Page 16 of Feral

Hale’s brow creases. “How interesting.”

“Right? I know I didn’t buy it, so it must have gotten mixed up with someone else’s stuff. I read it cover to cover. There were all these glamorous pictures and people, and I felt a tug in my chest that I needed to change course and come here instead. Crazy, right?”

“Indeed.”

“Fate is funny sometimes. I really feel like it was the universe stepping in. Do you think that’s weird?”

“Not at all. I’m a big believer in fate.”

I nod, smiling. “Same. Anyway, that’s how I ended up here. What about you? Are you from here?”

“No. I’ve lived in lots of places, but I settled here about two years ago. I needed a place to land and I met some people who offered me a home and a job. I love it here.”

“I want to love it here. My folks weren’t so sure about it. They’ve always been farmers and small-town people.” I shrug. “My mom doesn’t really understand why I don’t want to take over the farm someday, but it’s never lit me up.”

“Are you close with your parents?”

“Not really. My stepdad is kind of a dick sometimes, but he’s trying to work on his shit. My mom is okay but she buries her head in the sand. She doesn’t really know me.”

“But your brother is a good man?”

I smile just thinking about him. “Better than me, for sure. He’s so damn smart, he can do anything. Dimitrious, but I call him Dimi. He doesn’t like his full name.”

“Greek in origin?”

I nod. “Yep. My mom’s family is Greek. My dad is a regular American and Dimi’s dad is Cuban, so we don’t look shit alike except we both got mom’s smile.”

“It’s a good smile.”

“Thanks.”

Dev returns with our drinks, setting them down on the table, then flitting off again, almost like his feet don’t touch the ground.

“You were gonna tell me about Lair?”

Hale takes a sip of his drink, his eyelids fluttering as he swallows. “Yes. Lair is… unique. Special. Not like any place you’ve experienced before.”

“Obviously.”

“Not in the ways you might expect.” He leans closer to me, lifting his hand to touch my chin. “You found us for a reason, Yannis.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I was given a card to come here.”

“You were chosen because you belong with us. Remember what you said about something inside you that wants to get out? Something bigger?”

“Yeah.”

“That something led you to us. You were given a card because Jade could sense that your nature was compatible with ours. Only those with the right disposition will come to Lair.”

“No offense, Hale, but you’re not really making sense to me.”

He chuckles, leaning over to grab my drink from the table and hand it to me. “Take a sip.”

I do, smiling as the sweet, fruity flavor hits my tongue. “It’s good.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I hold Hale’s gaze as I take another sip, and warmth spreads through me like I just drank a shot. I wonder where they get the alcohol they use here. It’s not like any I’ve had before.

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