Page 93 of Stalked By Seduction and Shadows

“I’ll make you some coffee. I have that strawberry pastry you love so much, fresh and waiting for you.” She pointed to the table where Snow, Eli, Tera, and Winnifred already sat.

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

She smiled and rubbed my shoulder. “Of course, sweetheart. Anything you need, just let me know, okay?”

When I sat with Snow and her friends, I was grateful that they quickly shifted into normal conversation and banter. My shoulders began to lower, my muscles relaxing.

I met Snow’s gaze, and when she smiled softly, I didn’t much mind the pain mirrored back to me in her eyes. Because it was ours, together. Something bad had happened to us, but it hadn’t been my fault or hers. It had just happened, because the born were cruel and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Eli watched Penn disappear into the back, not-so-subtly turning back to us, leaning in, and lowering his voice.

“You two were inside Rune’s castle?”

All eyes moved to me. I swallowed, shifting in my seat.

“Penn thinks we were saved by random patrolling turned,” Snow explained. She sighed, setting down her herbal tea. “Scarlett, something isn’t adding up.”

“I know,” I said, uncomfortable under the weight of all of their prying gazes. “Rune is the stalker. And the furniture-giver. It sounds so fucked-up but?—”

“Um, it is fucked-up,” Eli muttered.

“But he’s the reason we’re alive,” I finished as they all stared at me, wide-eyed.

“How did he know where we were? If he’d been trailing us the whole time, then why did he only intervene after we’d been attacked?”

I paused. I hadn’t really thought about the specifics. I didn’t want to think about that night anymore. Because soon, I felt their grimy hands on my skin, their sharp fangs ripping into my flesh like blades.

Oh Helia, now I was back there, in the alley, clawing my way back to the bakery.

“Scarlett, it’s okay,” Snow soothed, her voice a line I desperately reached for to reel me back in. “I’m sorry. I know this is painful.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, please,” I said. The edges of my vision blurred, my senses slipping away from me.

Snow nodded. “We don’t have to. But I do think we should talk about Rune.”

I didn’t much want to talk about him either, but who knew? Maybe these witches who all hated his guts might talk some sense back into me.

“You didn’t drink his blood, did you?” Winnifred asked suddenly. Her flowy green dress made her appear even more faerie-like than usual, her brunette pixie cut embellished with a moonstone hairpin.

I scrunched my nose. “Ew, no.” I glanced at them. “What would happen if I did?”

Eli pinned me with a somber look. “Never, under any circumstances, drink a vampire’s blood. I’m surprised you weren’t already warned of this. They’d always know where you were. You’d never be able to escape them. You’d be a part of that vampire forever, unless you found a blood witch who could drain his essence from you. A risky, painful procedure.”

I shook my head. “He wouldn’t do that.” He might’ve watched me sleep, but he’d still let me go home against his wishes. Rune still had lines he wouldn’t cross. At least not yet.

Snow’s brows shot up. “Did you…” Her eyes welled with concern. “Please tell me you haven’t slept with him.”

I blushed hard. Oh, Goddess. “I didn’t, well—” I stopped myself. How could I possibly ruin my only friendships in the city by admitting I’d allowed Rune to fuck me with the shadows he’d used to kill thousands?

Absolutely not. I’d be taking that to the grave, thank you very much.

“We’ve done some things.”

The whole table groaned.

“Babes,” Snow said, and I prickled at her condescension. Her tone smoothed out. “Does he treat you well?”

I opened and then closed my mouth. Flashes of our time together flitted across my mind’s eye. Him watching me, stalking me, devouring me. Bringing me back from the empty place and taking care of me in a way I’d never allowed another to do. Showing me music and art, peering inside my most hidden depths.

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