Changeling (Book 1) Rated R

Chapter 16

I exhaled three times.

Three times before I realized Stefan was gone.

Then, shooting back into reality, I scampered to the man nearest to me.

It was Brandon who lay face down in the concrete. Using all the strength I could muster, I flipped him onto his back.

A groan left his lips as he came to.

With a pop, he snapped his neck back into place and I cringed, withdrawing back into myself.

"You're alive."

"You didn't think a little broken neck was going to stop me?" He said as he struggled to his feet.

"It looked pretty serious."

"For a human, maybe."

"Who the hell was that? Who the fucking hell was that guy?"

"That," Brandon said. "Is the soulsucker King, Stefan. Mortal nemesis of Reader Nation and also apparently deeply interested in getting a hold of you. Hey where's Chris?"

Brandon followed my gaze to the wall adjacent to the casino where Christian lay on the ground.

His body was in the fetal position and—

"Oh, no, Christian."

Both Brandon and I rushed toward him, Brandon arriving first.

The jagged pole had impaled his body and was now sticking out from his stomach.

Had I done this?

When I'd attacked Stefan with that—with that weird wave of power, had I made the pole impale Christian?

"We have to get it out of him." I said but Brandon was already on it.

"Once I do, you hold pressure to the wound, ok?"

I nodded my head furiously.

Christian's face was an extra shade of pale.

His eyes fluttered open.

"Stop. Stop Stefan...first."

"He's gone." I told him. "I scared him away."

"Not bad," He rasped. "For an emo girl."

"I think the words you're looking for are thank you."

Christian let out a chuckle which immediately turned into a fit of bloody coughs.

"I'm going to yank it out on three, cousin."

"One, two—" Brandon yanked the pole out where it came back slick with blood.

"What happened to three?" Christian growled.

"Better if you don't see it coming. You've lost a lot of blood. I think we should—"Brandon's head whipped around to look behind us.

I followed his gaze, terrified that I'd find Stefan standing there again.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Someone's coming. We need to get you out of here. What floor are you on?"

I told him.

"Go upstairs to the room and meet me there. I'll fly him up there."

"No. Stefan."

"Aimee can handle her own." Brandon interrupted. "She has to. We can't let anyone see this and I can't carry you both."

I nodded my head and spared one last glance at Brandon and Christian before heading for the casino doors.