Shadow's Awakening: The Shadow Warder Series, Book One (An Urban Fantasy Romance Series) (28 page)

Conner was used to the display of wealth in the Citadel, but he’d never felt comfortable with it. He’d been born in a small fisherman’s cottage. Most of his life had been spent in the field or teaching at the North American Academy. While the Academy was well-appointed and didn’t lack for amenities, it still had more in common with the fort Hannah had imagined than with a luxury office building.

Drawing to a stop before a heavy wooden door, Conner dropped a quick double knock before he swung it open. Leading Hannah through the entryway, hand still on her lower back, he eased them out of the hallway and shut the door quietly behind them.

Alexa sat behind a wide desk of black lacquered wood. In her dark gray designer suit, pale blond hair in a severe bun, she looked more like a corporate lawyer than a Warder. Conner had always thought the desk far too big for her slight frame. At first glance, she often seemed a child playing dress-up instead of an adult Warder of more than a century. She might be small, but she’d been an accomplished soldier in the few years she’d spent in the field.

Conner supposed if she’d stuck with her calling he might have respected her. He’d had handlers in the past who were former soldiers, tired of the fight and ready to use their skills in other ways. Alexa had walked away from the field in search of a different kind of glory—the status and power of Warder politics. Her father was one of the Directorate and head of the North American Academy. Another Warder who had left the field in favor of political power.

While most Warder parents didn’t linger in their offspring’s lives beyond their early years, Alexa’s father had been seen around the Citadel a few times a year since she’d been stationed in Charlotte. Between her lack of field experience, small stature and hovering father, most of the soldiers she oversaw barely tolerated her presence. Alexa responded by treating them like lackeys, an attitude that worsened her ability to control her charges.

If she’d had less experienced Warders under her supervision, they might have already run into serious problems. Conner was never sure why Michael put up with her. Michael wasn’t Conner’s favorite member of the Directorate—too calculating and distant—but he ran a tight ship. Conner had thought he would have foisted Alexa off on another Citadel by now in favor of a handler with more experience. Maybe he liked the way she kissed his ass. Since Michael hadn’t gotten rid of her yet, Conner was forced to endure her insincere smile as the door closed behind them.

“You must be the Shadow Kiernan called about. Welcome. Please sit down.” Alexa rounded the desk, hand out. Hannah gave it a hesitant shake before taking a seat at Alexa’s gesture. Alexa stood at the corner of the desk, attention on Hannah. She hadn’t spared more than a single icy glance for Conner.

“Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink?” she asked.

“No, thank you,” Hannah said quietly, looking quickly at Conner.

“Have you called the Shadows to come get her?” Conner asked, wanting to move this along. Hannah seemed to grow more uncomfortable with each passing second, her back straightening, muscles stiffening with tension.

“I’ve made all the appropriate calls, Conner. Someone should be here shortly.” Turning to face him, she said, “I’d like to see you in the hall for a moment before you go.”

Assuming he’d follow, Alexa moved for the door. Hannah shot Conner an alarmed glance. She looked no more ready for goodbye than he was. Before he followed Alexa out the door and out of Hannah’s life, Conner stopped to give her shoulder a squeeze.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said. “I promise.”

Hannah looked away from him, her dejection sending a bolt of pain through his gut. Everything in him screamed that walking out of the room was wrong. He should toss her over his shoulder and steal her away from here. Knowing that his intuition had to be wrong, Conner followed Alexa into the hall.

Hannah couldn’t hear what Alexa was saying to Conner, but she did catch the sound of angry voices. Whatever it was, the woman wasn’t happy. A few moments passed before the door opened again and Alexa reentered the room. Taking a seat behind her enormous desk, she smiled at Hannah. Her face looked open and friendly. Hannah wasn’t buying it. Alexa’s eyes were calculating, giving Hannah the sense that Alexa was trying to figure out the best way to twist Hannah’s unexpected presence to benefit herself. Uneasy, Hannah looked out the window.

In truth, she was having trouble catching her breath. Though she’d known the moment was coming, Conner walking out the door with no more than a shoulder squeeze was excruciating. Since her mother’s death, she’d lived with a constant sense of abandonment. Conner’s departure, the heavy office door closing with finality, left Hannah feeling as if her chest had been scooped out with a dull spoon, gnawingly empty and raw. He’d left and he wasn’t coming back.

She forced herself to take a slow deep breath. Alexa was talking to her, but Hannah had no idea what she’d been saying. Until Hannah was sure it was safe, she had to keep her head on straight. The only person she knew she could trust was Conner and he was gone. Time to get it together. Somehow she’d have to shove aside the overwhelming pain and make it through the next few hours.

“I’m sorry, I missed what you said.” Hannah tried to give Alexa an easy smile, hoping she hadn’t zoned out for too long.

“Conner picked you up hitchhiking? Around here?” Alexa asked, eyes bright and interested. It unnerved Hannah to be the focus of that curious gaze. After Conner’s honest, straightforward manner, Alexa’s shifts between annoyance and brittle charm felt forced.

“Not around here. Closer to Thomasville,” Hannah answered, giving the name of the town Conner had suggested.

“Why were you hitchhiking? Did you have some trouble?” Alexa shifted to sit on the edge of her desk, leaning in toward Hannah in a manner she probably thought invited Hannah to confide in her. Instead, Hannah felt crowded. Trying not to be obvious about it, she leaned backward into her chair.

“Kind of. I’ve been sick. Headaches. Conner said he knew what was wrong and that he’d take me to people who could help me.”

“And you just got in the car with him? You’d never seen him before?” Alexa asked, leaning even closer.

“I wasn’t really thinking straight,” Hannah said, aware that her story made her sound like a complete idiot. “But it seems like it worked out for the best. How long will I have to wait?”

