7Chapter One

Eden stood alone in the darkness, habitually flipping the mint in his mouth over and over again with the perfected rhythm of his tongue. The night air was fresh against his face, the breeze slightly stronger from his viewing point on the flat roof of the derelict shop.The van in the alley thirty foot below was still being unloaded.

Whatever the crates contained wasnt heavy, not from the ease with which the lone guy lifted each onto his shoulder in turn. He fol-lowed the same pattern every time lift the crate, carry it inside, be gone for three to four minutes, then unload the next.

When he disappeared inside for the eighth time, Eden scanned the roofs of the row upon row of terraced houses. The grati-em-blazoned buildings, sat amidst their maze of back alleys, were once an inhabitable residential area of what had once been classed as a city decades before.

Now, aside from the districts hub where the third species hung out, this was the second most lethal place to be in Blackthorn. This was The Circus: home to the convicts abandoned by the peniten-tiary of Lowtown across the border, and forced to reside within the confines of the third-species-dominated core of the locale.

Returning after disposing of the ninth crate, the guy slammed the van door shut and reversed back into the side alley from where hed come. The same alley where hed passed Eden his van lights o, opting for the tight squeeze as opposed to the main road only a few feet away. It had evoked Edens curiosity enough to take the

Lindsay J. Pryor 8external fire escape steps up onto the flat roof an advantageous viewpoint of the buildings hed been heading for anyway.

He flipped his mint over in his mouth again as he watched the van back up to leave, when the figure to his left caught his attention.

You spying? the petite blonde asked, remaining a sensible twenty feet away. Her hands were tucked in the pockets of the black, cropped leather jacket that hung half o one skinny shoul-der. Right hip cocked slightly higher than the left, her thin, parted legs ended in biker boots to complete the defensive stance.

You know this place? he asked.You agency?He slid his open-cued jacket sleeve up to expose his inner arm,

the numbers tattooed there numbers that indicated the peniten-tiary he had come from as well as the categories and frequency of the crimes he had committed.

She folded her arms as she walked towards him to take a closer look, her vest top low enough to reveal the lace cups of her well-padded bra.

Her eyes hollow, sad, barely visible through her shaggy bob were indicative of the system she was no doubt locked in. And those blue eyes flared as she examined the condemnatory array of numbers that stretched higher than his restrictive sleeve would al-low her to see.

Blowing back her fringe, she raised her eyebrows, her subse-quent half smile as blatant as the length of her tight skirt. Thats a lot of bad behaviour. She tilted her head to the side slightly. And yet you look so sweet.

Where does that door go? he asked, cocking his head to where the crates had been taken.

She stepped alongside him and glanced down at the alley. She shrugged her small shoulders. There are doorways all over this place since they knocked all the houses through some blocked up, new ones put in both inside and out. Ive been here three years, she added, and I dont know half of this maze.

Chapter One 9Three years. At least sixteen years his junior, she couldnt have

been a day over twenty.She took a packet of cigarettes out of her top pocket and oered

him one.Eden refused.You know how hard it is to get your hands on these around

here? she asked.I dont smoke.I suggest you take it up. She placed one between her badly

painted lips, her skinny fingers trembling in the cold fingers wor-thy of piano playing, tipped in chipped baby-pink nail polish that conflicted with the tough biker look. She snied and wrapped an arm around herself, dropped her cigarette-holding hand loosely to her side to flick o some ash. Saying that, some reckon they fill these with all sorts of shit before shipping them in; that theyll kill us o that way if not with the booze and food they supply.

Hed heard the conspiracy theories a hundred times before and they didnt get any more interesting with a change of teller. Do you know what was in the crates?

She shrugged again and blew out a curt stream of smoke that promptly dissipated in the cold night air. Youre new here, right? She raked him swiftly again. Only Id remember you.

New as of a few hours ago.They just dump you o on this side of the border? Shit, isnt it?

No money. No provisions. No directions. She took another swift inhale before exhaling just as brusquely. Do you know what per-centage of cons dropped o here make it to the second night?

Do you?She shrugged again. Nah. Still, its better than the penitentiary.

At least you get to do what you want around here.Youre a con?She slid her jacket sleeve up her arm with her cigarette-holding

hand to give him a quick flash of her own numbers.He knew exactly what they meant. Murder?

Lindsay J. Pryor 10She shrugged again. Stopped him cheating.He didnt know whether he was saddened more by the indier-

ence in her tone, or the lack of expression on her heavily made-up face.

You dont get sent here just for murder, he said.I killed one of the penitentiary guards who reminded me of

him. Her jacket sleeve dropped into place again as she wrapped her arm back around her waist.

He didnt doubt it was more than bravado. The capability con-sumed her morally apathetic eyes. He knew the type only too well. Had handled enough.

I dont remind you of him too, do I?She smiled, revealing surprisingly good teeth. Good looking

and a sense of humour. Nah, youre all right. She stepped up to the edge to look down at the alley before turning to face him. Build-ing up the courage to go in, huh? Youll be all right unless youre planning to make your mark and get beaten to a pulp for it. My advice: keep your head down. And dont flash those numbers too much. Some might see it as competition. She lifted the cigarette back to her lips and exhaled as she assessed him from head to foot again. Messing up that handsome face, let alone that body, would be a crime in itself. Her gaze lingered before she sauntered back over. Ive got a room in there. You can bed down with me until you get yourself straight.

And where does someone get themselves straight around here?This patch is Pummels. If youve got something to oer, he

might give you a room. If not, you can try one of the abandoned buildings, but security aint good. Any further afield and youre go-ing to find yourself with vamps as neighbours or a rogue lycan or whatever other third species crawls the back alleys of this district.

Anywhere beyond the thin margin of the south that didnt be-long to anyone other than the squatting cons.

Pummel? he asked, despite already knowing he was in the right place.

Chapter One 11Thats what hes known as around here. For good reason.He sounds like a charmer.She smiled again, but this time it didnt reach her eyes. So you

want that room?With my history?She exhaled a steady stream of smoke as she sidled closer. This

place gets lonely. Besides, whatever those numbers say about you, Im a good judge of character. Hang around long enough and you get to know types around here.

Clearly not that good a judge.As much as I appreciate the oer, you dont want to be bedding

down with me.She smiled as she closed in, her overpowering perfume surround-

ing her like an aura. Why? You got some kind of fucked-up kink or something? Only Im open-minded. She looked back down at his arm before looking him in the eyes again, lingering with a confidence only experience brought. Just how far up do those numbers go anyway?

