Collector: City In Embers Part 10

"Do what you need to do," I growled back. He did not move. Our eyes locked in a standoff. My chest rose, air skimming in and out.

"I got the girl some clothes. I hope they fit." Elthia's voice traveled to us from above, her feet clomping down the groaning wooden steps.

Ryker twisted and sprang away from me, putting s.p.a.ce between us. By the time Elthia reached the bottom, Ryker stood by the sofa, his hands clasped on his hips. She looked at him, then at me. Her brows inched down, creasing the bridge of her nose. She cleared her throat, quickly shooting Ryker another look, before turning her attention back to me.

She held up the garments. "Jeans, tank top, sweater, and a jacket someone left at a laundromat. I doubt they'll be coming back for them." She tossed the clothes at the foot of my bed. Her own outfit was made of white linen pants, layers of tanks, and a brightly colored scarf wrapped around her hair, keeping it off her face.

"Thank you." I s.h.i.+fted the blanket, holding it firmly to me as I reached for the clothes. The stretch pulled at my stomach wound. I flinched, pain flooding me.

"Sorry. You need to heal, but I can't have you here. I think someone is already watching my place." She turned to Ryker. "Garrett has spies everywhere. You have a bounty on your head, and if they even suspect you are here... I've already risked too much by having you this long. He will eventually come here looking for you."

It wasn't what she said, but how she said it, and the meaningful glance she gave Ryker revealed they had history. My intuition told me they had been lovers.

I studied her closer. She was bohemian, carefree, and pretty. She was taller than me, but her figure was actually very similar to mine. Much curvier than Amara's. But where I was toned from training, she was softer and more womanly. She was warm to his aloofness. Unlike Amara, she probably loosened his tightly wound a.s.s.

Ryker nodded. "I understand, El. I appreciate what you have done for us. As soon as she's ready, we will get out of here."

She s.h.i.+fted her stance. A longing spread over her face, and she nodded. "Be careful, Ryker. Garrett is dangerous, and he wants nothing more than to find you." The yearning vanished from her expression. She turned and jogged up the stairs.

He watched her disappear, then whirled on me. "Get dressed."

"Ex-girlfriend, huh?" I swung my feet over the side, placing my toes on the smooth wood.

"Dress. Now." He crossed his arms.

"Touchy, aren't we?" If he was going to hara.s.s me, I would do the same in return. "Bad breakup?" I tilted my head in false pity. "She dump you?"

A rumble echoed in his chest, which only made me smile wider.

"Doesn't seem your type. She's cool. I thought you liked the skinny, b.i.t.c.hy ones. Amara know you dated such a free spirit?" The moment her name crossed my lips, I knew I stepped over the line.

He bolted for me, his arms latched on to mine, and he heaved me onto my feet. The abrasive moment wrenched at my st.i.tches. Deep red colored the gauze. "I told you to never speak her name." The tattoo up his neck sparked before he took a deep breath and pushed me away from him. "Now get dressed before I do it for you."

"Oh, I think El will get a little jealous if you do." I put special emphasis on the pet name he called her.

His chest went in and out in a fast, repet.i.tive motion, his fists clenching at his sides.

This girl hadn't shown herself in a while-the girl I was before I met Daniel-angry, argumentative, and aggressive. Taunting was a favorite pastime on the streets, and I was good at it. Three years of Daniel mellowing me was tossed aside in only one week with this guy.

Ryker took a step to me. He swiped the tank off the bed and pulled it over my head. "Arms up."

"I am not a child."

"Stop acting like one." He grabbed my arm and threaded the top through.

I stepped away from him. "I can dress myself."

"Then do it." He crossed his arms and waited for me to continue.

"You can go. I've been dressing myself since I was three."

"Then you should be better at it by now." It was clear he wasn't leaving.

I sighed and pushed my other arm through the hole. It was my bad side, and I balked as anguish ran up my torso, freezing my arm. I pinched my lids together, breathing through the pain. When the stabbing ache subsided a little, I tried to go on. The tank top was the easy one. I pulled the sweater up my arms but couldn't get it on.

Ryker stood there, watching me. "Do you need help?"

I glared at him, my upper lip rising in a snarl. I tried again, the sweater neck getting caught on my head. Dizziness had me bending over. Either I was going to throw up or pa.s.s out. Both sounded awesome. "Yes. Fine. Help." I gave in.

The sweater covered my face, but I could feel the heat of his body step up to mine. He got my head through the sweater's neck and tugged it down more gently than I imagined. It fit but was a bit snug. Where I was raised, most girls went out of their way to emphasize certain parts of their figures. On the other hand, I didn't want to be noticed any more than I was. I preferred loose clothing rather than tight.

My pride took a hit when I tried to get the skinny jeans on. Getting them over my thighs and hips without dancing like a hyper Chihuahua was impossible. Sweat beaded my forehead. I was in pain and exhausted and only wanted to lie back down and go to sleep.

