Ryan put his hands low on his hips, spitting on the ground. “No. That was most definitely not the plan. They were supposed to take you.”

“Take me?”

“Well...not take you, take you...try to take you, I guess. I really don't know.”

“That makes me feel a lot better!” I huffed.

Ryan froze when a clicking sound echoed in the alley behind us. Donovan stood just feet away, pressing the barrel of his gun to Ryan's head.

“So they're trusting humans to watch their Taleh's now, are they? I don't care if you are some sort of hero, I ain't buyin' it,” Donovan said, looking around.

I reached for my gun, but a warm hand encircled my wrist. “She's a brave little pistol, isn't she?”

If it weren't for the voice, I would have expected to turn and see Jared standing behind me. The same warm skin, the smell, the blonde hair—but his eyes were a lighter blue than Claire's—almost white. He was so tall I had to take a step back just to get a good look at him.

“Isaac?” I whispered.

He smiled, and then smirked at Donovan. “I'm famous.”

“And dead if we don't get the hell outta here. They wouldn't leave her alone.”

“Of course not,” Isaac said calmly. “But we'll play.”

Isaac and Donovan led us down the alley to a waiting car. Isaac wasn't nearly as gentle as the other celestial beings I'd met. It shouldn't have surprised me; a Hybrid that protected a man who worked for demons had to have been so far detached from his origins and core beliefs. I didn't dare attempt to let my mind linger on what he was capable of.

After tying both of our hands behind our backs, Donovan hit Ryan on the head with the butt of his gun, and after a short crack, Ryan fell limp. Isaac slipped a black cover over his head, and then tossed him into the back seat of the car. Ryan's head fell against the door on the other side.

“Don't!” I said, recoiling.

Isaac smiled, and then shoved the same black covering over my head, tenderly helping me to a spot next to Ryan.

“I don't tolerate violence against women,” Isaac said.

A part of me was relieved, but knowing they meant to kill me, I obsessed about the meaning behind Isaac's words for the entire trip to our destination.

Still blinded by the fabric over my face, I was pulled out of the car, and then escorted up a short flight of stairs. We paused for a moment, but quickly continued after the sound of a creaking door.

“More stairs,” Isaac said, patiently waiting for me to find my footing. Our footsteps echoed against a hardwood floor, and then I was seated.