Phoenix Contract: Part Five (Fallen Angel Watchers) by Melissa Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

rustle of movement in the background and wondered if she’d woken him. The sun had only barely set minutes before. “I’m on campus between the Admin building and Student Services, but I can’t stay put…” She froze in place as footsteps approached.
    The two males following her spoke in soft, incomprehensible tones. They grew closer and then walked right past Aiden’s hiding spot. She held her breath as they passed, and she didn’t move again until she could no longer hear them.
    “Aiden? Are they gone?” The Celt’s tone was urgent and demanding. “I’m coming.” A door slammed across the line, and she knew the second he made it outdoors he’d be airborne.
    “Yes, I’ve lost them for the moment,” Aiden said. “But I can’t stay in this hedge forever. How’re you going to find me?”
    “Do you still have the whistle?” he asked.
    Aiden muttered a muffled curse at her own stupidity and grabbed for the sterling silver chain around her neck. She jerked it free of her shirt and wrapped her hand around the small steel dog whistle.
    “I’ve got it,” she said, rising from her crouch. She peered around the edge of the hedge and down the pathway. It was clear in both directions.
    “Good, I’ll be there in a couple minutes.”
    “Kay, bye.” Aiden snapped the phone shut and shoved it into her pocket. Then she darted out onto the pathway and doubled back. She kept low enough to use the surrounding foliage as cover. She broke into a jog which made her purse bounce against her side with every stride. The heavy weight served as a grim reminder of the gun in her bag.
    A shout from behind her signaled that she’d been spotted. Giving up on staying low, Aiden straightened and sprinted down the pathway toward the Admin Building. Unfortunately, it wasn’t dark enough yet to lose them, but with any luck, she could evade her pursuers long enough for Magnus to arrive.
    The irony of turning to Magnus—a proven killer—for protection wasn’t lost on Aiden, but she couldn’t afford to indulge idealism at the expense of practicality. Magnus had committed at least one terrible crime in his questionable past, but that didn’t change the fact that Mariah’s murder had been five hundred years ago.
    Living in the here and now, Aiden desperately wanted to believe that the Celt had changed. She wasn’t going to allow herself to forget what Magnus had done, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and she was about as in-over-her-head-and-in-need-of-help as they got.
    Ahead on the path where the vegetation ended, a man stepped out from behind a hedge and blocked her path. Realizing with renewed fear that there was more than just two men after her, Aiden stumbled and missed her stride.
    “I see you’ve been leading those two on a wild goose chase, but I’ve caught you!” The man in front of her sprouted an irrepressible grin and spread his arms as if they were playing tag.
    The large man in his early twenties had red hair and gold-flecked hazel eyes. A smattering of freckles like scattered paint covered his nose and cheeks. His wide grin showed off even rows of gleaming white teeth, and the mischief in his eyes gave the impression of an unfailing good nature.
    He appeared to regard their current situation as a game, but Aiden lacked both his perspective and his cheerfulness. She was frightened, angry, and inclined to inflict some bodily harm.
    The voices of the men behind her grew louder and closer, and Aiden reached a hasty decision. She had better odds against one opponent than two. Rushing forward, Aiden attempted to dart past the man in front of her.
    Of course, it was a long shot, and she wasn’t surprised when an arm wrapped around her waist. Laughing, the man lifted her off her feet and maintained only a loose hold. Obviously, he didn’t regard her as a physical threat. Either that, or he was a careless idiot. Maybe both.
    “Calm down, I’m not going to hurt you,” he said.
    “Really? Cause I’m gonna hurt