Eyes that, despite their confidence, looked on edge, almost im-patient.

He glanced over at the fire escape and back at her. As hed guessed, her impatience escalated.

Or we can stay up here, she said, discarding her cigarette before running her hand down his arm, guiding him to face her, his back to the fire escape, as she pressed her lips together. Thats quite a body un-der that jacket. I bet you know how to take care of yourself. And me.

It was subtle. And she was good. But not good enough for it to do anything but confirm hed been right to sense the signs of an ambush.

And taking care of me is the only thing Im interested in right now, he said, removing her bony hand from his arm, a hand he could so easily crush for what he suspected, before backing away.

At least let me show you around, she called out louder than she needed to, catching up with him as he crossed to the steps. Hey! Wait! Youll want to know where youre going in there.

Lindsay J. Pryor 12Ill take my chances, he replied, descending.She clunked down the fire escape behind him. Whats the prob-

lem? You not into women or something? Or am I not good enough for you?

Dont take it personally.In case you havent noticed, she said, grabbing his shoulder,

Im oering it to you on a plate here.And lucky for you, I dont have an appetite tonight, he said,

shrugging her o.At least hed got to the bottom of the steps before they appeared.There were two of them at first. Then another two appeared

from behind them.He glanced back over his shoulder at the blonde who remained

four steps up, her arms now tightly folded, her eyebrows raised smugly to perfectly complement her smirk.

Youre done, Mya, one of the males said.No way, she insisted. Not when I did all the work again. I

want to watch this time.Eden glanced back over his shoulder at her again, the thought

of putting her over his knee and giving her a damn hard spanking, and not for his personal pleasure, reeling through him. Sugary little thing, arent you?

Fuck you, she sneered.Oh, darling, you wish, he said, turning his attention back to

the four squaring up ready to attack.If there was one thing he abhorred it was pack hunting. If he was

going to be taken on, he could at least grant some respect to an op-ponent willing to take him on alone. But these reeked of cowardice, a guarantee to send his adrenaline pumping.

Only two types fought in packs in Blackthorn cons and ly-cans. And there was nothing lycan about these. Lycans didnt hesi-tate, and they sure didnt use honeytraps to do their dirty work.

In fact, there was nothing third species about them at all. These were humans his own kind convicts that clearly didnt intend to

Chapter One 13ask questions or need a reason for their intentions. This was about entertainment. He could see by the look in their eyes that they wanted to hurt him, and hed been in that situation far too many times before.

He crunched the thin remainder of his mint as strategy instantly kicked in. The two guys on the periphery were the weakest link. Theyd be easy enough if they fought fair.

But Eden turned his attention to the one who had spoken clearly the leader. He dominated his five-foot-ten adversary by at least three inches, unlike the other three who were the muscle of his little gang.

Any of you Pummel? Eden asked, already knowing that the answer was no. But it wouldnt hurt to play innocent.The leaders thin lips broadened into a chilling smile. You aint

going to get that far, pretty one.Eden had the feeling the con believed it. He frowned for eect.

Is that some kind of come on? Only Im not into possessive types.The leader didnt laugh. Neither did the others. The leaders

slitty eyes narrowed eyes that emanated sadism. What the fuck did you say?

Hey, Im not questioning your taste, Eden said. He glanced at the other three guys. Unless Im the anomaly and theyre your usual choice.

It took a moment for his insult to sink in.When it did, just as hed suspected, they didnt come at him in

an orderly queue.With a single nod of the leaders head a nod that indicated

he intended to sate his minions taste for blood first the three attacked.

Eden didnt take his eyes o his first target. One clean and pow-erful sideways kick to the windpipe and number one was down long enough for him to turn his attention on the second. A swift, solid, precise fist to the attackers groin and number two was on his knees, curled over with pain.

Lindsay J. Pryor 14The third took his opportunity and punched Eden clean in the

jaw but only enough to throw him o balance rather than take him down.

Eden ploughed into him before the attackers fist had a chance to make second contact. He rammed his attacker against the wall only for him to shove back with equal retaliation, slamming Eden backwards onto the metal fire escape steps.

Mya squealed in disturbing delight, almost skipping as she slipped past them to avoid the onslaught, whilst number three, pin-ning Eden to the steps with his weight advantage, applied two sharp blows to Edens side and another to his jaw.

Eden spat out blood into his attackers face, surprised, from the force and angle of number threes blow, that a tooth hadnt exited with it.The blood shower only incited more vicious pounding, the lead-

er also closing in ready to pounce.Eden gritted his teeth, lifted his knee and kicked him clean o.

Using the steps as leverage, he got back onto his feet.But so did the other two he had taken down in round one.Eden wiped his bloodied mouth with the back of his hand, spit-

ting out more blood as he rethought his strategy.Clearly they didnt take the hint. Clearly they intended to kill

him. And he never took to either kindly.This time, a second blow to number ones windpipe was in-

tentionally fatal. A swivel kick to number two knocked him clean against the protruding rusted pole jutting out from the wall.Their comrades impaling only slowed number three and the

leader for a couple of seconds before they bared their teeth and closed in on him again.

Eden shook the tension from his shoulders, rolled his head left and right, nimbled up, ignoring his waning energy before taking a defensive stance.

Unfairly fresh to the fight, the leader eventually took advantage. Several poundings later, hed weakened Eden enough for number

Chapter One 15three to get a grip on him. Wrenching Edens arms back, number three exposed Edens torso for the leader to make several more dan-gerously impactful blows.

Eden knew he had no choice but to sag, the move allowing him to regain a few inches between him and his captor, the latter loosen-ing his grip just a fraction as hed hoped.

Not wasting any time, Eden used the leader as a walk-up, kick-ing him hard in the jaw and simultaneously slamming him against the brick wall in the process. He concluded the manoeuvre by piv-oting over the one who held him and taking him to ground with the force, his opponents head cracking on the floor beneath him as he used him to soften his own fall.

Stumbling back to his feet, Eden spat out another mouthful of blood as he looked across at the leader, now also upright again, his slitty eyes filled with rage.This time Eden was out of patience. A full-on fight in under

three hours was not what he had planned for. And he most certainly hadnt accounted for dying. This time the leader was going down.