"This is taking forever." He bent and grabbed the waist of the pants. The hair on top of his head brushed my legs, tickling my thighs as he straightened. His knuckles ran along my legs as he yanked the jeans up to my waist. He quickly zipped and b.u.t.toned them before kicking my boots to me. "I think you can do those yourself."

I swallowed, my throat dotted with dry patches. Sitting on the bed, I slipped my feet into the boots, zipping them up. I just had a fae touch me, really touch me. It wasn't desired on either side, and it left me uncomfortable and fl.u.s.tered. Not in a million years did I imagine a fae would be dressing me. There were many things in the last couple days I never thought possible, but this one might top them all.

"Here." He tossed the messenger bag I stole from the convenience store on top of my newly inherited jacket. "Let's go." He started up the stairs.

My legs trembled as I stood. I grabbed the coat and looped the bag over my head, placing it on my good side. My hand felt my phone inside. It was a strange comfort, even if it couldn't call anyone. It was the last thing I had of my old world and life. Before Ryker. For better or worse, I was stuck with him. Disasters sure did make for interesting bedfellows, even if it was only temporary.

Yeah, I didn't really like that saying. The thought of him in bed-I shook my head and followed him upstairs.

Elthia was sitting at the kitchen table and drinking something smelling like rosemary and wet dirt. Ryker dropped the fake door back onto the floor, covering the entrance to the bas.e.m.e.nt with a rug where she hid us-a secret room for stowaways.

She gripped her cup; her legs folded underneath her.

"El, I owe you." Ryker pushed me toward the back window. Rain pelted the gla.s.s, the evening light giving the room a dim glow.

A tortured smile worked up to her eyes. "Yeah." I had teased Ryker about her dumping him, but it was clear it was the other way around. Even if she let him go, she was still in love with him. She pushed her shoulders back and stood, a forced smile on her face. "Don't be a stranger, Ryker." She planted herself in front of him, her body leaning into his. She reached up and touched his face. "I can feel you. Your heart is still seeking," she whispered to him.

I turned my head, staring out at the rain. Their reflection animated the gla.s.s. I felt I was intruding on a private moment.

"If you ever need me... for anything..."

He cleared his throat. "I know."

"If I hear about anyone who can help you get your powers back, I'll send word. Watch our spots."

In the window reflection, I saw him kiss her head gently. He pivoted on his heels, his eyes catching mine watching them. His expression went from soft to stone. Raging hate pummeled through the window at me, as if it were my fault he was leaving. His anger only p.i.s.sed me off. I was injured, tired, hungry, and about to be drenched. I didn't want to go either. Ryker opened the window. Her cottage backed up to an alleyway, the rear of other houses sharing the lane.

"You have enough food?" she asked.

"Yes, Elthia. You have done more than enough."

Food? My stomach rumbled on cue. Loudly.

Ryker tilted his head, glaring at my rumbling tummy. I rubbed at it, telling it to be quiet. He crawled through the window and jumped to the ground.

"Thank you, Elthia." I sat on the sill. I didn't know what else to say. How did you thank someone for saving your life, when most likely she only did it because Ryker asked her?

She bit at her bottom lip. "If you get him killed, I will hunt you down." Her tone was not spiteful, merely matter of fact.

I paused. "All righty." Giving her a nod, I turned to go through the window. Information like her threat was always good to know.

"Take the green pills until you run out and the white only when you need them," she said before she closed the window, shutting us off from the warmth and safety of her home.

Rain tapped on my head. I slipped on the jacket, tugged up the hood, and trailed Ryker through the dark alley, back into the cold world where everything was out to get us, and nowhere was safe.

ELEVEN.

Rain always looked romantic in movies. Almost s.e.xy. Let me tell you, there was nothing remotely s.e.xy about being so chilled to the bone your body was vibrating with tremors. My teeth chattered so loudly Ryker yelled at me a few times to "keep it down." Between my teeth and my growling stomach, I was like a one-man band.

"As if I can help it." b.a.s.t.a.r.d. For some reason, it felt more meaningful to call him names in my head. He didn't seem to care when I said them to his face. And, well, that took all the fun out of it.

Ryker skirted the water, following the piers along the harbor. Night had crept in, sneaking over us and deadening the gray sky till it was black. We turned up a street, and lights from a distance blurred my eyes. "What is that?" I pointed. "Does the city have electricity again?" I'd been unconscious for a week. A lot could happen in that time.

"Red Cross," Ryker stated. "They're running off government-issued generators. When you were unconscious, they erected shelters here and on the north and west sides. Your president has declared Seattle a natural disaster zone."

Hope lit my numb muscles. "They'll have food and blankets." My feet moved before I even asked them to.

"Wait." I heard him call, but I kept moving. A block away, my feet stopped short.

"Dammit. I told you to wait," Ryker growled, stopping beside me. His attention quickly turned to what I was staring at.

A news crew stood in front of the shelter, their equipment plugged into their own portable generators. A pet.i.te brunette stood in front of the camera, wearing a wrinkled beige skirt and jacket, surrounded by handfuls of people with signs. Some conveyed destruction was a result of global warming; other posters suggested aliens had attacked us. But one demonstrator stood out. Glowing with fae glamour, his sign stated the end of the world was upon us. The back of his board had a fairy on it.

