Page 121 of When the Woods Go Silent

“You mean, why do I still like him when it looks like he’s the bad guy, don’t you?”

She flushes as I call her out so easily, then shrugs, trying to play it casual. “I mean, now we know there’s a whole world of magical creatures. Why him? He’s... dangerous.”

I consider her question for a long moment, the silence stretching around us. I’m not sure how to explain something I barely understand myself. Whatever I say will probably sound pathetic, and if I remind her that Kier is dangerous too, it will look like I’m pointing a finger back at her.

Maybe I can appeal to the romance reader in her. To the woman who likes the hunt for men as much as I like the hunt for magic.

“There’s something right about him - about the two of us - even without the magic and everything else. I liked him before I knew about any of it.”

Rose purses her lips, and I know what she’s thinking without her saying it, because it’s stuck in my mind too. Liking someonebefore you know them is normal. Continuing to like them even when they fly the reddest of red, bloody flags? Not so normal.

And still, the energy between Torrence and me is magnetic. Inescapable.

“You know how it feels to be wanted.” I begin again, trying to put it into words. “It’s addictive. Powerful, knowing you could twist someone’s insides just by existing. He wants me like that - like in the books. Like his happiness depends on me.”

“But he could kill you,” Rose whispers.

“I don’t think he will.” It’s stubborn and makes no logical sense, but it’s there in my gut. A belief that Torrence, no matter what he might do to anyone else, will not hurt me.

“Not on purpose,” she says, scowling, and I blink, wondering if I said my thought aloud. “He drinks human blood, Ruby. He bit you once already. He might drink from you one day and actually kill you.”

I wince, knowing she’s right. In theory. I haven’t actually seen Torrence drink blood, and I’ve been hoping maybe he doesn’t need to, thanks to his fae side.

“He saved me from Arlo,” I protest, but it still sounds weak.

“He’s a gobbelin.” Her mouth sets in a stubborn line.

“He’s part fae. If I stay away from him, you have to stay away from Kier. Fae aren’t only good, either. Or humans, for that matter. I could be killed by a human man. Statistics say it happens to three women every day.”

“That doesn’t make your point. He’s still a man.”

“A man who protected me from his best friend and business partner,” I try, but she just rolls her eyes and sighs deeply.

“Whatever. I don’t want to keep disagreeing. I don’t trust him, but I trust you. If you believe he’s safe, then I’ll believe you.”

I start to smile, but then I notice the sheen of tears in her hazel eyes, and I hurry over to wrap my arms around her. “Hey. It’s going to be okay. I think I met Torrence for a reason.”

“Don’t go all fated mates on me,” Rose says, her voice muffled against my hair, and I giggle, sensing she’s trying her hardest to make light of the whole thing.

“He’s my alpha,” I croon, and she laughs, shoving me away.

“The kids don’t say that anymore,” she teases, and for a moment it feels like we’re back to normal. I just have one more thing to say, and hopefully, it won’t erase everything else.

“I know I fall hard and fast. I know I get hurt because of it. And Torrencewillhurt me, eventually, in some way. Because people in relationships do that. But since when has that made either of us weaker? Men always think they’re the stronger one, but women are made of diamond and titanium, steel and granite. We may feel everything, but through it all, we gather that hurt and forge it into power. And if that’s the only magic I ever get to wield, then I’ll take a little heartache to make it happen.”

Rose leans back, studying my face and taking in my words. A smile plays on her lips, and I know I have her. We’ve talked about this sort of thing in other ways before - the power and magic of being a woman.

Now, more than ever, I feel the truth of it.

Finally, she relents, giving me a true smile. “Well, then Torrence is the one who should be scared.”

I grin, my heart swelling as I realize she’s going to trust me with this, even if she can’t quite understand it.

“I guess I don’t need to worry as much about you getting kidnapped in the woods, then, if you have a part fae, part gobbelin guide,” Rose teases. Unfortunately, all it does is raise a question about something we’ve both nearly forgotten. I fumble the books I’m holding, and they crash to the floor.

“Is he responsible for those missing girls?” Rose rushes the question out, and I feel myself start to shake. Because I don’t know.

That... that would change everything. It would have to.

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