Page 40 of Devour the Dark

He chuckles to himself and Wendy stirs, moaning in her sleep. The kitten lifts its head, scowling at me as if it’s my fault it’s been disturbed.

“Has she been reassured?” I ask, tucking a stray hair behind Wendy’s ear.

“I believe I did my part.” His teeth flash in the moonlight.

“Poorform,” I repeat.

“Oh Captain, my form was impeccable.”

“Will you two shut up,” Wendy murmurs, and then adds, “His formwasimpeccable.”

“See?” Roc raises his brows at me.

“Don’t feed his ego.” Knowing she’s awake, I relax my body into her, readjusting so she’s half in my arms. She arches, sinking into me.

I never would have expected this to be our outcome, the three of us in bed together. We haven’t spoken of where we go from here. We never had the chance.

I’m afraid to ask.

Just the thought of it has my heart racing beneath my ribs, my stomach see-sawing.

Roc looks over at me, his brow now furrowed.

“What is it?” he asks.

Wendy lifts her head to look over at me.

I swallow.

“You’ve reassured Wendy.”

She readjusts so she can see me better in the sliver of moonlight.

“And—”

Wendy slips her hand into mine and squeezes.

“I know you don’t like to stay in one place for long,” I say. “I just need to know, after Darkland, after we fix you and you are well, will you leave again?”

I hate that Wendy and I are like sycophants for the Crocodile, on our knees begging for him to love us. I don’t blame him for it. I don’t think he wants us to worship him any more than he wants to be worshipped.

That’s the problem—the Crocodile has always been free to roam. He’s never owed anyone anything, not after he lost his sister and his brother.

I glance at him in the semi-darkness.

For the first time, I see real fear and suddenly I know…he’s held himself back all these years, claiming no one, not in any real way, to protect himself.

I can sense him retreating behind those walls, afraid to lose something, afraid to be lost in something.

Wendy and I are both staring at him now, waiting.

The stillness makes my stomach hurt.

Suddenly he’s up and moving.

“Roc,” Wendy says.

But he’s gone in a flash, shutting the door behind him.

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