Page 12 of In Love With the Leshy

My words strike him. Sadness creeps into his eyes. I’m not positive because it’s hard to see with only the moonlight and stars, but I think his skin color tints pink. Either from anger or embarrassment. I’m not sure which.

“I’m taking you someplace safe for that ankle to heal and for you to regain your strength,” he snaps in a firm voice.

I shake my head. “I don’t trust you. I’ll take my chances going back to my car.”

“It’s nighttime. You’ll never make it out of here trying to navigate without my protection. Especially in the dark.”

“Watch me.” I take a step, biting my lip to hide the pain.

“If you leave, you’ll never see me again.” The sternness of his voice stops me. As if he knows that’s a risk I’m not ready to take.

“I survived before you showed up, didn’t I?”

He nods. “Yes and no. Yes, you were still alive, but that’s because of me.”

“You didn’t help me. This crazy forest did.” I look around at the trees. “The trees moved and shifted. The men were stopped when the snakes and trees attacked them.”

Listening, he crosses his arms over his chest.

“And then there were the bears. One attacked Nikolai.”

“Nikolai didn’t have pure motives. He planned to attack you.”

“That’s when the bigger bear showed up.”

“Bigger bear?”

“Yes. He was huge. You should’ve seen him.”

“Your bigger bear, he disappeared when I showed up, didn’t he?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Have you asked yourself what happened to the bear? Where he went?” I stare at him in silence. “That’s right, Erin. You didn’t hear the bear leave or me approach, did you?”

“So? I was too nervous to focus on the sounds of the forest. That doesn’t mean anything. I was scared to death.”

“You felt comforted from the time I appeared, didn’t you?”

“What are you saying? Spit it out.” I don’t know why I ask. I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the answer.

“I am the bear.”

“You’re the bear?” This guy is nuts.

“Yes,” he nods. “And the trees.” He opens his arms wide, “I am everything in my kingdom.”

I feel the blood drain from my face. He truly is a monster, and I’m his prey.

“I was wrong before. I’m not crazy, you are.”

“Crazy is keeping your mind closed and not accepting what you know in your heart.”

I blink in disbelief as his clothes shrink and his body grows in perfect proportion before me to at least ten feet tall.

“Erin, I am who you are looking for. I am the Leshy.”

Chapter 7

“Leshy?”

I take a step back in retreat and fall to the ground. I’m not sure if my legs gave out or if my brain was choked of oxygen from his demonstration and declaration.

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