Gypsy Freak (All The Pretty Monsters #2)(73)

“I know where they’re meeting,” comes a voice that startles both of us, and our gazes swing to our rights to see Shera perched against her car.

“Is your nose broken or something?” I ask Leiza on an annoyed sigh as Shera smirks at us. “Aren’t vampires supposed to offend your senses or something?”

“I’m omega,” she reminds me flatly. “My nose works better in closed spaces.”

“You could have just told me you needed to go somewhere. I’m here to protect. Not to confine,” Shera says too helpfully, making me suspicious. “All I want to know is how a Portocale gypsy freak put me on my ass with an electrified hand.”

Leiza steps in front of me, eyes on me like she wants the answer to that too.

“I attached a cable I had hidden in my boot,” I lie easily.

Shera doesn’t look convinced, and I decide to risk driving with a concussion as I bypass her.

“You don’t know where you’re going,” she reminds me to my back.

“I’ll call Damien or something,” I grumble, lifting my hand to my aching head.

She’s in front of me in the next instant, and she rolls her eyes. “Get in my car. Don’t make me carry you. We’ll both look ridiculous and we won’t feel pretty for the rest of the day.”

That’s not the first time she’s told me that. I give her an incredulous look, and she huffs as she bends quickly.

In the next instant, I’m bridal style in her arms, awkwardly throwing my arms around her shoulders so, as she carries me to the car door that swings open on its own.

She drops me to the seat, and the door slams and locks, sealing me in as she shudders in the seat next to me, all of it happening so fast I somehow missed her getting in.

“Told you,” she says with another shudder. “I always feel less feminine when I have to be that strong.”

I have no idea what to say, so I just buckle up and look over at Leiza’s wide eyes, since she’s too scared to join us. She gives me a timid little farewell wave.

“Excellent wolves they make,” Shera says with sharp sarcasm as she cranks the car and slings us around without ever touching the steering wheel.

Both of my hands clutch whatever I can as the car zips down the driveway and fishtails out onto the road, cutting off another car that blares its horn.

Shera is putting on lip gloss as the steering wheel guides itself.

“Can you at least watch the road while doing…that?!” I shout, really regretting that shock therapy treatment toward her now.

“What is it about you that just keeps bringing about unusual attacks? No one has touched anyone under House protection in ages. Then you’re here and boom. Ian must want to start a war. It may happen if Emit defends him the way he usually does.”

The car takes a sharp turn, and I suck in a painful breath as she moves on to pushing up her bra like that’s more important than driving the car with two hands instead of whatever it is she’s doing.

“You look like death, by the way,” she says while looking directly at me, as the car takes yet another sharp curve.

My eyes screw shut, and I silently pray for this car ride to be over.

It takes a while before my prayers get answered, but an eternity later, the car skids to a halt, and my door creaks like it’s opening, seconds before cool air wafts in.

I crack an eye open and peer around with it, seeing us at the edge of the woods.

“Is this where you try to kill me?”

She snorts. “Arion would waste me without a thought. I consider us even for the shock. Next time, fight me like a girl.”

“You’re a vampire.”

She narrows her eyes. “I’m still a girl.”

“Get some fabric around us, and I’ll fight you like a girl.”

Her lips twitch. “Careful. Wolves galore are down there right now. We may have just beaten Damien and Vance here. You should start walking before they get here.”

I give her a dubious look.

“No questions?”

She shakes her head. “I live long and prosper because I’m not a very curious girl. And sometimes I just don’t give a shit. Arion will smell you once you step out of this car, so step away so I can drive fast and be sure to tell him you were coming with or without me,” she chirps as I step out, feeling the biting-cold slice of wind as it tosses my hair around.

I hop to the side when the door slams, and Shera speeds off to go do whatever it is Shera does after leaving me— A wiggling bush sends me darting off into the woods, unsure which direction I’m even supposed to be going.

Two growls startle me, and I whirl around, spotting a pair of glowing amber eyes.

I take a wary step back. “Are you really going to try to kill me right now?” I ask on a shaky breath.

The growl quickly ends, and a man shifts in front of me. It’s a slow shift, and he’s thinner than most male wolves.

“You really shouldn’t be here right now,” he says quietly as he stands up, really naked. “Go. Wolves are meet—”

Seeing as he’s not a murderous fella just yet, I interrupt with, “I have to find Emit. He’s—”

“Emit Morrigan?” he asks me incredulously.

At my nod, he shakes his head.

“They’ll never let someone who smells like vampire near the alpha.”