But another con emerged from around the corner. One who clearly wasnt expecting to walk in on the floorshow but, from the way he smirked as he discarded his cigarette, was all for interac-tion.The newbie and the leader fought together and they fought

dirty, Eden taking several more blows for the many more he de-fended. He struck them both hard enough to draw blood several times, but not enough to floor either of them for long.

His body ached, his eyes blurred as he took a smack to the nose. But as the newbie wrapped his arm around his neck, jammed his other arm behind his back, Eden hadnt expected the leader to play that dirty.

He rammed the blade into Edens side. And twisted.Fucking do it again, the one holding Eden hissed.Eden felt the blade leaving his numbing body, before the leader

rammed it in again.

Lindsay J. Pryor 16When he felt it withdrawn once more, Eden knew the next one

was going to be fatal.He took a steady inhale to build up the last of his strength, ready

to shove back against his captor with all his force.A split second later, the leaders head was twisted sharply to the

side, his limp body slumping to the floor. He heard further crack of bones from the newbie, his hold loosening.

Eden fell to his knees on the floor. He clutched his side as he squinted up through blurry, bloodied eyes, barely able to make any-thing out but a girl stood above him a tall and shapely female with dark, waist-length ringlets.That distinctive feature along with the fact that, whoever she

was, she clearly wasnt human, told him he might have found what hed come for.

If he lived long enough to see it through.

17

Chapter Two

Jessie removed the padlock from the iron-mesh door and shoved it in her back pocket. After a wary glance left and right along the dark alley, she re-entered the abandoned storage area, quietly clos-ing the door behind her.

From what she could see, he hadnt moved. The stranger still lay on his back where shed left him unconscious the night before, tucked into a blind spot beyond the crates. But since shed checked on him late that morning, his left booted foot was now under his right calf as if he had stirred a little at some point. Both his arms were still lax by his sides though, his left bent upwards towards the crates behind. His jacket, which shed removed and placed over him for warmth, was still in position.

Once convinced the rhythm of his breathing wasnt fake, and his lack of swallowing proof enough that his sleep was genuine, she placed the spare T-shirt on the crates and approached him. Ballet pumps silent against the concrete floor, she unscrewed the lid on the water bottle as she stepped up alongside him.

Head tilted to the right towards where she stood, his eyes re-mained closed, sealed by unflinching dark lashes that, almost feminine in their thickness, were a contradiction to his otherwise masculine features. But handsome though he undeniably was, the numbers on his exposed right forearm betrayed anything but beau-ty beneath his exterior.

Tilting the bottle forty-five degrees, she quarter-emptied the contents down onto his face, the water flattening his short-back-

Lindsay J. Pryor 18and-sides dark hair and splashing on his strong, stubble-shadowed jaw.

Fuck, he hissed, his voice gru and irritated enough to make her take a couple of steps back. He wiped his face before squinting up at her in the shadows.The fine hairs on her arms prickled, heat flushing through her

body as soon as his startled brown eyes met hers compelling dark eyes that quickly narrowed.

He eased himself into a seated position, his jacket sliding o. But he instantly flinched, his hand clutching his side when remind-ed of the double stab wound that had nearly cost his life. Hed been lucky a couple of inches to the left and he would have been dead, as Grayson had no doubt intended.

In fact, hed been very lucky. Grayson was always precise, indi-cating that the stranger had flustered the brutal killer. That was a feat in itself. As proficient a fighter as the stranger had been, though, Grayson would have finished the job had she not intervened.

Shed only looked out of the landing window because shed heard the unfamiliar rumble of a vans engine down the back lane. At the same time, shed caught sight of a male figure ascending the fire escape onto the flat roof opposite.

Keeping out of sight, shed kept a wary eye on him whilst watch-ing the van being unloaded below. Crate after crate had been re-moved and taken inside nine in total. She would have investi-gated the latter further already had the night not taken the turn it had. Because it had taken that turn the minute something else had snagged her attention: a small, blonde figure ducking around the front of the van and also heading to the steps.

Mya. And where there was Mya, there was trouble. Mya was the best honeytrap the cons used. An appearance of vulnerability with an iron heart inside, she was willing bait in most of Graysons sick games.

So after the van had pulled away, when she saw Mya appear on the flat roof too, shed lingered a moment longer.

Chapter twO 19She should have walked away. She should have left them to it.

Keeping herself to herself was the way it worked the way Pummel insisted it worked. And she nearly did. But the strangers appar-ent nonchalance towards Mya, despite her blatant come-on, had sustained Jessies curiosity. More so, seeing Grayson and the others ducking out of sight against the wall below in wait for their next outnumbered victim was all the provocation shed needed not to turn a blind eye.

Shed headed back down the stairs, through the knocked-through archway into the neighbouring terraced house. Shed squeezed through the usual night crowd as shed passed through the next arch. Those whod noticed her had quickly parted, as they al-ways did. It was the policy that had surrounded her for decades: no one touched, no one spoke to her, no one even looked at her other than by accident no one outside of Pummels exclusive circle.

Reaching the under-stairs door, shed turned her skeleton key in the lock and descended the wooden steps into the abandoned room. Shed crossed to the window and pushed the slatted boards aside. Easing out into the courtyard, shed doubled back on her-self, lifting herself up over the low, crumbling dividing wall as she headed in the direction of the alley.

Peering through the deep V of missing bricks on the far side, shed arrived in time to hear the stranger mention Pummel. It shouldnt have surprised her everyone in the south had heard of Pummel. Or at least everyone who was anyone. With logic dictat-ing the stranger was yet another in a long line looking to make a deal or get in with reputably the most powerful con in Blackthorn, she should have walked away.

Instead, shed pressed her fist against the broken brick wall that hid her and clenched her jaw at the injustice of the four-on-one fight that had almost instantly broken out. Shed expected it to take only minutes before theyd beaten him to a pulp, but the stranger could fight, and impressively so, taking two out with swift and bru-tal ease as well as holding his own with the others. Whoever he

Lindsay J. Pryor 20was, he was most definitely someone. Shed watched in fascination and partly in awe, not just at how adept a fighter he was but the intelligence in his tactics too an advantageous combination in a sub-society lording the principle of the survival of the fittest.

He almost hadnt needed her help, until Grayson had fought dirty. Seeing the brutal con take the blade from the holster at the back of his jeans, shed snapped. Consequences or not, she couldnt stand by and watch the stranger be gutted.