“Not long.” Alexa left her perch on the edge of the desk and moved to sit behind it, clearly unsatisfied with Hannah’s answers. “Do you have anyone who will be looking for you? Family or friends you need to call?”

“No,” Hannah said. The more this woman prodded her, the more likely she’d say something wrong that might get Conner in trouble. Better to shut off all conversation now.

“My head still hurts,” Hannah lied. “If it’s okay with you, I’m just going to rest my eyes for a few minutes.”

Without waiting for a response from Alexa, Hannah leaned into the back of her chair and closed her eyes. Alexa’s irritation filled the room. Oh well. Alexa was a stranger she’d never see again. Making her happy wasn’t at the top of Hannah’s list of things to do. She heard the click of computer keys, footsteps echoing in the hall. Minutes passed slowly.

Hannah became aware that she could feel her connection to Conner, deep down and very faint, but there nonetheless. Weird. She wondered if he felt her as well, or if it really was all on her side. Maybe she could ask him. Later, when she was settled in with the Shadows, she might use that phone number he’d given her. The thought of the small slip of paper in her pocket eased the emptiness inside her from watching him walk away.

Hannah couldn’t recall the address, but the number was imprinted in her mind like a talisman. Conner’s goodbye might have seemed distant and sudden, but she had his phone number. Surely if he’d wanted to leave her behind completely, he wouldn’t have given her a way to get in touch. For now, Hannah was going to hold on to that. Wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn’t hear anyone coming until the door swung open. She sat up with a jolt, stiffening at the shock of ice cold that stabbed through her. Alexa was similarly surprised by the newcomer. She jumped to her feet, rushing around the side of the desk.

A tall man stood in the doorway, wearing a dark suit and a calm smile that didn’t match the tension in his shoulders. Around Conner’s height, but with a leaner frame, he had an expensive haircut, layered carefully over elegantly handsome features. He gave the impression that he’d be just as comfortable in a country club as he would behind a desk. The man’s polished appearance sent a flash of unease through her chest. Conner was honest—he was what he appeared to be. These people weren’t anything like what they seemed to be. They were supposed to be part of an ancient force protecting mankind from demons. Instead they both looked like bankers. Or lawyers.

“Michael,” Alexa gushed. “We’ve been waiting for you. She’s ready to go.”

Hannah was taken aback by Alexa’s sudden warmth and eagerness to please. Clearly this man was higher on the totem pole than Alexa. Hadn’t Conner said he was one of their leaders? With a slight shake of her head, Hannah got to her feet. She was getting tired of waiting and being shuffled from one Warder to another. It was time to meet the Shadows and get out of here. Being with Conner had felt like coming home. Without him it felt odd to be surrounded by strangers, like wearing a wool sweater that was a little too small. She started in surprise when Michael took her elbow in a tight grip.

“That will be all, Alexa. I’ll take it from here.” As he led Hannah into the hall, he turned back to Alexa, “I trust you won’t speak of this.”

“Of course not, sir,” Hannah heard through the closing door. Remembering Alexa’s tone of voice when she’d dressed Conner down, a small part of Hannah couldn’t help but like the abrupt way she’d been dismissed.

“I’m Michael,” the Warder holding her elbow said, leading her back down the hallway she’d come through with Conner just a half hour before. “I’m one of the Directorate and the head of this Citadel. I understand Conner found you hitchhiking?”

“Yes,” Hannah answered. She heard the doubt in his voice. No one seemed to be buying their story. Probably because it wasn’t very good. She gave a mental shrug. Did it matter? She’d be gone soon enough. “Are you taking me to meet the Shadows now?”

“In a moment. Do you have a name?” With a nudge, he led her around the corner, back to the freight elevator.

“It’s Hannah.”

“Just Hannah?” he asked. His tone was calm, but implacable.

Hannah got the sense she was better off just answering his questions. Michael did not strike her as a man who would tolerate a smartass. He wasn’t strong and broad like Conner, but he radiated a dark power that was intimidating. It didn’t feel evil or wrong like the Vorati, but it wasn’t comfortable.

“Hannah Green,” she said.

“How long were you wandering on the road? Are there family or friends we need to call?”

“Not long. It’s okay, we don’t have to call anyone.” That was the second time she’d been asked about family or friends. It was unsettling.

If they were passing her over to the Shadows, why were they so concerned if she had people waiting on her? Unless they were just being nice. Conner wouldn’t have left her with these people if he thought she’d be in danger. Despite that, Hannah couldn’t help a growing sense of unease. Michael led her back into the elevator. Instead of hitting one of regular buttons for another floor, he inserted a small key into a lock on the lower edge of the panel. When he turned the key, the elevator door slid shut with a jolt. The elevator jerked into gear, traveling down at a faster pace than she’d remembered it moving when she’d ridden up with Conner. Hannah braced for the elevator to stop as they approached the lowest floor. Her discomfort grew when they passed the garage level and continued to drop beneath the building.

“Where are we going?” she asked. “I thought you were taking me to the Shadows.”

Michael didn’t answer. He turned to face her, a triumphant smile stretching his lips.

“No, not quite. I have another purpose for you, Hannah,” Michael said with more animation than he’d shown so far.

Hannah barely had time to absorb his words when she saw the glint of a syringe in Michael’s hand. She tried to dodge, but the elevator was too small. Two panicked steps and her back slammed into the metal wall, just as the elevator finally came to a stop. Opening her mouth to scream for help, she twisted away as Michael’s strong hand closed around her hair. Her head jerked to the side, baring the vulnerable skin of her neck. A sharp prick, a pause while she struggled, and darkness fell. Hannah was vaguely aware of her knees turning to water as she collapsed into Michael. Then she wasn’t aware of anything at all.

Chapter Seventeen