Page 46 of Demon Shock

She nodded and sat back, following closely behind Bram’s supply truck.

As we neared, several of my brothers jumped over the wall.

“Damn,” Ava said under her breath.

My gaze shifted from her to Dax and Bauts. Was she afraid of them, or did she like looking at them like she seemed to enjoy looking at me? Selfishly, I hoped it was fear.

She parked the truck, picked up Pete, and glanced at me.

“Well, I guess it’s time to make new friends.” She reached for the door, and I grabbed her shoulders to turn her toward me. Pete made a questioning sound from his place in her arms.

“You don’t need to make more friends. I can be your friend.”

Her gaze searched mine for several heartbeats.

“Is that what I am? Your friend?”

Don’t be desperate. Don’t be desperate.

“A friend for now, but maybe you would consider more once you get to know me better?”

Her slow smile made my pulse race.

“That’s a good answer. Are you stopping me from getting out because you’re worried I’ll get to know someone else better first?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I promise to get to know you first. But I should still try to make other friends if I want to live here, right?”

I glanced at my brothers, who were watching us.

“Yes.”

She considered me for a moment. “I’m nervous about fitting in here. I don’t want to be alone like I was, but I don’t want to live with strangers, either. Is there any chance I could live with you? I know you don’t have a house, but what if there’s room in my assigned house?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You want to live with me?”

“Yes.”

I grinned widely. Her gaze shifted to my mouth, and her responding smile faded a little.

“There’s still so much I have to learn,” she said. “Your canines are really pointed. You don’t bite like the infected, do you?”

“No,” I said, no longer smiling.

Was she afraid of me now? Would she no longer want to live with me?

She nodded, reached around Pete to pat my arm, then eased from my hold to leave the truck.

“You carry Repeat,” she said.

Unsure what her reaction meant, I hurried to lift up the soft animal and followed in her wake.

“You ready for a fun ride over the wall, Ava?” Zach called, getting out of the truck in front of us.

“You mean the same way they arrived?” she asked.

“Yep.” Zach went to stand beside my brothers. “Ava, this is Bauts, and this is Dax. It might be easier if they carry the cats and Gyrik carries you.”

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