Speculation was stamped onto her features, but Merc said no more. Yeah, no doubt she knew he needed Hadrien because of a bound, but knowing and confirming were two different things, and they both had drilled into them that you never, ever confirmed. As if reading his mind, she didn’t ask, didn’t wait for any further explanations, but said, “I’ll do what I can.” The business part was over, and Nemesis seemed to sense this, because now her eyes lit up with an unholy gleam. “Do I get to meet your guest now? Very curious to see what the little girl that has you actin’ all sorts of ways is like.”
All those years of hard training were worth it, because it meant he didn’t blush like a schoolboy under that almost manic grin. “I’ll save introductions for later, when this has passed.”
“Is she cute? I mean, I might be willing to take her off your hands…”
“Stop.” Merc walked over and cuffed her around the back of her neck, the move familiar between the two of them, but even with that history, there was that split-second of tension, of muscles poised to jump into action should the need arise.
Then trust, and peace, and Nemesis accepted the gesture with a gentle elbow to his ribs. “I’ll be back in touch with an update.”
“Thanks.”
With a touch of fingers to her forehead in a small salute, she backed away and disappeared as she had arrived.
There was no need to see Rhaum on the way out. His business here was concluded, and he needed to get out.
Merc went back to the hallway, only to find Amana gone.
Chapter Seventeen
‡
“Merc bound me to the chair with some sort of magic–”
“I know,” interrupted the man. “I can feel it. It’s not familiar to me, but it’s not that strong. I should be able to remove within a minute.”
“I don’t know if we have a minute,” said Amana, glancing back the way Merc and Whisper had left. “I don’t know what’s going on back there.”
The man didn’t reply. He held his hands on either side of her waist, not touching her, but too close for her to be comfortable with. Considering he was rescuing her, though, she should maybe relax her standards about that this one time.
Amana had no ability to feel magic, but the man’s face was strained and his breaths were coming in short puffs. From the way he was looking, perhaps Merc’s magic was tougher than he thought it would be. If he didn’t look so strained, she’d ask him his name. It felt weird being rescued when you couldn’t thank the person properly afterward.
It was more than a minute, but the binding around her waist lessened, dissipating into the air, and she was free. There was no time to say anything. The moment the spell was completely gone, he grabbed her arm and half-ran with her through the back hallway and moving once again into the club, he led her straight to the front door.
His car was a beat up muscle car, but it could have been a garbage truck for all she cared. Freedom was hers. Granted, she’d have to dump this guy and head off the moment the first opportunity arose since she was not going to let herself under the Guild’s tender mercies, but right now only relief and gratitude were rushing through her. “How did you find me?”
There was no discernable pattern to his driving. He made abrupt turns and now, was making an illegal U-turn. He gave a quick flick over her body before turning his attention back to the road. “You stood out when you entered the club.” So much for thinking she was being too hard on her hair and clothing. “The Guild put a notice out on you, and when I saw you tied down, everything fell into place. I knew I needed to take a chance and get you out.”
“So, wait, you mean you’re not a member of the Guild?” Unsettlement roiled through her. Even if she wasn’t happy about the thought of being with the Guild again, they were a known quantity and she knew what to expect from then. This man was a blank, and she had enough uncertainty these last several hours.
“No.”
Amana’s stomach began to hurt and worry crept through her. “So why did you get me if you’re not Guild?”
“They have a substantial reward for your rescue.”
“Oh.” Amana pushed back the worry. It didn’t matter he wasn’t a traditional knight in white armor, charging to her rescue. Whether doing it for a reward or doing it because it was the right thing to do, it didn’t make a difference to her. She was escaping the first free moment as it was, all she needed him for was to get her away. “So where are we meeting them?”
“We’re not.”
“What the-” The car’s leather seat expanded and shifted under her, and two tight bands of leather strapped themselves around her waist and chest, trapping her against the seat. Amana kicked out, shifting and pulling, but to no avail. She had little wiggle room and the leather held fast.