Shed kept it swift and painless, though neither con deserved either. The stranger had subsequently collapsed to his knees amidst his heavy and pained breathing. From his half-beaten state though, hed squinted up her.

It had sealed his fate.Finally having seen his face as clearly as if sunlight had descend-

ed on it, shed nearly forgotten to breathe; a face shed recognised, sending shooting sensations up her spine as a result.

Hed passed out within seconds, whereas shed stood staring down at him like shed stepped into wet concrete just like she was now.

But he still showed no recognition of her, confirming they hadnt met; subsequently confirming there was far more to this con.

She handed him the remaining contents of the bottle more civil-ly, which, as he finally managed to recline against the crates despite his obvious discomfort, he accepted. As she backed up against the crates between him and the exit, he gave her another swift assess-ment before doing the same to the dark, dank storage room.

You know how to fight, she said, trying not to let any sense of admiration slip into her tone.

Comes with practice, he said, still with the same rasp of an inevitably dry throat. He adjusted his position with a minor wince, albeit it with a fluidity of moves as enticing as the body that gov-erned them.

He certainly had the scar tissue to back up his claim: one on his left hip, another on his right side not far from his now rapidly healing

Chapter twO 21stab wound. And he had that look one that warned people not to get too close despite the mildness of his dark-brown eyes. Mild eyes that she knew from the evidence tattooed on his arm were painfully deceptive numbers that betrayed acts as dark as the black ink used to engrave them on his skin. Acts that were committed both outside of and, more worryingly, inside the penitentiary.

Your penitentiary number isnt from Lowtown, she said. Why didnt they send you to the core in your own locale?

Transferring a convict from a penitentiary to the core was the last resort, saved for those who committed crimes so heinous or were so defiant on the inside that they were extradited to fend for themselves amongst the third species. Most cons banded together for survival, usually with bonds they had formed inside, so to be transferred to another locale was rare as inhumane as sending established enemies into Blackthorn without security guards to protect the weaker. Because once you were in, you never got out. In all cases, an irretrievable chip was injected into each cons brain on transfer a chip that would implode if they tried to cross the border. Once in, they either survived or died, a fact that prompted her to again question if she would have been kinder to leave him to his inevitable fate sooner.The only problem was, she didnt know whether that fate was

for good or bad. And she had no way of knowing. Not yet. All she knew was that, based on her recognition, he was integral somehow.

This is my locale, he said. Adjusting his position again to sit completely upright, he drew Jessies attention to the thick, black leather band that encompassed his left wrist as he lifted the bottle of water back to his lips. They sent me to a penitentiary in an-other.

He seemed surprisingly at ease, but his scrutiny as he rested his head back against the crate, as he dragged his gaze from her feet to her eyes, made her stomach clench. No one dared linger on her except for Pummel and he never looked at her like that.

They dont do that unless youre serious trouble, she said.

Lindsay J. Pryor 22Is there any other kind? he asked with a glint of a smile before

he took another mouthful of water, the flexion in his bicep strain-ing against his T-shirt sleeve with the motion.

She tried not to be distracted by the lips that wrapped them-selves around the bottles rim lips she had lingered on while shed bit into her own as hed lain unconscious beneath her. Firm lips she had gently touched with the very tips of her fingers, knowing there was no risk of him waking with the sedative she had embedded in his system to ensure he stayed unconscious long enough for her to get back to him. Lips she had been tempted to graze with her own just to experience how they would feel.

You dont want to be boasting of any kind of reputation around here, she said. This place is more territorial than you can imagine.

So Ive seen.Believe me, there are plenty more where Grayson came from.He glanced to her left to where moonlight spilled through the

mesh door behind her, creating a woven pattern on the concrete floor. How long have I been unconscious?

All day. I gave you a mild sedative to ease the pain.He scanned the room again. Where am I?Only twenty feet from where you were attacked last night in

a storage lock-up below the old shop roof you were stood on. No one comes in here.

He looked back at her, raked her swiftly again. You had some swift moves of your own out there.

He would have stabbed you again and finished the job.What do you care?I dont. But Grayson was out of line.You knew him?I know everyone around here.He glanced at where the sleeves of her loose-fitting sweater

cusped the backs of her hands. Are you a con too?She folded her arms. No.

Chapter twO 23She expected him to persist, but he didnt. Instead he lifted

his bloodied T-shirt and pulled back the dressing to examine the stitches shed used to patch him up. Stitches that she knew were for eect only, her attempt to mask the true nature of his healing. She tried not to linger on the fraction of the hard body hed exposed and could only hope he wouldnt notice how rapidly he was heal-ing that his memory was hazy enough to question what really happened.

Did you do this? he asked, looking back at her.She nodded and cast the clean T-shirt at him.He caught it one-handed, seemingly having no further question

of the small miracle happening beneath his skin. Knocking back another mouthful before leaving the bottle on the floor, he finally eased to his feet, clutching his side again.

She stood upright from her semi hip-recline against the crates and braced herself despite knowing taking him down would be easy his proficiency in combat irrelevant to what was inherent in her.

But instead of stepping closer, he removed his T-shirt, allowing her to finally fully appreciate his sculpted torso in the shadows. She glanced at the extent of the tattoo that engulfed his left shoulder like armour, the tip of the lifelike flames caressing his pec and al-most licking his neck before disappearing over his back. Another sat to the left of his stomach some kind of emblem. There was another indistinguishable one further up his side. Many cons wore tattoos to define their crimes, their turf, their gangs or their beliefs, but as her gaze wandered down over his firm flesh to the waist of his low-slung jeans jeans that were held up loosely by a worn, soft, brown leather belt she didnt recognise any of his.

Whats your name? he asked as his fresh T-shirt dropped into place.

She snapped her gaze back to his. Whats yours?He gave her a hint of a sideways smile, clearly wanting to give

away about as much as she did. Worse, she was struggling to read

Lindsay J. Pryor 24him as he stood there scrutinising her, when it was supposed to be the other way around.

I prefer disclosure to be two-way, he said.Then tell me why you were asking after Pummel.You know him?Everyone around here knows him.Because he runs this place, right?Hes one of the ones who thinks he does. And he wont like

you.Whys that?When was the last time you looked in a mirror? Males who look

as good as you do dont last long around here. You evoke too much attention; create too much competition. Unless you want another Grayson to finish the job next time. Like I said, there are plenty ready and willing.

