Severed by Sarah Alderson Read Free Book Online Page B

hair dishevelled and her hands buried deep in the pockets of the blood-spattered trousers he’d been wearing the night before.
    ‘I need a phone,’ she said as soon as he appeared in the doorway. She sounded afraid. Her bottom lip was trembling slightly.
    ‘What’s up? Who do you need to call?’ he asked.
    ‘My mum,’ she said, stumbling to her feet. ‘My mum, Lucas! I forgot to call my mum. Crap, what time is it?’ she asked, her head whipping side to side.
    ‘It’s nearly seven.’
    ‘In the evening?’ she asked, confused.
    ‘Yes, you slept a long time.’
    ‘Damn. You should have woken me up! I need to call her, Lucas.’ She dropped once more to her knees and started rooting through the pile of discarded clothing. A sob erupted from her chest. ‘If anything’s happened to her …’
    ‘Nothing’s happened to her,’ Lucas said, dropping to his knees and taking her hands in both of his. ‘It’s OK. She’s OK. I called her this morning, just after you fell asleep. I knew she’d be worried.’
    ‘You called her?’ Evie whispered, turning pale. ‘What did you tell her?’
    He stood up slowly. ‘I told her you were with me, that we’d decided to take a little trip and would be back soon.’
    Evie sucked in a breath. ‘You told her that?’ she said, falling backwards onto her haunches and staring up at him.
    ‘Yeah,’ he answered, with a small shrug.
    ‘And you thought that would help how exactly?’ Evie yelled. ‘Are you trying to make me an orphan twice over? Did she have a heart attack?’
    ‘No.’ He paused. ‘Though I don’t think she likes me as much as she used to.’
    She glared at him. ‘I’m not sure I like you as much as I used to.’
    He gave her his roguish grin in reply, pushing his hands deep into his pockets. She tried not to, but she smiled back anyway.
    ‘I said you’d call her when you woke up.’
    ‘And what am I supposed to tell her exactly?’ Evie asked.
    ‘Tell her the truth.’
    Evie’s eyebrows rose another inch in disbelief. ‘The truth? What – you think I should tell her that I ran off with a boy who’s half-demon because we’re going to save the world together by ridding it of the really mean demons who are out to get us?’
    ‘No,’ Lucas said softly, taking a step towards her. ‘Tell her you love me. Tell her that I love you and that I’m keeping you safe. And,’ he paused, ‘tell her we’re coming home soon.’
    Evie stared at him in amazement, her mouth falling open. He held her gaze, unfazed. She shook her head slowly, the blush sweeping across her face. ‘But I need to tell her to get out of Riverview, Lucas. What if the Brotherhood comes looking for me? Or any of the unhumans that Flic mentioned. What if they come looking for us there? What if she’s in danger?’
    ‘She’s not in danger,’ Lucas answered calmly.
    ‘How do you know?’
    ‘Because I called Jocelyn too.’
    Evie’s face drained of colour. ‘You called Jocelyn?’
    ‘Evie, she’s the only one who can protect your mum right now. And despite everything she’s done to you, she does care about you.’
    Evie grimaced.
    ‘She told me it was already handled. Your mum’s safe.’ He walked to the desk and picked up his father’s blade, testing the point against his thumb, more out of habit than anything else. It never lost its razor sharpness. ‘Look,’ he said as he sheathed it in a leather holder on his waist, ‘can we talk about this when I get back?’
    Evie’s head flew up, ‘You get back from where?’
    ‘We’re about to head out to this club. You’re staying here. It’s safer. Issa says you’ll be fine. She doesn’t see any danger for you.’
    Evie jumped to her feet. ‘No way. I’m coming with you.’
    ‘No you’re not.’
    ‘Yes I am. Lucas, I’m coming with you.’
    There she was, tilting her chin, standing with one hip jutting forward, taking him on as if he was the world. He sighed inwardly. The world never won against Evie Tremain. He