceptible to injury, even the severe kind.

“How did this happen?” Dez looked over his shoulder at me.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. He was coming up the stairs and then he just fell backward.”

Zayne came down the stairs, dressed only in a pair of loose sweats. “What the Hell?”

“He fell,” I explained lamely.

“Jasmine!” shouted Dez as he rose.

Within seconds, Jasmine arrived, her eyes widening. She turned, handing Drake off to Danika. “Keep Izzy and Drake out of here,” she said, turning back to Maddox.

Danika nodded, glancing to where Zayne and I stood. She turned, quickly taking Drake back the way they’d come. A door shut softly.

As Jasmine knelt on Maddox’s other side and placed slim fingers on his neck, the rest of the crew arrived. Once they heard that Maddox had fallen backward down the stairs, Abbot turned to me.

Shrinking back, I realized I was so about to be crucified.

“He simply fell backward?” Abbot asked, disbelief ringing from his voice as he stepped around Maddox’s prone legs. “You expect me or any of us to believe that?”

At least he cut to the chase this time. “Yes! He just fell. I don’t know if he lost his balance or— Wait, there was a rush of cold air right before he fell.” And now that I said that out loud, I knew it hadn’t been the first time. “It was the same with the windows. There was a gust of—”

“Of wind?” Abbot finished doubtfully. “Did the air kick on with enough force to knock out windows or throw a two-hundred-and-thirty-pound Warden down the stairs? That’s if we used the air-conditioning this time of year, which we don’t.”

“Okay. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m not lying.”

Zayne moved to my side. “She has no reason to lie, Father. If she said he fell, he fell.”

“She has every reason to lie,” his father spat. I blanched. “Once was enough, but this?” He gestured at Maddox. “One of our own—a guest of our clan—has been injured, and another is missing.”

I stiffened at the implication, even though the latter was very much on point. Zayne stepped forward, blocking me. “What are you saying?”

“Guys,” Jasmine spoke up. “I need to move Maddox to get a better look at his injuries. Right now, it looks like he’s just knocked out. Maybe a broken arm or cracked skull, which will heal. But I need help moving him.”

Zayne and Abbot, who were currently in an epic stare-down, didn’t seem to hear her.

Dez nodded as he moved to stand before Maddox’s feet.

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