Like Pummel?Just like Pummel. Clearly you know how to look after yourself

youd be better going it alone than initiating yourself into this row.

Is that what Ill have to do? Initiate myself? he asked, taking a couple of steps towards her.

She took a guarded step back.He stopped, his eyes narrowing in curiosity, no doubt because of

her wariness despite him having seen her in action.But she wasnt like the others who resided there she didnt kill in-

discriminately, despite the numbers on his arm telling her she would have been more than justified. Whether her reluctance was a mistake, she knew only time would tell. But for now, for her own sake, if his reticence to disclose anything useful to her was to remain, she needed to concentrate only on getting him as far away from there as possible.

I dont know why youre here, she said, but take my advice leave. You had a lucky escape last night, so keep it that way. The cons you killed were Pummels men. You dont want word getting back about that.

Chapter twO 25If thats true, then neither do you. It seems we have an equal

share in this one. Three-all by my count unless the blonde made it.Her one bargaining tool was that Mya needed a roof over her

head, and that the girl knew one click of Jessies fingers and shed be out. Shell keep her mouth shut.

And the bodies?Shed done the only thing she could. Once shed stopped star-

ing at the stranger unconscious at her feet, shed checked his pulse, that he was still alive, before dragging him behind the steps into a shadowy recess. Trembling and gasping, shed dragged the other bodies fifty feet in the opposite direction, one after the other, piling them against each other in the alley behind the courtyards as shed kept a watchful eye on the darkness around her, playing excuse after excuse over and over in her head should she be found.

Shed slipped through the gap in the wall, hightailed it back through the courtyards, through the boarded-up window and up the stairs. Shed kept her composure as shed made her way through the milling bodies before bounding up the stairs three at a time, grateful that the door to the main lounge had been shut so Pummel wouldnt notice. Shed shoved open the door to her attic bedroom, ried through her bedside table and grabbed the padlock key, be-fore retracing her steps.

Shed kept her back to the wall, checking all around before dart-ing across the alley again. Unlocking the mesh door to one of the storage rooms, shed dragged the stranger inside. And then shed done the last thing she should have: shed saved him.

It had been about more than his potential significance though. Something else had compelled her to give him a chance to survive, and she had no doubt her superficial attraction to him was a major culprit.

Theyre out of sight, she said. Its all sorted.Now he wasnt just looking at her he was staring deeply and

pensively into her eyes, evoking an added intimacy she experienced too rarely. The result was a connection that felt as dangerous as

Lindsay J. Pryor 26the sparks firing inside her at being alone with a male other than Pummel let alone one who caused such stirrings inside her. That in itself gave her more reason to ensure he disappeared back in the depths of the south side of Blackthorn, to mingle with all the other discarded dregs of human society and never cross her path again.

So finish your water, give yourself a little longer to rest if you have to and then get yourself out of here. She chucked him the pad-lock from her back pocket. He caught it with ease, despite his gaze not leaving hers. And if you want to live, we never met. Lock up after yourself when youre done, she said, turning towards the door.

Wait!Against her better judgement, she did. Against her better judge-

ment, she turned to face him again. More so, she didnt prevent him from circling around her to get between her and the only exit.

She glanced back at the numbers on his arm that now braced the doorway, before looking up into his eyes again. The absence of aggression in his stance was the only thing that prevented her shoving him halfway across the room. But shed witnessed enough humans morph from charming and playful to brutal and uncon-tained not to let her guard down. Even the slightest scrape wouldnt go unnoticed by Pummel; wouldnt fail to raise questions she didnt want to answer.

Dont do anything stupid, she warned. You can walk out of here and sort yourself out somewhere else or you can be another body in the pile. Your choice.The fleeting smile that teased his lips surprisingly made her

stomach flip with anything but repulsion, the moonlight catching a glint in his eyes. You say that with such confidence.

Thats because I mean it.You dont have to tell me. He looped the padlock back through

the bars, snapping it shut, his hand as steady as the gaze he locked back on hers.

Her slow-beating heart uncharacteristically skipped a beat. That was your get-out clause.

Chapter twO 27Now its yours, he said, resting his hand on the concrete-block

wall next to the door as he closed the gap between them a little more.

She glanced back at the numbers on his now tensed forearm. But despite their reminder, thoughts of turning him into nothing but a limp, lifeless body on the ground created an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. Dont do this.

Do what?Prove those numbers right.You know what they mean?I know what every single number means. They dont change,

whatever locale youre from.But still you chose to save my life, to bring me in here, to of-

fer me safety and water. Somewhere where the chances of being disturbed are minimal, from what you said. Yet here you are alone with me and youre not even flinching at the prospect of what could happen. What are you?

More trouble than this is worth.His lips curled up an intoxicating fraction again. He braced his

other arm across the crates, blocking her in and giving her no choice but to back into the corner if she wanted to avoid him touching her. Sate my curiosity give me a flash of those teeth.

Her stomach flipped. She smiled at the audacity of it, simul-taneously revealing she didnt have lycan fangs or the extra set of incisors that were indicative of vampires. Hopefully it was enough to make him back o, especially as she could already feel her nerve endings burning in preparation for retaliation.

He looked back into her eyes after the fleeting examination. Curiouser and curiouser, he said. A witch maybe?

She refused to flinch as he dared run the back of his hand down her cheek.

Or maybe not, he added. Not a lycan or a vampire according to those teeth, yet still cold to the touch, so a shadow instead of a soul in there, I bet.

Lindsay J. Pryor 28As he slid the back of his hand down her cleavage, she grabbed

his wrist.He glanced at the hand that failed to encompass him, before

looking back into her eyes. She felt him testing her strength as he twisted his wrist in her grip slightly. But instead of looking per-turbed when met with her powerful resilience, he smiled again. Taken from that strength, definitely a third species.

Youve been badly wounded, she reminded him. Play alpha some other time.

Is that a proposition?Its advice. I suggest you take it before this gets out of hand.

And it will. If you value your life, whatever may be left of it in this district, youll back o now. Because if you attempt one thing that those numbers tell me youre capable of, Ill kill you without hesita-tion and leave you down here to rot.

Theres nothing sexier than a confident woman, he said, free-ing his wrist from her grip to place his hand on the wall beside her head. Or whatever the fuck you are.

She held her breath against the tension surging inside her, some-thing she could have mistaken as excitement had it not been so distasteful to even consider it. Youve got a smart mouth.

