Page 75 of Feral Possession

Shadows swirled. One seemed to bump his shoulder, prodding him to answer. At last, he said in a low grumble, “What did you tell her?”

“That I needed time to decide.”

“Hmm.”

Hmm? She gritted her teeth. Males and their emotional constipation. Holding things in until it made their guts grumble and stomachs bloated. Dove was a firm believer that feelings were meant to be shared, analyzed, and purged. That didn’t mean it was easy.

“I think…” Worry over his reaction tied her tongue in knots. “I’ve decided…”

Was it her imagination or did he lean closer, waiting for her answer? Even the shadows seemed to close in.

“Yes?” he prompted, the one word sounding strained.

“I think it’s difficult to make a decision when I’m not clear on my options.” That’s right. She straightened her spine. If he wanted her, he’d need to say it. Even the tender-hearted had principles. Come on, Steele. Give me something.

Silence filled the void between them. That bottomless chasm grew deeper, wider.

The cool evening breezed blew through her. She shivered, her chest hollow. She’d laid it out there and been rejected. At least she’d jumped. Taken the chance. So why did it feel as though her heart had landed in the mud?

“So… um… I guess I’ll go pack.”

“Don’t,” he murmured.

Her heart soared, rising from the goo. “Don’t pack?”

“Ida will do it for you.”

That soaring heart of hers stubbed its toe, tripped, and fell face first into the slop. She stared at his hunched shoulders, mouth gaping. Un-be-lievable. After everything they’d been through, he still felt nothing for her. Dove was little more than a tool he’d used to explore his demon side. That done, he had no further use for her. May as well dump her on Vivian’s porch and drive off. An image of her father’s taillights fading into the distance flashed in her mind. How she’d sobbed, chasing him down Havenhouse’s driveway.

Tears stung her eyes. She dug her nails into her palms, turned on her heel, and headed for the door. “Have a nice life, Steele.”

Her head pounded, short breaths squeezing her chest. Keep walking. Keep walking. You’ve got this. Don’t let him get to you. Don’t embarrass—

Outrage seized control of her body. She spun back and planted her fists on her hips. “Is that all you’re going to say to me?”

He didn’t bother to turn, speaking over his shoulder. “I won’t keep you from leaving if you want to go.”

“And what if I want to stay?”

He stiffened and turned, the darkness hiding his expression. “Do you?”

Did she need to spell it out for him? Apparently so. “Yes, you big dummy. I want to stay with you. But not if you don’t want me.”

“You think that I don’t want you,” he snorted, shoulders shaking with mirth.

Her heart sank deeper into the muck. Tears pooled in her blurry eyes. “Are you laughing at me?” She spun and stormed back to the door. “I am so over this. Over you. I never should have—”

Wham! The bedroom door slammed shut. Dove sucked in a startled breath. Smokey tendrils swirled around her. The lights flickered and winked out, engulfing her in darkness.

“Stay,” Marcus said in a deep, snarly voice.

Her heart raced, and she turned to find him still on the balcony. Legs braced, shoulders heaving. Shadows obscured his features, his right eye glowing a furious red.

She froze, prey locked in a predator’s sights.

He stalked toward her. “Stay and tie yourself to half a man. Stay and condemn yourself to shadows and darkness. Stay and you’ll bind yourself to a monster.”

As he closed in on her, she stood her ground, lifting her chin. “You forget necromancers aren’t afraid of the dark. It’s in the shadows that we thrive. If darkness is what you need, then we’ll dance in the moonlight.”

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