Page 143 of Land of Monsters

“Fuck, this train better be fast.” Scorpion shifted in his seat. “I need to get home to Hanna.”

“How is she?” I already knew the answer but felt Scorpion needed to get it out.

He huffed, his eyes going distant, running a hand through his hair. “Like she hasn’t been through enough,” he muttered, his hand rolling in a fist. “She has nightmares almost every night, though she tries to hide them from me.”

The mark on her neck never healed; the engravedPetched into her skin was just as red and vibrant as the day she got it.

A darkness fluttered over Scorpion.

“What?”

He exhaled and appeared to be debating whether to tell me.

“She calls out his name sometimes.”

“What?” My eyes popped. “Z’s?”

“Not in a sexual way. Like he’s tormenting her through her dreams.” He swallowed. “Like he’s calling to her.” He shook his head. “Probably just trauma from her past coming up again.”

“Yeah.” I pressed my lips together. Hanna had been through more than most. “I’ll make something to help her sleep. Take away her dreams.”

“Thank you.” Scorpion dipped his chin. I could see her hurt was breaking him into pieces.

“She’ll get through this. She is so fucking strong.”

“She is.” He nodded. “Okay, I think I’m gonna go get a drink. Want anything, you miserable pain in the ass?” He stood up, already walking toward the refreshment carriage.

I was here and working, but everyone saw how miserable I was without her.

“No.” I shook my head. I didn’t fully give up drinking, but I still hated how low they’d seen me, picking me up from the gutters. Plus, drinking made me want her more.

The slice of pain at the mere thought of her closed my lids, the train rattling down the tracks lulling me into my thoughts. My fingers rhythmically played with the two plastic objects in my jacket pocket, things I kept with me at all times, reminding me of her.

I told her I would come for her. It was the truth, but I needed to get my shit together. Set things right with my family. I had hurt them a lot. But the agony in my chest was getting too much to bear, and it was showing. If becoming part of her world was how I kept her, then that’s what I would do.

No choice existed for me now.

The scent of a flaky apple strudel and coffee filled my nose, and the rustling of someone sitting across from me opened my eyes. “That was fas—” I stopped and went still, but my heart felt like it was tumbling through my chest.

I blinked several times. No fucking way.

“You didn’t even shower, did you?” Her nose wrinkled, her gaze going over my jeans and t-shirt, dirty from moving cargo.

Shock dropped my mouth open, a sense of déjà vu rolling through me, but my brain wasn’t accepting the beautiful creature my eyes were taking in. She wore casual jeans and a V-neck t-shirt with no expensive earrings or charms this time. Just her. Nothing like the girl I sat across from back in December.

“What—” I sat up straight. “What are you doing here?”

“This time, it better not be because you spent the night in a brothel.” She ignored me, taking a bite of the strudel, a cheeky smile growing on her face. “At least not without me.”

The ache in my soul throbbed like a heartbeat, my body shaking with the need to touch her. “I better not be dreaming.”

“Why don’t you find out?”

“Raven,” I croaked, scrambling from my chair. I grabbed her, the coffee spilling on the floor as I yanked her from her seat and heaved her into me, my mouth crashing down on hers. Hunger vibrated my body with a growl, something in my soul settling in place. I devoured her, not caring about the young family a few seats away. Nothing else mattered more than having her in my arms again. “Fuck, I can breathe again,” I muttered against her lips before claiming them again. Her hands tangled in my hair, matching my intensity with her own. My fingers threaded through her glossy strands, cut a few inches shorter than before, as I reached for her face.

Staring down into her stunning eyes, I shook my head. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”

“I was tired of waiting.” She smirked. “So I came for you. My dweller is possessive. She doesn’t like not getting what she wants.”

---