This made Justin chuckle. “Such a flirt.”
Caleb snorted. “Not your looks, numbnut. I mean your hands.” Caleb placed a hand over Justin’s. “I think your fever is back.” There was deep concern in Caleb’s voice. “I need to get you home.”
Justin started to say that he was fine but knew Caleb would lecture him for lying. Nausea rolled over Justin, and his mouth filled with a warm, metallic taste.
Please. Not now. Not when we have to get out of this freaky place.
“Slow steps, J,” Caleb said soothingly as he pulled one of Justin’s hands into his. “Nice and easy.”
That was all he could take anyway. Careful of his footing, Justin made sure his foot touched solid steps before he descended. It would truly suck if he missed and fell. He used the railing to help guide him.
A chill raced over Justin when he heard the cry again. It sounded as though it was coming from above them, like on one of the upper floors. “You didn’t hear that?”
“No,” Caleb said. “And you better not stop again until we’re in the car. I need to get you home.”
Justin knew he couldn’t go back upstairs. Not when their only source of light had died. He’d get to a phone once they were clear of this place and call the cops to help the girl. Justin just hoped she wasn’t hurt.
When he ran out of railing and his foot touched down, Justin knew they’d made it to the first floor. He reached out, grasping in the dark for the door handle, when he heard a faint howl. He snapped his head around, but all he could see was complete darkness. “Did you hear that?”
“I did,” Caleb admitted with a fierce tone. “Let’s hurry.”
Justin pushed forward, using both hands to feel for the door. They slid along cool concrete and then metal. He wanted to shout in triumph when his fingers curled around the handle. He yanked and pulled the door open. Caleb stepped in front of Justin, as if to protect him from whatever had made that unearthly sound.
The first floor was shadowy, the moon still spilling in through the skylight and slits in the boards that covered the windows. The light wasn’t much, but at least he could find his way out of this place.
Justin and Caleb shouted as they propelled out of the stairwell. At first Justin thought he’d tripped over something, but their momentum had been too fast, too hard. “Someone shoved me!” he shouted.
Justin tried to get up but cried out when a fierce throbbing tore through his wrist. He’d hurt it when he fell. Caleb grabbed Justin under his arms and tried to help him to his feet but stumbled backward and both crashed back to the floor.
“Remind me never to have you rescue me,” Justin said as he groaned. Now his ass hurt.
“At least I tried, numbnut,” Caleb snapped. “Stop complaining and let’s go.”
Justin cradled his injured wrist to his chest as he turned and raced toward the exit. His steps faltered as the fever built higher, making Justin sway. The need to run was strong, but his body had other plans. Justin stopped and bent over, placing his uninjured hand on his knee as he began to wretch.
Caleb cursed as he raced back to Justin. The guy didn’t say a word as he soothed his hand over Justin’s back. The two needed to run. They had no clue who’d pushed Justin. The person could still be after them. But Justin couldn’t stop throwing up long enough to catch his breath.
He swayed again, this time heading toward the floor. Caleb caught him and lifted Justin into his strong arms. “I gotcha, J.”
His best friend carried him toward the exit, but before they could get out, Caleb stopped and let out a slew of curses. Justin turned his head and gasped.
Chapter Two
“He’s at it again,” Wulf said. Demetri glanced up as his beta walked into his study. “Elron sent his men into Dark Haven.”
Demetri rubbed the bridge of his nose as he listened. “Any casualties?”
“Minimal,” Wulf answered in a crisp, businesslike tone. “Our pack was able to disband them before discovery or a high body count.”
Elron Frost was a thorn in Demetri’s side. His younger brother had given in to his wolf side, and now was nothing more than a beast who only ate, slept, and caused carnage wherever possible. Demetri had been trying to capture his brother for over three decades so that he could seal him away where he could do no harm, but Elron was crafty and eluded Demetri.
“We recovered the bodies of a man and a woman who Elron managed to kill. We also staged a house fire so their cause of death wouldn’t be known to the humans.” Wulf stood in front of Demetri’s desk, hands clasped in front of him.