Sing for the Dead (London Undead) Read Online Free Page B

least. The brownie was no threat for certain and he’d only had a short time to assess the fae woman’s character but he was a good judge.
    He’d better be. He always forgot how fast Maisie was on those crutches.
    He only had enough time to dash down the hallway after her and slip into the treatment room as she came to a halt.
    “Hello.” Maisie cocked her head as she studied the fae woman.
    The sound of drawn steel rang through the room.
    “Now that’s a bad idea in a treatment room.” Maisie had a .38 Super handgun out. Her crutches fell to the floor with a clang . “A better idea would be for you to put that away, and I’ll put this away and we’ll talk as if we weren’t dangerous people.”
    Females. Was it any wonder males would rather throw themselves into the face of danger than deal with two strong women in a tiny room?
    “The dual-natured carry weapons now?” The fae woman’s words were brittle with distrust, but there was hesitation too. She edged to the end of the hospital bed, clear of her brownie companion and Brian but not closer to Maisie.
    Maisie’s hands remained steady, the gun never wavering. Everything about her body language projected wary readiness but her scent was spiced with a hint anger. “I’ve only recently made the Change. Old habits are hard to give up, especially the prudent ones. Besides, I can put a bullet in you faster than you can slice me.”
    “I thought this was a place of healing.” The woman didn’t look at Kayden, but her tone made it clear she felt betrayed.
    Kayden narrowed his eyes. Despite holding her swords at the ready, the woman was loose and her muscles appeared limber. She might not be able to cut Maisie first but she probably could dodge the bullet and close the distance.
    He moved between them to prevent further escalation, only to be knocked back a few steps by a blur of dark-furred testosterone.
    Bollocks.
    Kayden’s leopard rose to the edge of his control as he spun to face Seth.
    “Who are you?” The questioned rolled free with a loud growl from Seth’s phase-form, directed toward the fae woman.
    Kayden stood tall, keeping his fae behind him as he faced the werewolf. Hard to keep an eye on Maisie where she leaned to one side behind Seth, trying to maintain a clear shot. “Let’s everyone calm down.”
    Easy to say. Harder to set the example. He wouldn’t back down until Seth did. Instead he kept his voice steady and didn’t shift. Shifting would take too long in any case.
    “I’ve been remiss in my introductions.” Kayden held his hands up, palms out. Seth glared at him. At least the other shape-shifter wasn’t attacking. Kayden half turned to face them all. He kept his gaze on Seth, but aimed his words at the fae woman. “This is Seth, alpha of the London pack, and his mate, Maisie.”
    Safe enough to offer their given names. Nowadays, names could be shed as easily as clothing. This fae would need to know at least one, and more likely three, of the full given and surnames any of them had gone by for a significant portion of their lifetimes to bind any of them in a true naming. Funny the way names and numbers held such power over a person.
    A sigh broke the momentary silence.
    “This is a place of healing. It’s also a place of survival.” Maisie echoed the fae woman’s earlier accusation. Oy, she did have a fine way of clearing things up. “And we are here to help. The only violence offered is in equal measure to what you give.”
    Silence. Again.
    “Not many mortals have a gift for the truth.” After another hesitation, the woman sheathed her sword. “I am...anxious.”
    And wasn’t that the closest to an apology he’d ever heard of a fae offering?
    “From the looks of it, you have every right to be.” Maisie had stowed her handgun as well and bent to retrieve her crutches. Suddenly, she was just a wisp of a woman again.
    It was a wonder Seth’s muzzle hadn’t gone grey dealing with such a mercurial mate.
    And how in hell