Page 24 of When the Woods Go Silent

But she’s a local, and the balance here is delicate. Our presence has to stay hidden, and I’ve just warned Arlo not to contact Rose again. Our ways work because we leave the residents alone.

“You shouldn’t be here, hiking alone. Woods like these are full of animals,” I tell her, speaking both a truth and a lie.

She huffs, annoyed with me. I have to stifle a laugh at her utter lack of awareness and self-preservation. A choice prey who’s never met a true predator. It’s tantalizing, really.

“Am I supposed to be relieved that a big strong man showed up to rescue me from the wild chipmunks? You know, statistically, men are much more likely to attack than bears.” She takes another step toward her backpack, and I wonder if she’s planning to run after all, or if there’s something in there that she thinks could be a weapon against me.

Either option could be such fun, and I haven’t hunted in so long. I close my lips to hide any glimpse of my sharpening teeth.

“This time of year, all sorts of creatures are waking up from hibernation. More than just bears.” I lean against a tree, taking my cap off and running my hand through my hair. Something changes in her posture, a softening, and I feel my lips hook up in a lopsided grin. My fae glamor might not be working on her, but my gobbelin charm seems to be.

I wonder what I look like to her, what picture the gobbelin magic paints in her mind. What does her personal perfection look like?

I can feel her eyes sliding down my body like a touch, and it sets fire to the hunger already crackling through my chest. I remind myself again that she’s a fucking local. New, but permanent here, with a sister who would miss her. I can’t play with her - it’s too much to risk.

“Animals aren’t the only dangerous things in the woods, you know. How do you know I’m not a sweet little serial killer?” she asks finally, actually startling a rare laugh from me. I swallow it back down as she bends to grab her pack in one smooth motion. I can almost hear her thoughts, wondering if she should run now, try to lose me in the dense undergrowth. Still, her feet stay planted in the dirt.

“I tend to take my chances with death.” Already my mind is swirling with the overpowering desire to chase her. Hunt her. I want to thrill at her screams before drowning them with her moans of pleasure.

Neither of us makes a move to leave, even though both of us know we should.

“Are you a native animal, then? Or just a tourist,” I ask, giving her an edge of a smile as I pretend I don’t already know all about her. Her hip cocks to the side, and the power she had a moment ago changes, rounding into sex appeal instead of the scent of violence. Disappointing, though not unexpected.

Humans never can resist gobbelin charm, and I know she’s already eaten my food. Consumed my blood. It’s only a matter of time, now. If I wanted, I could force her under my control.

“I just moved here, so I’m still looking for a hiking partner. Are you local?”

“For now. But woods like these always feel like home.” This time, the truth slips out before I can stop it.

She smiles, softer now. Her human ways betray exactly what she wants, and for some reason, I hate to see it. I want her to resist and slide back to self-preservation. I want her to understand how dangerous I am, to be skeptical and cautious of my interest, like I should have taught Rinna to be.

Instead, she flutters her lashes.

“Woods like these have always felt more like home than anywhere else to me,” she murmurs, those coal black eyes lifting to the canopy, exposing that tempting throat even more.

“It’s not safe, though.” I bite out the words, thinking of the other gobbelins in these woods who are never as careful as they should be. Thinking of Julianna especially. “Even for a seasoned serial killer,” I add, and the scowl smooths away from her pretty face.

“Well, maybe you should walk me home, savior.”

I snort, surprised yet again. “That’s not a title I’ve been given before.”

She steps carefully around the ring of mushrooms and reaches to tuck her hand in the crook of my arm. I stare down at it for a moment, frozen by the heady scent of her skin so close. I know the gobbelin blood magic is what makes her trust me so quickly, but it’s still startling. I’m much more comfortable being feared by humans.

I should shove her off. I should make her afraid again, to protect both of us. But I never agreed to be a savior.

She gives a little tug on my arm, and despite everything I know I should do, we start to walk back toward town together.

“What did you say your name was?” she asks as we pick our way through the brush.

“I didn’t,” I snap, aggravated with myself. Her steps falter, and I do the thing I never do - backtrack. “But it’s Torrence.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ruby.” Her smile is more hesitant now, and as much as I want her to be afraid of me, I fucking hate it, too.

“OfUnder the Covers? The new bookstore?”

She nods, looking wary again at my pretended guess.

“There aren’t many people who move here,” I offer as explanation, playing with her as I toe the line between stalkerand sex appeal. With some human women, that line is so deliciously blurred.

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