Breaking the Nexus (Mythrian Realm) Read Free Page A

“Do you understand your rights?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Good. Let’s start with something easy. What’s your name?”
    “Sha Phoenix.”
    He took out a little notebook and began to scribble her information. “And where do you live?”
    Of course he’d ask the one question that was hardest to explain. “I’m sorry, Detective. I can’t answer that.”
    His gaze sharpened. “Is that so? Why is that?”
    Her thoughts raced, scrambling for a logical response. “I just moved from my old home and haven’t found a new place to live yet.” Technically that wasn’t lying; she had moved from her old address. Granted it was courtesy of a Gateway through an enchanted barrier, but he didn’t need to know that minor detail.
    “Okay, how long have you been in Denver?”
    “I, um, drove here last night.” She hoped she had used the correct term. In Mythria, they ‘ported across distances or traveled by way of animals, most often gryphons or horses.
    The detective made a few notes. “I see. Where is your car now?”
    Crap, she hadn’t considered that part. “Uh, I’m not sure where I left it?” She winced at how lame that sounded.
    “Is that a question or a statement?”
    “Sorry. I don’t know where I left it, sir. I think the blow to my head may have rattled me more than I first thought.”
    He scrutinized her face for a long minute, his expression impossible to read. This wasn’t going to end well for her. “So you don’t have a current address, you drove here but misplaced your car, and you’ve been here less than a day. What city did you come from? Surely you’ll be able to answer that?”
    “I’m from the east coast.” She wished the Gateway would open up and swallow her back to the familiarity of Mythria. All her life she’d wanted nothing more than to explore the Human Realm, but now all she wanted was to go home.
    His face hardened. “Look Ms. Phoenix. We have a problem here. You were found lying in a pool of blood next to a murder victim. Speaking with you, I’ve been able to ascertain that little, if any, of the blood belongs to you. I have witnesses reporting you seemed confused, disoriented, and that you showed little reaction given your current state. Now given the brutality of the crime, I’m inclined to believe you’re not responsible because I doubt you have the physical strength necessary.” She bit back the automatic retort at the implication she was weak. No sense in digging herself in any deeper.
    “That being said, I find it difficult to believe you don’t have some knowledge of what happened here. You can’t give me a logical explanation for your present condition so you’re going to have to come down to the station. It would be easier if you also consented to a drug test.”  
    She supposed she couldn’t really blame him for thinking she was on drugs. Even she had trouble comprehending what was going on. “Alright, Detective, I’ll consent. You won’t find anything though.”
    “I hope you’re right about that. I just have a few more questions before we leave. Witnesses stated you were initially unconscious. Were you injured?”
    Finally a question she could answer. “I don’t know what happened, but I woke up with my head killing me and a knot on the back of my head.”
    “Do you mind if I take a look?”
    Sha started to shake her head then thought better of it. “No, go ahead.”
    Connor moved her hair aside, pausing when she winced as he glanced over the lump near the base of her skull. “Sorry about that.” His fingers gentled, moving across her scalp as he probed the wound. A shiver ran through her body, accompanied by a flash of heat low in her belly. What was wrong with her? She had better control than this.
    He sat back on his heels, studying her. “Are you cold?”
    Her cheeks burst into flames. No way could she tell him she was having inappropriate thoughts at his touch. “Um, a bit. I hadn’t expected it to be so cold out here or I’d have worn