Page 122 of When the Woods Go Silent

“I... no. He can’t be. I don’t know,” I stutter, whipping out my phone and firing off a burst of texts to Torrence. I know he could lie, but still, I need him to answer this. Rose is silent as I glare down at the screen, both of us willing the right answer to appear.

Then it does, and a sickening relief rushes through me. I hold the phone up to Rose, hating that this answer feels like a win.

It was a horrible accident. We don’t kill humans. Arlo was too rough. Cruel and careless, but he’s taken care of now.

Rose nods slowly as she reads Torrence’s text. “Convenient, to blame it on the dead guy,” she murmurs, buttoning up her lips as she flicks her eyes at me, worried she’s said the wrong thing.

I sigh, letting the phone screen go dark. “I don’t know what to do here, Rose.”

“The police-”

“Would get nowhere,” I interrupt, and she sighs.

“Do you even know what they do? Sure, he says they don’t kill humans. I know I’m only going off of Kier’s word, just like you’re going off Torrence’s. But do you really think those girls volunteered to give up their blood? Maybe he isn’t a sadistic monster, but he’s dangerous because of what he is, Ruby.”

“I know,” I whisper, although my body still rejects the idea. Maybe I have the worst instincts in both worlds, but somehow I feel safer when I’m with Torrence.

I tap out another text, slower, trying to get the wording right.

I want to know more about you and what happened at your house. Not accusing you of anything, just want answers.

I’m typing out a list of questions for him when he texts back.

Can I pick you up tonight? I wanted to see you before I leave too.

I frown down at the message. Leave? Rose peeks over my shoulder and reads the text.

“Kier left last night. He got a message about an attack,” she murmurs.

“This is getting a little too real,” I admit. “Why can’t we just meet normal, hot, magical guys?”

Rose snorts. “You ask a lot of the world, Ruby Reed.”

“It owes me a lot.”

“Yes, it does. But in my experience, those kind of debts don’t always get paid.”

I look down at the text message again, and Rose sighs. She knows I’m going to go.

“Just trust me on this one,” I beg.

“It’s him I can’t trust, Ru,” she says, tears welling in her eyes even as she bites out the words. I try to give her a quick hug, but she turns away, and my heart sinks.

Why does it feel like I’m betraying her if I go, and myself if I stay?

It was never supposed to be this way.

Yet, when Torrence pulls up to the curb several hours later, after dusk, I give Rose a small smile and leave. I get in his car, and I let him drive me away from my best friend and all the safety she represents.

And she lets me go, because she loves me.

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