"Why would he do this? He's fae." I pointed at the man.

"Because some fae don't want to hide what they are anymore. They want humans to know about us. To take back what they feel was once theirs." Ryker brushed the rain off his forehead with the back of his hand. "They are provoking the Seelie Queen to act."

I had heard about the Seelie Queen. Most fae we captured had nothing nice to say about her. Ruthless and cruel seemed to be the most common descriptions. I didn't need to know anything else about her. She was fae and despised humans. She was an enemy, plain and simple.

The camera lights came on, and the woman anchor began to speak into the mic. "Today we are at the Red Cross center located in downtown Seattle." Soft rain dampened her fluffy-styled hair. "Thousands have come to seek shelter here. Already, it has reached its max, and hundreds are still outside, homeless and starving." She pressed at something in her ear. "Yes, Dan, the electric storm, ES as the locals are calling it, has affected the area more than a hundred miles in all directions of Seattle. Scientists and experts have no idea what caused a storm of this magnitude to hit such a narrow area, then spread so far. The lack of knowledge of what could create such a disaster has left people to formulate their own ideas." She took a pause, motioning to the signs around her. "No matter the cause, the fact remains as of now 2,059 are confirmed dead and at least 3,000 are still missing. With each pa.s.sing day, we know the death toll will only rise."

"We need to get away from here." Ryker grabbed my arm. "We can't risk it with cameras and fae around."

"What? Why?" All I could think about was being warm and fed. Rain slid in rivers down my face, too fast for me to bother wiping it away. It pooled at the base of my neck.

He studied me, his expression considering if I could really be so stupid.

"Right." Disappointment clamped on my gut and hunched my shoulders. We were both being hunted, which meant we had to stay away from public or government-run facilities. If we were caught on camera, it would not be good. Most likely the DMG and Garrett had these places staked, ready for us to pa.s.s through.

"We have food for tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll investigate the area first." His attention went from the glow of the tents to the dark coldness behind us, his hand still clutching my arm. "If we do go in tomorrow, we will need to be extra cautious, and it is only to eat and get supplies, then we get out." He tugged me down an alley, away from the warmth I wanted badly.

I stepped from his grasp. "You might not need food, but I do." I poked at my torso. "Human needs nutrients."

He put his hands on his hips and looked to the side. "Fine. We'll take cover in one of those buildings." He nodded toward the warehouse buildings near the ferries.

"They look warm and cozy." I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Stop pouting, human." He swiveled and started for the building. "Or I'll-"

"Most likely kill me in the morning?" I derided, cutting him off with one of my favorite movie quotes.

He looked over his shoulder, his lids narrowed. "I wish."

He really was a killjoy.

"Be careful, human. One day I might decide my magic isn't worth keeping you alive for."

Nothing like a good old-fas.h.i.+oned death threat to get your blood boiling again.

We walked in silence to the warehouse. He climbed the fence. The Do Not Enter, Private Property, Trespa.s.sers Will Be Prosecuted sign taunted us in big red letters. "Come on."

I laced my fingers through the gate and pulled myself up. Every move was torture to my wound and tugged at the st.i.tches Elthia sewed into my side. My limbs shook with cold, and it took me a couple tries before I got over the fence.

Ryker snapped the padlock and chain off the door. "I haven't had to break a lock since I was a child," he mumbled to himself. I was aware he could jump in and out of places, but it was time I really understood his powers and what I was holding.

As he slid the door closed, the relentless rain finally halted its a.s.sault. The s.p.a.ce was dry, but the metal siding and cement floor produced an even colder chill in the room.

"We need to be careful, but I'll make us a fire in one of those metal drums."

He found some newspaper and old rags still saturated in oil from the boat engines. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and flames engulfed the material at the bottom of the barrel. I hovered so far into the container I almost fell in. My bones creaked as they thawed, muscles throbbing, unwinding their tight grasp on each other.

Ryker made his way around the building, checking for any threats. "People are definitely staying here. There's food and bedding upstairs."

"Really?" The thought of leaving the warmth of the fire to go back in the rain almost incited me to chain myself to the drum in protest. Whatever expression was on my face must have conveyed my reluctance.

"As soon as you are warm and have eaten, we take off. I do not feel like dealing with whomever is staying here."

I frowned but nodded.

Instead of using the food he was carrying, Ryker stole cans of raviolis and fruit from the current guests and pa.s.sed them to me. He dragged two crates from against the wall and set them close to the fire. I plopped down and popped the tops of the rations and dug in, not bothering with heating them. All the work of getting the food from the gas station, and most of it didn't make it. Only a few granola bars survived the explosion and journey to Elthia's. I got impaled for nothing.

"How long were you and Elthia together?" I popped the top of a can of peaches, struggling to picture them together.

Ryker stared at me from under his lashes. His jaw gnashed in warning.

"We are going to be stuck together for who knows how long. Tell me something about yourself."