Balen nodded toward the house. “Why are you sitting in a tree watching that house, little one?”
How was I supposed to act nonchalant when all I could think about were those lips moving closer so they’d press against mine? I’d never felt so . . . sexually aware of a man in my life. It was a need so strong that I was fighting against myself constantly. Was this how my father felt about my mother? Out of control. Insane with need.
I never wanted that. Never wanted to be that weak and vulnerable.
What I wanted . . . no, what I needed was for him to leave. “My friends live there and they’re hiding something from me. Satisfied?”
Suddenly, his body stiffened and his head jerked toward the house. “We need to leave—now.”
Before I could protest, he locked his hand in mine and took off down the street, pulling me along beside him. “Balen?”
He didn’t say anything, but I felt the tension in him and one glance at his face sent a tidal wave of fear to crash into me. His jaw was tight, eyes narrowed and there was no softness in his eyes.
“Keys?” He held out his hand when we reached my car.
I made no move to give them to him, and it was more a hesitation because I was thinking about whether or not I should let him get in my car.
“We don’t fuckin’ have time for whatever is playing with your head right now.” He grabbed me and began searching my coat pockets. I kicked out and tried to pull away, but it was like I was this little pathetic mouse under a cat’s paw.
The keys clanged when he pulled them from my pocket then he unlocked the car and threw open the passenger door. “Get in.”
I was going to fight him, but something in his expression made me think arguing with him at the moment was not a good idea nor would it do me any good.
I got in and he walked around the front of the car and folded into the driver’s seat. He didn’t say anything as he started the car and took off, the tires skidding on the pavement.
I lasted a few minutes before I started in on him. He looked a little more . . . calm, the tightness between his brows was gone and he was no longer jamming the gear shift.
“Who were we running from?”
“No one.” He kept his eyes forward, but I noticed his hand curled around the steering wheel tighten.
“If it was no one, then why did we run like a herd of rhinos were after us?”
He half laughed, half snorted and the corners of his lips curved up. He looked cute when he did that. No . . . it wasn’t cute; Balen didn’t have cute in him. The guy was too scary for cute. He was all hotness. Maybe he’d seen the guy I had before I fell out of the tree. “Did you see someone?”
“No. I need to think and I can’t think with you asking questions.”
“What?” Was he serious?
He glanced over at me and any hint of laughter I’d seen moments ago was gone. But he didn’t look angry, he looked worried. His brows were drawn low over his eyes and his hand on the gear shift rubbed back and forth.
“Okay.” He needed a minute, I got that and if that guy I saw coming out of Anstice’s house had been coming for us, Balen had just saved my ass—again.
We drove in silence and I opened my mouth several times to say something then clamped it shut again and stared out the side window.
He pulled into the parking garage and I pointed to my spot. He careened in and shut off the ignition. “Someone was watching us and no, I didn’t see him,” he said and then got out of the car.
I quickly followed and said over the hood of the car, “So you smelled him? No deodorant kind of thing or too much cologne?”
He was already walking away. “Something like that.”
I jogged after him and heard the beep as he pressed the key to lock my doors. “Which one? Because I sure as hell didn’t smell anything.”
We came out of the garage onto the street and he slipped his hand in mine. I jerked back, but he held firm and continued walking.
“You have control issues,” I muttered.
He chuckled and the raspy, deep sound sent baby sparks through me. Stupid girl hormones.
He stopped at my door, let me go, and then passed me the keys. “Where’s the Telwar I gave you?”
“What?”
“The knife. Do you have it with you?”
“Of course not. I’m not carrying around a knife—”
He sighed. “God, you’re stubborn.”
“No, I’m sane. Who carries around a knife except criminals?”
“People who want to live.” Wow, he was paranoid. “I’m leaving tomorrow and I need you to be careful. I need you to keep the knife on you at all times and . . .” I opened my mouth and he pressed his finger to it. “No more hiding in trees at night. It would be even better if you didn’t go out after dark.”
I huffed. “For how long? The rest of my life? You’re insane.” I turned, putting the key in the lock, his words roaring in my head. Fuck him. I left the key in the lock and spun around to face him. “You know, if I want to dance in the streets at three in the morning wearing a pink tutu, I’ll bloody well do it. Where the hell do you get off tell—”
He stepped forward so I was trapped between the door and his chest then grabbed my forearms. “Listen to me, damn it. Something isn’t right. I don’t know what it is, but it’s all around you.”
“Around me?” I snorted and raised my brows. “Like a halo? Or maybe an aura? You know, on the next block is a special hospital. I’m certain if you tell them about these auras, they’ll admit you without question.”