“I assumed that much.”
“It was a fight I was lucky to win, and it’s indirectly why you’re here.”
“What are you talking about?” She groaned. “All you do is talk in riddles that make no sense to me.”
I picked up a strand of her hair and ran my fingers over it. “Can you tell me something first?”
“Maybe.”
I smiled. “Hesitation isn’t bad, but I promise this question is a safe one.”
“Okay.”
“Is this your natural hair color?”
“Yes.” Her brow wrinkled. “Why?”
“I’m curious about you, but you won’t tell me anything.”
I slowly let my body down so that I rested some of my weight on her. She relaxed down into the sheets. “Go to sleep, my Firefly.”
“Firefly?”
“Does that one bother you too?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.” I ran my lips over her neck. “It’s the name you were meant for.”
She moaned softly. I could have used it to my advantage to push things further, but I didn’t. Instead I moved off her and wrapped her up against me again.
“Sleep,” I whispered gently in her ear. She was going to need her rest to get through the next few days.
“Tell me one more thing,” she said sleepily. It was working. I was helping her relax.
“Yes.” I brushed my lips against her cheek. “Ask away.”
“Is your real name Hunter?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know. You’re part animal and your name is Hunter?”
I laughed. “It’s fitting then?”
“Yeah. Very fitting.” She yawned and snuggled into my side.
I waited until her breathing evened out before allowing myself to fall asleep. She was peaceful, warm, and safe. Everything else could wait until morning.
Chapter Four
Gage
Need. The word took on new meaning as I paced around the cramped wooden shed that was starting to feel far too small. I needed to run, I needed food, and I needed Mary Anne. At the moment the need for food was moving up on my list, but Mary Anne was still a close second.
“You can’t eat yet.” Marni hadn’t moved from her spot on the floor by the door of the shed for over an hour. If she was bored, she wasn’t showing it.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s too soon.”
“Says who?”
“Says Hunter, and he’s in charge.”
“Maybe he’s wrong about this.” Maybe he was wrong about a lot of things.
“None of us can really be sure since we’ve never seen this done.”
I slid down to the floor. I’d been standing for hours, and even though I was nowhere near as tired as I should have been, it felt good to get off my feet. “I still can’t believe he did it.”
“He did it for her, not you.”
“Which is why she stupidly promised herself to him. My life wasn’t worth that.”
Marni groaned. “Stop it. You both make me sick.”
“What?”
“You act like you’re two star-crossed lovers forced apart. You’re not in love. Stop trying to pretend you are.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I know love when I see it.”
“Oh yeah? Is that so? I didn’t know monsters could feel love.”
She was on her feet and in my face before I could process it. “Monsters? Did you really just say that?”
“Maybe.”
She slapped me across the face. “I guess you’re one now too.”
“Not by choice.”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Why?” I moved to my feet. I didn’t want her looking down on me. “Why shouldn’t I feel sorry for myself? I’m a fucking monster and Hunter is with the girl I love. What isn’t there to feel sorry about?”
“You’re alive. How about that?”
“Big deal. I’d rather be dead.”
She slapped me again. “You’re an asshole.” She stormed out of the shed, slamming the door so hard it shook the small building.
“Way to go, idiot.” Semi took Marni’s place at the door.
“What’s her problem?”
“Her problem? More like yours. I can’t believe you said that to her.”
“What? You guys prize life that much?” I found it surprising considering how easily they were handing humans over to the witches.
“When you’ve known death, life has value.”
“It only has value if you get to live the life you want.” Having Mary Anne taken away and being stuck in a shed didn’t qualify as the life I wanted.