Page 69 of Flock This

“Grey…” Galen said, his gentle voice so soft it felt as though he’d whispered through the darkness directly into my ear.

He said nothing else, but that was fine with me. I’d rather we moved right on and forgot my humiliating disclosure.

“I’m sorry—forget I said anything. I’m just tired. Looks like I’m a lovey drunk but a depressing person when I don’t get enough sleep.”

“Grey,” he said again, as though to call me out on the deflection.

“I’ll call you in a couple days, okay?”

He sighed. “Sure. Get some sleep and think about what I said.”

“I will. Goodnight.”

I went to hang up, but his voice stopped me. “And I know you won’t believe me right now, but I’m not going anywhere. You don’t trust me—or anyone—and that’s okay for now. I’ll prove it to you, though, that I will be here for you no matter what. You’ll see, and I can wait just as long as it takes for you to believe it. Sleep well.”

The call ended, leaving me there with his words and the darkness and my fears. His promises sounded so wonderful. The idea of someone beside me no matter what, someone to rely on and trust in. It was really all I’d ever wanted.

And here he was, offering it to me.

I closed my eyes, hugging the phone to my chest, letting myself believe it just for this one night.

Come tomorrow, reality would wake me up with a hard kick to the ovaries, would remind me of the cold, lonely place the world really was, but for now?

For now, I’d pretend it could be true, no matter how it pissed my crow off.

Fuck right off, feathers. I deserve one night with this lie.

* * * *

My arm reminded me of just how dangerous thralls could be, the scratches still there from when the crazed woman had grabbed me before. However, sometimes people had to face what was dangerous to get what they wanted.

I told myself that when facing off against an especially intimidating dick and now, when dealing with Roger, William’s thrall, who had shown up at my door without notice.

“I didn’t think they’d let you out,” I said.

He shrugged, appearing well put together despite the fact he was headed straight for a padded cell. “Since I’m older than the other two, it’ll take longer for me to lose my mind. I’ve still got a little time in me.”

“So why were you in that cell?”

“Because I saw no reason to stay out here, around others who don’t matter to me.”

“But you’re out here now?”

“Stephanie died yesterday.” He delivered the news with such flatness, it seemed as though he didn’t care at all. “Uler died early this morning.”

I had no idea how to respond to that, so I offered a weak ‘I’m sorry,’ in response.

He nodded, as though to acknowledge he heard me even if he didn’t directly address my useless pity. “I stared at them before anyone came to take their bodies and it was strange to see them so still. We weren’t that close, in many ways, but we still had a connection because of William. Stephanie used to always smile, but when she was gone, her body went lax, like a toy with dead batteries, and it made me wonder about William’s last moments.”

He blew out a slow, unhappy breath. “I was with him for so long, and the idea that he died alone doesn’t sit well with me. You might not have killed him, but you still know more than I do.”

“There are some things you don’t want to know.” I shuffled my foot against the carpeted floor. “Some things get stuck in your head, and they’re details you don’t want. You know he was murdered—I don’t think you want the specifics.”

“You’re probably right.” His quick agreement surprised me—people weren’t usually that agreeable in my world—and I lifted my gaze to his for him to offer me a gentle smile. “It won’t make me feel any better, but I owe that to William. After the years together, I owe him to at least know the details, to know who’s behind it. So, I wanted to talk to you and offer you some help.”

“Help?” I opened my mouth to ask what exactly he thought he could do to help but shut it just as fast. Talk about a rude question… No reason to kick him while he was down.

He laughed softly, as though amused by my reaction. “You’ve seen how thralls are treated, right? We’re seen as extensions of the vampire who created us. It means we have little use or worth on our own, but we are afforded certain benefits out of respect. So a thrall of my position is given some deference, especially after the vampire is gone. I am the last of his essence, after all.”

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