Read Online Veiled Target (A Veilers Novel) by Robin Bielman - Free Book Online Page B

thinking. He quieted the chatter in his head, not wanting to take advantage of the situation. If he gave into it once, it would be that much easier the next time, and he’d prided himself on keeping his connection to people as human as possible.
    Temptation, however, beckoned him like it never had before. Tess was quite possibly the most infuriating, sexy and adventurous woman he’d ever met.
    “I need to get a move on,” he said, breaking the silence and stepping away.
    “I get to ask one more question.”
    Hugh looked over his shoulder. “I believe you just asked it.”
    She hadn’t budged.
    He wheeled around and, without warning, tossed her back over his shoulder.
    “Hey! Put me down!” she wailed.
    Fists met his back while he tried not to let his hands roam too much. Or enjoy the feel of her body squirming against his. “You done?”
    “Yes.” She surrendered, her body relaxing.
    Once again on solid ground and falling in step beside him, she added, “You’re so going to pay for that.” Tugging her dress back into position, she let out a rankled sigh. “Believe me buddy, as fast as you want to be rid of me, I want to be rid of you faster.”
    “Could’ve fooled me.”
    “Shmuck,” she whispered under her breath, obviously unaware that he could hear a pin drop. “So Night Runner, why would someone want to kidnap your friend?”
    “That’s a good question. One I…” He halted and put a firm hand on Tess’s arm. His senses perked up. An acidic smell touched his nose. Whispers of breath, raspy and gruff, touched his ears. Someone or something was close. Very close.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked, no hint of fear in her voice.
    He looked around but saw nothing. Whatever was out there was very good at masking itself. “Nothing.” With his hand on her arm, he moved them forward with caution. “And to answer your question, I don’t know. I met you tonight because I thought you might be able to shed some light on the situation.”
    “How the hell could I do that? I just met you.”
    “Yeah. About that.” Only a few hundred more feet and they’d be out of the alley, closer to a safer part of town. Shit. Was he walking them toward danger or away from it?
    “About what?” She didn’t seem to mind his hand on her arm. In fact, she lifted it and put her arm underneath his to join them in stronger companionship.
    That small gesture was all it took to convince him to tell her the truth. “My name’s not Trey. Trey is my missing friend. My name’s Hugh. Hugh Langston.”
    She doubled over at his admission, breaking their arm connection. Choking sounds and attempts to catch her breath followed. “Hugh. Langston.” She uttered his name like it was laced with poison.
    Before he could reply to her charming echo of his name, the source of his apprehension made an appearance. With a thump that shook the ground, a savage, shaggy, burnt-orange-haired Banoth dropped from above in front of them. How the hell the giant had gone unnoticed was beyond him, but here he was.
    “What the—”
    “No time, Tess.” He yanked her behind him then turned and grabbed her hand. “Run!”

Chapter Five
    Holy shit.
    Tess hated hearing the word run . She didn’t mind the act of doing so, just despised the fact that when yelled, it meant someone or something was chasing her. And she hated being chased.
    But more than being chased, she hated not knowing what the hell was in hot pursuit of her ass.
    He looked like a wooly mammoth on two feet—thick, clubbed feet, which right now moved too swiftly for his big size. Long hair hung over his extremely tall body, and spiraling, jagged horns protruded from his oversized head. Lips like an orangutan’s spread all the way across his face while thick saliva sputtered from his mouth. Hair covered his eyes too, allowing only a peek at his red, crazy stare. Yes, it was a he, she decided. No female creature would wear a beard that hideous.
    With another quick glance over her