Page 85 of Wicked Little Nightmare

"You know," I mused, "we're kind of like a weird little family now, aren't we?"

Cam's head snapped up, his dark eyes narrowing. "The fuck are you on about, Lakey?"

I shrugged, running my fingers through Rose's hair. "Just saying. It's kinda nice, having someone to look after. Makes me feel almost... normal."

Cam scoffed, but I saw the way his jaw tightened. He was fighting it, but I knew him better than anyone. The idea had taken root.

"We're not normal," he growled. "We're fucking monsters, remember? And she’s a fucking adult, Lakey. She’s not your child."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Big bad wolf and all that shit. But come on, admit it. This is... different."

For a moment, I thought he might argue. But then his shoulders sagged, just a little. "Maybe," he muttered, so quiet I almost missed it. He was coming around, I knew he was. I think he was just scared of what it all meant. The closer we got to Rose, the closer we became to admitting that things were changing inside us. That fight mode we’d been in for years had eased and we were enjoying the lack of internal strife. He just wasn’t quite ready to admit it, at least not out loud, and not to me.

As the night settled in, Rose curled up next to me on the couch. Her voice was soft, sleepy. "Thank you," she murmured. "Both of you. I... I haven’t had anyone care about me like that in a very long time.”

I felt my throat tighten. Fuck. But I couldn't help the warmth spreading through my chest.

"Right, well. Sure," Cam said gruffly. But I saw the way his eyes softened, just for a second.

I caught his gaze over Rose's head, and in that moment, I knew we were both thinking the same thing. We needed to hunt before our savage instincts melted into a pile of mush at the first fleeting feelings of having a real family.

Thirty-One: Cam

Garlic and onions wafted through our apartment. I sprawled on the couch, one arm dangling off the side, fingers brushing against an empty beer bottle. Lakey lounged beside me, her legs draped over mine, her blue eyes fixed on Rose bustling around our cramped kitchen.

"Who knew our little science experiment could cook?" I mused, tilting my head to catch Lakey's reaction.

She smirked; her eyes alight as she regarded me. "I told you she would adjust."

I snorted but couldn't help a smile as I watched Rose. The kid moved with a nervous energy, but she was a definite improvement from where she was a week or so ago.

"Face it, you like her, Cam," Lakey murmured, reading my thoughts as usual.

I scoffed, giving her leg a playful shove. "In your dreams, sweetheart. I'm still the same cold-hearted bastard you fell for."

"Mhmm," she hummed, unconvinced. "That's why you've been teaching her to defend herself, right? Out of the goodness of your black little heart?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but Rose's voice cut through our banter.

"Um, dinner's ready... If you guys want to eat?"

Lakey sprang up with surprising grace for someone who'd been lazing around all day. "Perfect timing, Rosie! But first, how about we work up an appetite?"

Rose's eyes widened, excitement on her face. She’d really taken to the self-defence we’d been going over the last few days. Almost a natural. "More fighting?"

"You got it, kid," I chimed in, hauling myself off the couch. "Can't have you being a liability out there."

We cleared some space in the living room, shoving our ratty furniture aside. Lakey took center stage, demonstrating a basic stance while Rose watched intently.

"Alright, sunshine," Lakey chirped, loosening her shoulders and cracking her neck. "Let's see you try to take me down. Just remember, in the real world, your attacker probably won't be wearing such a cute top."

I couldn't help but chuckle as Rose lunged forward, her movements clumsy but determined. Lakey dodged effortlessly, tapping Rose on the back of the head.

"Too slow, buttercup. You gotta be quicker than that if you want to survive."

Rose's face scrunched up in concentration, her next attempt marginally better. I found myself actually rooting for the kid, even as Lakey continued to dance circles around her.

"Not bad," I offered, when she managed to clip Lakes on the shoulder. "You might actually last five seconds in a real fight now."

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