That can do all sorts of tricks.She pressed her head back against the crate as his lips closed in

on hers. Im going to give you to the count of ten to back o.Only ten? Thats not very generous. Why did you save me?Because I believe in a fair fight. Eight.Eight? Thats not fair you hadnt told me youd started.Six.Five, he said.Four.He frowned. I thought you third species had perfect vision.Her pulse picked up a notch as he searched her gaze.He leaned a little closer. So tell me why are you wearing con-

tact lenses?

Chapter twO 29Her heart skipped a beat. As she opened her mouth to say one,

his free hand clutched her jaw. He closed his mouth over hers, stun-ning her to stillness, to silence, as she felt warm, human lips for the first time.

Her stomach flipped. She kept her eyes wide open and stared back into his whilst he parted her tense lips.

He closed his eyes only momentarily before staring unapologeti-cally back into hers again. At the same time, his tongue shamelessly met hers, coiling around it enticingly and blatantly with an owner-ship that only added to her shock before he licked the underside of her teeth.

Before she had time to think, her reactions uncharacteristically slow, hed retracted.

With a smirk of sated triumph, he backed up a few steps away from her. But only because hed now felt for himself what he hadnt believed hed seen that there were no hidden fangs or extra inci-sors. And the contrast of the clinical intention of the kiss against the warm execution left her atypically flustered.

Eyes flashing with intoxicating mischief, he held both hands up in mock surrender no doubt at the glare that was emanating loud and clear from her.

Get the hell away from here, she said, taken aback by her rarely incited breathlessness. Away from The Circus. Because if anyone finds out I helped you, even spoke to you, especially Pummel, youll be dead before dawn. And if I see so much of a glimpse of you again, Ill be the one to make sure it happens. Do I make myself clear?

I think Ive worked enough out for myself, he said as he saun-tered back across to where hed been lying.

She reached for the key in her pocket, turned her back on him, struggled to get it in the lock precisely at first as she silently pleaded he wouldnt approach her again.Thoughts of killing him swam in her head. It was the only way

to be sure; the only way to safeguard herself. But he had backed

Lindsay J. Pryor 30o. More so, he seemingly had no intention of pursuing her as he instead bent over to collect his bottle.

Finally getting the key in the lock, she untangled the padlock. She looked back to see him wink at her as he took a mouthful of water. A wink that, without doubt, would be his death sentence if Pummel ever saw it.

But it was a wink that also reminded her she had started the snow-ball by saving him. A wink indicating that, as a result, he was intend-ing to play ball. Both would make his blood on her hands even less palatable should she choose to do an about-turn on him. Because she was not a monster like them. She would not become a monster like them. Not if the wink was his goodbye, maybe even a thank you.

Stomach knotted, she shoved open the mesh door. She marched back down the dark alley, leaving the door open behind her, avoid-ing the compulsion to look over her shoulder.

She strode past the rest of the storage rooms, squeezed through the V gap in the wall before pushing aside the boards and climbing back through the window. Passing the abandoned furniture and other miscellany in the dumping ground of a room, she made her way up the wooden steps. Only this time she clutched onto the handrail to aid her ascent, her legs feeling unusually unsteady. She stopped in the tiny stairwell at the top for a moment, composing herself before unlocking the door.The oppression of smoke, sweat and sex filled the air as she

jostled her way back along the hallway. Toxic scents that had con-sumed her so-called home for decades; the laughter, cursing, groans, thudding music and screams the long-standing soundtrack to what was now her inescapable life.

She headed back towards the more isolated end of the row of Pummels territory, to the stairs that would take her up to the pri-vacy of her attic room, thoughts of her having made a mistake in letting the stranger go playing over and over in her head.

She lifted her fingers to her lips. His had been so warm sur-prisingly soft despite their firmness. The fact he had dared to kiss

Chapter twO 31her made her stomach flip again, let alone that he had been so un-apologetic with it. The rush had been as intense as the touch of his hand a rush that flooded her again at the recollection. Shed been prepared for anything else, would have been staring down at his dead body for anything else, but a kiss was the last thing shed ex-pected. A kiss that had created sensations she had the feeling would linger for hours, if not days. And she wondered if her lips had trem-bled then like they did now; if he would have noticed.

Not that it mattered. Not that any of it mattered. He was gone.Where have you been? a familiar voice demanded.She flinched as Pummels chubby hand grabbed her upper arm

from behind just as she was only a matter of feet from turning right up the stairs. Her attention snapped to his semi-wrinkled grey eyes, his faint eyebrows lowered. His shaven, balding head glimmered in the muted artificial light, the strained veins in his thick neck draw-ing attention to the mallet tattooed there.

I needed some air.There was trouble behind the courtyards last night, he said,

leading her past the foot of the stairs and across to the exclusive lounge. Grayson and Tracker are dead necks broken. Three others are a mess. Got to have been a third species.

It was an easy conclusion to make let alone accurate. But shed been sure that the method shed used had left options wide open beyond her.

I dont want you wandering too far until I know more, he added.

Which meant her stranger had not yet been found. But if Pum-mel already had his crew out there, she could only hope hed high-tailed it as soon as shed left. The alternative didnt bear thinking about.

He kept a grip on her as he led her into the large lounge, the true sense of its size reduced by the claustrophobia created from the dark and heavy curtains to the left that permanently stayed closed over the bay window. This was where others came to do

Lindsay J. Pryor 32deals with Pummel away from prying eyes. This was where Pum-mel and his crew hung out when they werent out handling busi-ness, namely Pummels empire, on the streets of the south side of Blackthorn.

She took her assigned seat in the sofa chair that sat parallel to Pummels sofa his one of three doubles that sat in a messy horseshoe. This was where she sat alone night after night, her back to those curtains, to the world outside, trying to drown out their plans, their feats, the profanity, the gut-churning tales of violence and brutality and degradation, let alone the ones that were occa-sionally played out in front of her during one of their entertain-ment sessions.

But tonight was quiet. With little other than the low hum of voices from those who had earned their place in Pummels crew and who sat in clusters chatting over cards and drinks and joints, even the clink of the pool table to her far left could be heard merging with the drone.

Regardless, she pulled her earphones out from the side of the sofa as she always did. Only this time she didnt turn the music on. This time she needed to listen.

During their two-hour conference, amidst the toing and froing of verbal reports brought back to Pummel, there was no mention of any leads and no mention of their finding the stranger.

