Fireborn by Keri Arthur

Author:Keri Arthur
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

As consciousness resurfaced, I realized I was no longer in the cell. Hard concrete still lay underneath me, but the chilled air was now filled with noise—the hum of traffic, the rumble of a tram rattling past, distant voices rising over the heavy bass beat of music. Obviously, we were no longer at PIT headquarters.

So where the hell had they dumped us?

I rolled onto my back only to discover there were madmen in my head armed with hammers they were not afraid to use. I groaned loudly.

A familiar voice said, “Yeah, I know exactly how you feel.”

I cracked open one eye. Jackson sat a couple of feet away, his back propped up against a huge wrought-iron strut that jutted out of the ground at an angle.

I frowned. “How”—the word came out scratchy and I paused, swallowing heavily in an attempt to ease the dryness in my throat—“the hell did we get back to the zipper sculpture?”

“I’m guessing your charming ex had us dumped here.” He shrugged, his gaze sweeping me critically. “You okay?”

“Other than feeling like I’ve had far too much to drink without the fun of the alcohol, you mean?”

He laughed softly, then groaned. “God, don’t make me do that. It hurts.”

“Meaning they drugged you, too? Or did they get a little more physical?”

“They drugged me.” He paused and added with a wry smile, “Though I wouldn’t have minded getting physical. My interrogator was that Fae babe I’ve sensed a few times but never seen.”

Meaning Rochelle, no doubt. “How long have we been here? Do you know?”

He shrugged. “Five minutes or so.”

I slowly—carefully—pushed myself into a sitting position. It felt like my head was about to explode and, for several minutes, it was all I could do to keep breathing and not throw up. One thing was certain—I was not going to take fire form anytime soon. Not until I got to Rory, anyway.

Eventually, I said, “Did they order you way from Morretti and the Baltimore investigation?”

“Yeah.” He grimaced. “But the drug won’t stop me from at least trying to head over to Laverton the minute we get in the cab.”

I didn’t say anything, just watched as he took a deep, somewhat shuddering breath, then pushed to his feet. He stood there for a moment, body wavering and face green, then carefully shuffled toward me. “Come on. We need to get out of here.”

I accepted his offered hand and let him haul me upright, but I wasn’t entirely sure in the end who was holding whom upright.

“I’m not going to be able to walk far in this state,” I muttered.

“There’s a taxi stand down the street.”

I frowned. “What about your truck?”

“I don’t think it’s wise to be driving in this state. I’ll retrieve it later.” He tucked his arm through mine, and we made our way slowly out of the canal and back onto Flemington Road. It was late, but there were still plenty of cars on the road, their headlights pinning us briefly in brightness before sweeping on.

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