Free Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum) by Madhuri Blaylock

that you need my help? Well duh, genius. It’s not every night I find you wandering the streets of the Lower East Side, carrying what appears to be a stunningly beautiful girl, but is in fact not a girl at all, but some kind of hybrid creature, the likes of which I have never encountered, but good lord, I would not mind running into some time.
    “And you, look at you,” Darby ran her eyes up and down him, “all hot and bothered but as usual, in complete denial. Which is fine with me, sweetie, I understand that’s your way and I respect it, but don’t you dare look me in the eyes, wanting my help and then tell me one word of what I’m saying is wrong.”
    Wyatt wouldn’t dare do that. For one, he wanted to see the next sunrise and the fact of the matter was he needed Darby’s help.
    “For the record,” Wyatt walked up the steps and into the house, “you’ve seen me wandering the streets late at night quite a bit. I’ve felt you watching me.”
    Darby smacked him in the back of the head as he passed, closing and locking the door safely behind them. He laughed as he headed into her parlour and gently laid Dev on a chaise lounge, finally able to relax his arms. Darby came and stood next to him, looking down on Dev as she slept.
    “You certainly know how to pick them.”
    Wyatt half-heartedly smiled.
    “I had nothing to do with it. I promise.”
    Darby raised an eyebrow in his direction.
    “Sweetheart, if I saw you headed my way, I would fall out in a second if it meant you’d come to my rescue.”
    “If I’m not mistaken, the first time we met, you did see me headed your way and tried your very best to drain me. There was no falling-out-waiting-to-be-rescued scenario going down. There was only kill or be killed.”
    “Ah yes, one of my lower moments and one I’m not proud of,” Darby walked into the kitchen, returning with two glasses of scotch, “but that was deranged-throat-ripping Darby. I’m a new woman these days and trust me, you, honey, can rescue me any time you want.”
    Dev stirred slightly on the chaise but continued sleeping.
    “Did you slip her something? She is sleepin’ the sleep of the dead.”
    Darby leaned in close to Dev and inhaled deeply, taking in her very essence.
    “Do not even think about it, Darby.”
    Wyatt’s voice behind her was devoid of any humor.
    “I already told you I wouldn’t dream of it, loverboy,” Darby turned and grinned at Wyatt, all the while still leaning close to Dev, “she’s not my type, anyway. I like them human, not some magical mish-mash. But hot damn if she isn’t the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. And she smells like heaven. How do you control yourself around her?”
    Wyatt leaned back into his chair and took a sip of his drink.
    “When have you ever known me not to be in complete control?” he asked with a smirk.
    “How about right now, mister?”
    “Who says I’m not in control?”
    Darby sauntered over to him and took a seat on his lap, draped a cold arm around him and lightly tickled the skin up and down his neck.
    “Honey, you just walked into my house, carrying in your arms the cause célèbre of your beloved Sanctum. Enemy number one. The Hybrid,” she whispered into his ear, so low and sultry he had to lean into her to catch her words, “if that’s not being a little out of control, then I don’t know what is.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
     
     
    Jools slunk down the hall of the West wing of the Academy, hoping no one would hear her and she could catch Ryker before he started his day. She passed several doors until she reached his at the end of the hall, directly across from her brother. Of course, the two of them would be right across the hall from each other, close to the training facilities and away from her parents. Whatever Wyatt and Ryker wanted, The Sanctum provided. Jools rolled her eyes as she stood in front of Ryker’s door, knowing she shouldn’t feel annoyed, but succumbing to the emotion