“That look in your eyes. It's more than anger.”
“Because you’re now an expert on what my eyes are saying?”
“It doesn’t take an expert.” She put a hand on her hip. “So quit being stupid.”
“Then let’s say I was planning something. Would you help?”
“I’m guessing you’re angry at a particular group of witches?”
“Good guess.”
“I hate Vanessa.” She sat down on the arm of the couch.
“Does that mean you want to help?”
“Yes. Hunter’s pacified the horrid monsters for long enough.”
“Are you calling someone else a monster?”
“Do you disagree that that’s what they are?” She challenged.
“Oh, they’re monsters.”
“I thought you’d agree.” She smiled slightly. “So what did you have in mind? What kind of revenge are you plotting?” She stretched in an unnaturally grateful way. Once you knew what to look for, it was actually pretty easy to tell that the Dires weren’t human.
“Nothing too complicated. I’m more a simple and to the point kind of guy.”
“Is that how you are in bed too? Simple and to the point?” She smirked.
“No. That’s definitely not my M.O. there.”
“I’d hope not, or what a waste.”
“A waste?” I sat up.
“Yes. You’re too good looking to suck in bed.”
“Don’t think you’re going to find out, but I don’t suck.”
“I wasn’t planning on it… I’m with Chet.”
“Yeah. Chet. Think he’d help us too?” I was open to any help we could get as long as it was the kind of help that didn’t land me in more hot water.
She hesitated for a moment. “No.”
“You felt guilty saying that.”
“Yes. He’s loyal to Hunter. He’d tell him everything. I’m loyal to Hunter, but I have a personal vendetta against that red head.”
“Do I want to know what that is?”
“Probably, but that doesn’t mean I want to tell you.”
“Fine. Whatever you want. I don’t really care why you hate her. If it’s enough to get you to help me, I’ll take it.” She had my curiosity piqued, but her reasons didn’t change anything. She could keep her secrets.
“Tell me the plan.”
“Like I said, nothing too complicated. We just torch the place after we get the guys out.”
“Are you going for the kill?”
“We’re going for whatever we can get.” I had more of a blood lust now that I was a Dire, but that wasn’t what was driving my determination. Those girls were going to continue kidnapping, torturing, and killing people if I didn’t do something. I couldn’t let them get away with it. The slaves were bad enough, but how many other girls like Mary Anne would they leave to freeze on the side of the road? My body begged to transform.
Marni touched my arm. “Calm down, Gage.”
“I’m ready to do this.”
“We can’t yet.”
“Then when?” I wasn’t sure how much longer I could wait.
“Tomorrow night. But you have to behave tomorrow to pull it off. We can't have Hunter suspicious.”
“Don't I always behave?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Provoking Hunter about Mary Anne is not behaving.”
“Why don't we just do it tonight then? It gives me less time to get in trouble.”
“You think we can do it that quick? Don’t we have to get ready?”
“What do we have to get ready? We need lighter fluid and a match.”
“Come on, simple or not, you can be more creative than that. Besides, they may not go down that easy. They’ve been powerful enough to cloak us, so we shouldn’t underestimate them.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Not off the top of my head, but maybe if I think about it.”
“Take a few hours. Let’s make sure everyone else has turned in for the night.”
“You mean Hunter.”
“No. I don’t want to think about him turning in.”
She sat down next to me. “So what kind of guy were you before?”
“What do you mean?”
“I get the sense you were a jock or something.”
“I played a lot of sports in high school. Now I only play for fun.”
“Or did. I doubt you’ll be playing those sorts of games for fun anymore.”
“Wolves don’t play sports?”
“Wolves? Sure. But Dires? What’s the point? We can do much better things.”
“Like what?” I was discovering there was still a lot more to learn about being a Dire.