A paradox of relief and a crushing sense of disappointment en-twined inside as she crossed her legs up on the seat and rested a half-read novel in her lap. And with Pummels conversation gradually teetering o to other events, she turned up her music and started to read. But the words were nothing but letters without meaning, the distraction of what had happened between her and the stranger still too intense to brush aside yet, the recollections still as vivid as if he were still there with her as she kept flashing back to his kiss, his touch, the potential of the body that had closed in on her. Feelings that grew and intensified to the point where she had to look away from the jumble of letters in front of her.

Chapter twO 33Instantly her attention snapped to the right-hand side of the

room, to the open doorway. Her stomach flipped. Her chest burned.

He was leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the place her handsome stranger who wasnt going to stay handsome for much longer if Pummel looked up and noticed.

More intrepidly, he gave her a hint of a smile as if confirming, and enjoying, the dark secret held between them.

She silently cursed and glanced anxiously across at Pummel who was fortunately still locked in conversation around the alcohol and drug-strewn table. She warily looked back at the stranger again sent him a guarded glare in the hope hed take the hint, relying on whatever false sense of connection had been evoked by the rarity of what had happened between them.

But instead of backing away, he fleetingly raised his eyebrows just a fraction above his unflinching gaze. Worse, whatever was in his closed mouth, he was flipping it over and over with his tongue as if in contemplation.

If she moved, she would recapture Pummels attention. But if she stayed, and if the stranger approached her, tonight was about to get even bloodier than the one before.

And then Pummel would have questions. Questions that could jeopardise the only semblance of freedom she had left. Freedom she needed.This was not how it was supposed to work out.Anger crawled through her veins that the stranger wasnt only

risking himself, but her too. She wanted to march over, shove him away from the door, demand why hed ignored her advice; frus-trated at his arrogance, his ignorance of being seconds away from dicing with one of the most lethal cons in Blackthorn.

She glanced nervously back at Pummel. And this time her heart plummeted to see his narrowed grey eyes had now locked on the stranger, the flame burning down his match as he held it poised against the joint resting between his chunky lips.

Lindsay J. Pryor 34Her only relief was that the stranger had the sense to no longer

be looking at her.That relief was only momentary though when she saw that, in-

stead, he was staring back at Pummel directly into his eyes.

35

Chapter Three

It was a gamble calling her blu by turning up so blatantly. But for someone who had saved his life, who had let him go when she could have kept him trapped down in the lock-up, let alone who had reacted with shock and not a punch when he had kissed her, it was a calculated blu.

Coming face to face with her so soon on arrival had been an unexpected turn of events and, having seen her in action, knowing he was lucky to still be alive, Eden had had to restrain every sense of urgency in order to stay that way. Hed backed o when hed needed to in the lock-up when hed had to, or face losing her completely.

Now it was about getting close to her again. Because, as he stood watching her from the doorway, it wasnt just what he had wit-nessed in the alley, or the clues hed ascertained in the lock-up: her proximity to Pummel left him in no doubt she was the one.

A proximity that could also mean she knew something about crates hed seen taken in there.

Yet though she was sat with Pummels crew, there was something undeniably peripheral about her presence amongst them. Despite everyone being engaged with someone in the room, she remained alone, hunched over her crossed legs and absorbed in her book an activity that made her appear even more alien in that environment. It was as if no one took any notice of her. More so, it was as if the others were purposefully staying away from her. It created a sense of fragility about her, despite her deadliness a fragility that had intrigued him as much as the shock in her eyes as hed kissed her.

Lindsay J. Pryor 36Now he just needed to see if her loyalty to the notorious con was

as fallible as her willingness to save a stranger, let alone keep him alive, had shown.

So when she tucked those long dark ringlets behind her ear to reveal her pretty face fully, her gaze locking straight onto his the fact she knew precisely where to look further confirming she was far from human came the test of whether she truly would squeal as shed threatened to.

Hed made sure his exit was clear his route already planned to give him the greatest chance.

Her alarm was palpable as her startled eyes met his. Reassuring-ly, her instant wary glance in Pummels direction only confirmed her desperation to cover her tracks. Shed clearly been telling the truth when shed said any news of her speaking with him would end only one way. Only seemingly the consequences were grave for her too.

His angle was confirmed.Which was fortunate considering it took less than a minute later

for Pummel to also notice him.Muscular legs parted, shirt loose on his chunky body, Pummel

held the match poised at the end of his joint.Pummel aka Nathan Stark. Any con who was anyone didnt

go by their birth name in Blackthorn. They earned names based on their reputation, and Nathan Stark had undeniably earned his.

Two others sat to the left of him. The one immediately to his left was maybe in his early thirties, his floppy blonde hair scraggy over his forehead. Saul Harker. His crimes were mainly petty, but he had an unpleasant penchant for the vulnerable. His scarily high IQ would have no doubt proved useful to Pummel. Harker was nicknamed Chemist for one simple reason he was experimental with his victims, inflicting all sorts of concoctions for whatever purpose took his fancy.The one next to him had a shaved head like Pummels. He was

the youngest at late twenties. Troy Blackwell, aka Dice. Absent of conscience, he was eloquently able to justify every action he took

Chapter three 37by the flip of the cubes he kept in his pocket. He had a list of crimes from petty to downright violent.The one sat opposite Pummel was Lennie Masters. Of the same

stocky build though visibly younger by maybe ten years, Lennie, as his numbers suggested, had a streak as brutal as the scar that ap-peared from the side of his neck and, as Eden knew, spanned down to his stomach. He had survived the gutting attempt whilst still in the penitentiary; the three who had attempted it hadnt. He was known as Homer. He was Pummels right-hand man his intel-lectual adviser.This was Pummels main crew. And each pair of eyes rested on

him in succession.Eden crunched through the remainder of his mint, being mind-

ful not to look back at the girl as he crossed the room towards them.And the girl, from what he could see of her downturned head,

had equally opted to act smart and keep her curiosity to a mini-mum too.

If she was going to squeal, she was taking her time thinking about it.

As hed predicted, Homer stood instantly, squaring up in the horseshoe entrance to block Edens way. Despite his pued-up chest and jutted-out jaw, he still didnt meet Edens six-foot-one frame nor, more importantly, his relaxed composure. And it was the latter that evoked a hint of well-masked apprehension in Homer. More to the point, it had stirred Pummels curiosity enough to give his second in command the nod before finally lighting his joint.

