Page 87 of Poet & Protector

Turning from Nev, Logan closed in on me until he stood only a handbreadth away.

“Mason, Mason.” Logan clucked his tongue. “I thought we agreed you would seek me out when you arrived tonight. I even deigned to make an appearance on the dance floor, ensuring it would be easy for you to find me. Whatever could have kept you away?”

Logan waited for me to meet his gaze and then shot a pointed glance at Nev.

“Not hard to solve that puzzle, I’m afraid. How unfortunate.”

I dared to look at Nev. His eyes were wild as they flew from me to Logan and to me again.

It was so stupid to keep this from him; to think I could spare him. He deserved a warning instead of being caught so starkly unaware.

“I was naive to imagine you’d been untouched all this time,” Logan mused as his gaze moved slowly over my body before returning to my face. “How could you be, when you’re so…”

He lifted his hand to stroke my cheek.

Nev snarled and his fist rocketed toward Logan.

Instinct propelled me to react with what felt like impossible speed, intercepting Nev’s punch with my hand before the blow connected with Logan’s face. The force of the strike almost made me stagger, but I held my ground and tightened my grip.

The three of us froze in a bizarre tableau, with my arm and Nev’s locked in a struggle hovering over Logan’s outstretched hand.

No one moved. My eyes stayed fixed on Logan even as I dug my fingers into Nev’s fist. I’d done what I could to stop Nev from signing his own death warrant, but it likely wasn’t enough. My heart began to splinter as I waited for Logan to deliver punishment.

Surprise flared in the Keeper’s gleaming irises, chased by rage. Then his expression became serene, which was even more frightening than the vengeful anger I expected.

Logan began to laugh.

The sound shocked Nev out of his territorial trance and when he started to back away, I released his fist. Numbness spread through me as I watched him retreat. There was nowhere to go.

“Logan, please—” I whispered.

He silenced me with a sharp look then glanced at Nev before his eyes settled on me once more.

“How interesting. This…” Smiling, he spread his hands, the gesture including all three of us. “Is going to be fun.”

It was then that I realized Logan had no fear of Nev or me whatsoever. It didn’t matter that we were Guardians. He was a cat playing with captured mice and he would torment us as long as he liked before delivering a killing blow.

I watched the color drain from Nev’s face as he reached the same conclusion.

Logan opened his mouth to say something else but suddenly frowned and tilted his head, as if listening to a voice only he could hear. His eyes became unfocused as he concentrated on something distant and unknowable.

He blinked rapidly, his attention returning to the present circumstance. After surveying us once again with his glowing amber eyes, he released a regretful sigh.

“I’m needed elsewhere, so I’ll have to bid you goodnight. Rest assured, we’ll revisit this moment at a later time. I look forward to it.”

I expected him to say something more to me, or to touch me, knowing Nev wouldn’t dare attempt to stop him a second time. Instead, Logan turned away from me, locking eyes with Nev.

“Strike one, Neville,” he warned. “You’d best keep count.”

The Keeper’s fingers danced in a complicated series of movements. Mist swirled at his feet, forming a cloudlike platform that he stepped onto. The cloud rose, carrying Logan up to the catwalk. His footfalls rang on the metal walkway above. Then only the pulsing music of the club surrounded us.

I felt sick; my skin had gone clammy.

Nev came to my side. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head, throat full of gravel.

“What the fuck was that?” Nev asked. “What is Logan doing?”