Free Not Quite Dead (A NightHunter Novel) by Stephanie Rowe Page B

like him. Having David like him made it harder to be smart and keep her distance.
    After a moment, the men shook hands again. David turned away to answer a question from a patron at the next table, and Eric sat down in his seat, studying her with great interest. No longer was he all about languid sex, or the relaxed chumminess she'd seen with David. He was alert and interested. The expression on his face was almost curious.
    "What?" she asked.
    He cocked his head, studying her. "He's not the kind of person I'd have thought you'd pick for a lifelong best friend. He's too—" His body suddenly changed. He became rigidly tense, and sat up abruptly. He scanned the room, looking past her, as if there was something hunting her. "Let's go."
    "You want to leave?" At his nod, her chest tightened at his visible tension, unsure what had suddenly put him on alert. She glanced at David as he started to head back toward the bar. "Okay, but wait a sec. David? Didn't you want to talk about something?"
    He hesitated, then his gaze flicked toward Eric. "Later."
    So he didn't entirely trust Eric after all? He trusted Eric with her safety, but not whatever it was he wanted to discuss with her? That didn't make sense. "David—"
    "Later," he repeated, with a meaningful shake of his head.
    Jordyn glanced at Eric, and saw he was watching the exchange very intently. He was still tense, but for the moment, he'd focused his attention on them. Chills rippled down her spine, and she suddenly felt claustrophobic. She didn't want to be that closely scrutinized by any man, but especially Eric. He was too intense. That was why she had connected so well with Tristan, because he was fun and easygoing, not some testosterone junkie with too much muscle. "Okay, fine. Should I come by tomorrow?"
    "No." David shook his head. "I'll call you. What's your cell phone?"
    She rattled it off to him, and by the time she was done, Eric already had her arm and was propelling her toward the door. Irritated, she twisted her arm out of his hold. "What's the rush?"
    "Do you hear it?"
    She shivered at the dark undertone of his voice. Her instincts fired on, and her skin prickled in sudden fear. "Hear what?"
    He shouldered the door open and stepped out into the dark night, pulling her with him. He shoved the door shut, and the night descended upon them. "Listen . "

Chapter 6
    The screen door swung shut behind them, clattering gently against the battered wooden doorframe. Eric's fingers were light around her elbow, and he scanned the woods around them, his gaze intent, and his entire body taut with readiness.
    The night was dark, the moon barely reaching through the thick tangle of trees ahead. Heavy dampness hung thick in the air, clinging to Jordyn's flesh. The parking lot was half-empty, and the remaining vehicles were mostly old pickup trucks, trying to hold together for one more day. Behind them, she could hear the hum of insects in the swamp, a buzzing that reverberated through the dark night. "Listen to what? The insects?"
    "No." He moved closer to her, pulling her into the shield of his body.
    Something flashed in his hand, and she saw that he was holding a knife against his thigh. It looked like an ancient weapon, with runes carved in the blade and on the handle. There was a black stone embedded at the end of the handle, and it was glistening even though it was dark out. It almost looked like it was glowing with a faint green light...and so did the blade? Frowning, she looked closer, and she saw that there were shadows undulating in the blade, as if it were alive. Her heart started to hammer. "Eric, what is that?"
    " Listen. "
    The edge to his voice made her stiffen, and she looked around again. The dirt road was empty, disappearing on the far side into thick woods and marsh. The shadows loomed dark and menacing, just like they had when she was a kid. Suddenly, memories of the monsters that lived in the bayou came flooding back, and she shut her eyes, cutting off the