Free Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall Page B

happened?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she murmured.
    Their hearts had just . . . burst from their chests.
    â€œHave you ever seen anything like that before?” he asked.
    She started to shake her head, then froze.
    â€œWhat?” Ethan prodded. “What is it?”
    Zach . Zach had once instantly and simultaneously killed over a dozen mortal men, who would have captured her otherwise, by giving them ruptured brain aneurisms.
    She looked around.
    â€œLisette?” Ethan raised his weapons. He probably thought she had heard something or that more vampires lurked nearby.
    But Lisette sought someone far more dangerous . . .
    She sucked in a sharp breath as her gaze landed upon him.
    There. Leaning against the corner of the building, a shadow among shadows, the darkness broken only by the bright white bandages that covered his many wounds.
    â€œZach,” she breathed.
    Ethan’s head snapped around. His brows drew down. “What?”
    Sheathing her weapons, she strode forward.
    Ethan’s boots pounded the pavement behind her, then crunched in the dry grass as she left the path.
    Zach didn’t straighten as they approached. Lisette wondered if he even could. He looked no better than he had when she had left him earlier tonight.
    Tilting her head back, she met his gaze. “What are you doing here?” she asked softly.
    Perspiration dotted his brow. “I sensed you were in danger.”
    â€œI’m fine. I fight vampires every night.”
    He lifted a hand and brushed his index finger down her bruised cheek, sending tingles of excitement dancing through her. “He hurt you.”
    Beside her, Ethan raised an eyebrow. “And so you telekinetically ripped his heart from his chest?”
    Lowering his hand, Zach looked at Ethan. “Yes.”
    Ethan sighed. “Okay. I’m liking you a little more now,” he grudgingly admitted.
    Zach’s expression didn’t change as he studied the younger immortal.
    â€œYou should be home, Zach,” Lisette admonished gently. “You haven’t healed. You should be resting.”
    He abandoned his scrutiny of Ethan and fastened those penetrating brown eyes on her. “ Your home?” A golden spark entered his gaze. “Your bed? That’s where I was when I awoke, wasn’t it? Your bed? It carried your scent.”
    For some reason, heat rushed to her face. “Yes.”
    â€œHow did I get there?”
    â€œYou don’t remember?” She avoided looking at Ethan, who drank in every word, every nuance in tone.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’ll tell you later,” she promised, unwilling to say too much in front of their avid audience. She glanced over Zach’s shoulder at the wings Bastien had splinted and bandaged so carefully. “How did you get here? You couldn’t have flown.”
    â€œI teleported.”
    The fact that he had retained the strength to do so despite his severe injuries indicated just how powerful this immortal was.
    â€œThen teleport back. To my home, I mean. Go back to bed. Get some rest. I’ll be there shortly.”
    â€œIt isn’t safe.”
    â€œYes, it is,” she assured him. “My Second is staying at David’s home and won’t return until I call her. No one else will be there.”
    â€œI meant it isn’t safe for you. If the Others come looking for me—”
    â€œWhat others?” Ethan interrupted.
    Irritation flickered across Zach’s handsome face.
    Lisette hastened to speak up. “Do you mean the ones who did this to you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWouldn’t they have already found you if they could?”
    â€œI’ve only been gone a couple of hours. Given a little more time, they should—”
    â€œZach,” she corrected gently, “you’ve been at my place for almost twenty-four hours.”
    He stared at her. “What?”
    â€œIt’s been twenty-four hours,