Chapter 7 Show ...

Seraphina

One moment I was aiming my gun at the biggest one, and the next it felt like a car landed on me. The gun flew from my hand, skidding across the floor.

I realized fast it was a body.

I punched and kicked and twisted, screaming at the top of my lungs—remembering just in time that shifters had sensitive hearing.

“Don’t hurt her. Get up, you oaf,” Kaelith barked.

There was a hiss, then a shout of pain. The weight vanished.

I scrambled back until I hit the table, just in time to see the man who’d tackled me trying to fend off Cosmic—who was currently shredding his back and biting his ear.

“Don’t hurt her!” I screamed, jumping to my feet.

A large hand clamped around my arm like a steel vice. “Help him, Asher. Be gentle,” Kaelith said.

Cosmic, sensing the shift, scrambled up and over the injured man and launched herself into my arms, growling and hissing like a demon.

“Fuck, that little beast is horrible,” the other man snarled, glaring at my cat.

I had to crane my neck to look at the three giants who had invaded my home—our home.

“She’s protecting her home,” I snapped. “Our home, you bloody bastard.”

I didn’t care how big they were. I’d get out of this.

My eyes darted as the third man checked on the one CC had mauled, but Kaelith’s grip tightened just enough to remind me he was there.

“You know,” he said quietly, “you really are something special. Can we please sit and talk like civilized people?”

He gestured to the overturned chairs.

“If we talk, will you leave?” I asked, stroking Cosmic to calm her. I knew exactly how she felt.

“Yes,” he said. “If that’s what you want.” He paused. “Would you mind showing me around? I’m fascinated by what you’ve built. I didn’t think humans lived in the dregs.”

He released my arm and righted the chairs.

I eyed the other two, then sighed. “This was an old subway station. I found it, cleaned it, and furnished it,” I said, gesturing around. “This is my work station—don’t touch that!”

I slapped the third man’s hand as he reached for my iPod.

He frowned. I didn’t care.

“Didn’t your mother teach you not to touch things that don’t belong to you?” I snapped, hands on my hips.

“Didn’t yours teach you not to steal?” he shot back.

“I didn’t have a mother,” I said flatly, turning toward the train cars.

Kaelith fell into step beside me, curiosity written all over his face. “No mother? What about a father? Anyone?”

I shook my head. The sooner this was done, the sooner he’d leave.

“This is my sleeping car,” I said. “It’s only big enough for one, so don’t get any ideas.”

It felt even smaller with him inside—he had to crouch just to fit.

I checked where the other two were before opening the kitchen doors. “This is the kitchen. Pretty self-explanatory.”

He leaned in but, thankfully, didn’t touch anything.

“Looks like you’re getting ready for winter,” he observed.

I nodded and closed the doors quickly. I really didn’t want to show him the last car—but the other two were watching.

“This is my treasure room,” I said quietly, sliding the door open.

His eyes widened as he stepped inside. The car was larger than the others, but still too small for him to stand comfortably.

I watched him closely as he looked around—careful not to touch.

It took me a moment to figure out what was bothering me.

“Where are the rest of your clothes?” I blurted. “Do you all just wander around in pants? Doesn’t that get cold?”

He turned—and laughed.

Annoyingly, he was nice enough to look at. That was beside the point.

“Sometimes,” he said. “Today we didn’t bother. I was trying to get to you as quickly as possible.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You keep sticking your foot in your mouth,” the third man said, grinning.

Kaelith sighed. “It appears so. Let me try again. Would you mind if we sit and talk while I explain?”

He gestured to the steps where the others had settled.

I nodded and sat a careful distance away. Cosmic planted herself in front of me, hissing a warning.

This had better be worth my time.