Eden knew the routine. Without protest, he slipped his coat o. He handed it to Homer who promptly threw it at Chemist. Eden placed his hands behind his head, a stance that also exposed his forearms to the crew. He retained his calm but direct and unflinch-ing eye contact with Homer, just as he had with Pummel, just as he had with Grayson and the others trying to beat him to death in the alley. Along with the array of numbers now revealed, that would warn them he had the self-possession of someone used to conflict,

Lindsay J. Pryor 38used to standing up for himself. And that, he hoped, would increase the inquisitiveness he needed to create in Pummel. It also created a small but satisfying edge of wariness in Homer as the con proceeded to frisk him.

Guns in Blackthorn were rare, but knives were commonplace. Makeshift weapons were certainly frequent with the amount of iron and steel left lying around. But Eden wasnt stupid enough to go in there with a weapon just a small enticement he had gone to col-lect in the time hed had between the girl leaving and him arriving there. Because there was only one way he was getting close to her again and that was through Pummel.

Hes clean, Homer announced.Except for this, Chemist declared, pulling the packet out of

Edens inside jacket pocket.He tossed the clear plastic bag to Pummel whilst Homer re-

sumed his wary attention on Eden whod simultaneously dropped his hands casually back by his sides.

It only took a tilt of Pummels head in the direction of the va-cant seat opposite for Eden to know it wasnt a request.

Pummel threw the bag down on the table between them; gave Eden the quick once over as he watched him sit down. Lets take a proper look, he said o the back of a long exhale of his joint.

Like sharing war wounds, Eden upturned his inner forearm to reveal the full extent of the tattooed row of numbers that spanned from wrist to elbow.

Pummels eyes momentarily flared at what he would have deemed an impressive array of crimes even by his standards. Whats your name, kid?

Reece. Eden Reece. And Im guessing youre the one they call Pummel.

Holding Edens steady gaze, Homer resuming his seat, Pummel leaned back into the sofa again. Just arrived, huh?

And looking for a place to stay. I hear youre the man to ask.

Chapter three 39And you hear right. But lodgings here arent free nor an entitle-

ment.Nothing ever is.Pummel nearly smiled at that. But Eden knew only too well that

smiling wasnt always a good sign.Is that what this is about? Pummel asked, indicating at the

plastic bag between them.Its a sample, yes.Pummel raked his gaze slowly over Eden again. That array on

your arm tells me youre trouble. Real trouble.I am. But Im also real well connected as you can see. Ive no

doubt you know how hard it is to get your hands on that around here.Pummel stretched his free arm along the back of the sofa. So

youre here to make a deal.And, lucky for you, youre my first choice to make it with.Why me? Pummel asked.I only work with the top of the food chain.Pummel exhaled another steady stream from his joint. This

time his hint of a smile revealed undeniable flattery. And in re-turn?

Like I said, I need a place to stay.You strike me as the type that can look after themselves.As can you. But we both know the advantages of this kind of

set-up.Pummels eyes narrowed contemplatively. He exhaled a pu of

smoke that formed a distinct hoop in the air. You think you can handle working for me?

I can handle working for whoever pays me the highest price.Pummel leaned forward, poured himself a shot and poured one

for Eden too, shoving the glass towards him with his chubby finger-tips. Youve got guts, kid.

Eden leaned forward to accept the oering. Enough to tell you I dont like being referred to as a kid, he said, knocking the

Lindsay J. Pryor 40drink back in one, his gaze resting steadily on Pummels again as he placed the empty glass back on the table. Because play ball though he needed to, compromising by being the underdog had never been a pill he could swallow. Enough to want to make that clear at this stage.

Pummels eyes narrowed. Youre a long way from home, con. I dont know what kind of power you had wherever it is youre from or why they thought it better to send you here, but youre in my ter-ritory now so Ill call you whatever the fuck I want. And if this is go-ing to work, youll answer to whatever I call you. He leaned back in the sofa again, his elbows resting along the back as his glare locked on Eden. So let me know now if you still have a problem with that.

Eden stared right back, not even flinching under Pummels scru-tiny, at the prospect of being beaten to a pulp by his henchmen at any point. Depends, Eden remarked. Are your rooms en suite? Ive missed having my own bathroom.

Silence dropped like a two-tonne weight.But then Pummel laughed. Hard. Deep. He seemed genuinely

amused, albeit fleetingly. You prove yourself as useful as I think you might be, you can have an entire fucking floor to yourself.

It was Edens turn to smile. Throw in fresh linen and Ill prove exactly how useful I can be.

Pummel held his gaze on Eden in the painful moments that passed. Lets not get ahead of ourselves. He pued a few more smoke rings into the air. I need to make my mind up about you. Give myself a little time to think.

Eden leaned back in the sofa as if he held all the cards. Sure, he said, glancing across his right shoulder at the pool table. There were ways into every situation, and hed already sussed Pummel. At least he hoped he had. Besides, a cue in his hand would grant him the only semblance of a weapon should things turn nasty. Are you a pool man, Pummel? he asked, looking back at him.

I play, yeah.You want to play me while you do that thinking?

Chapter three 41Are you hoping for a wager? Pummel asked.Eden shrugged as he stood, leaving his jacket behind as if he

were amongst friends. Or we could play a game for the pleasure of the game, he said, passing through the gap in the sofa to cross the fifteen-foot room towards the pool table.

Are you any good? Pummel called after him.Across his shoulder, Eden flashed him a grin. Ill whip your

arse.Instead of being enflamed by the challenge, another smile crept

across Pummels lips. He held his hand up to indicate for Homer, Chemist and Dice to take it easy as he exhaled the remains of his joint before stubbing it out in the overflowing ashtray between them. Thankfully he stood, the others following behind him. If you manage to whip my arse, con, youll get a room until dawn.

Eden accepted the cue from one of the players who promptly took the hint to forego their game, leaving Eden to restock the table as Pummel approached. Sounds good to me.

Pummel grabbed his own cue from the other retreating player, before resting his hands on the table, staring Eden down as the lat-ter refilled the triangle. Dont you want to know whatll happen if you lose?

Eden shrugged. Not going to happen, he said, removing the triangle.

Pummel smirked. Best of three?Two games it is then, Eden said, flashing Pummel another

smile before bending over the table to break.