Page 7 of Secret Origins
I didn’t do this shit, this mushy stuff with “thank you’s” and gratitude. It made me want to puke.
“There is a bathroom down the hall.” There was no reason to snap at her but I did anyway. “Go wash your mutts and yourself. I’ll leave clothing in the spare bedroom. You’ll use it until we find you a place to go.”
She took a breath as if gearing up to argue, a glint like fire entering her focused eyes, but then the air around us charged with power and my hand shot out to stop whatever she was about to say as Fen started growling deep in his chest. The woman cowered, pulling the two brats closer to her body. I was only paying half attention to her, my head coked to the side as I waited to pinpoint what I’d be dealing with now. Like I didn’t have enough shit already. This was what happened when you tried and do something good. No good deed went unpunished.
“Bedroom. Now,” I hissed at the woman, and she didn’t wait to be told twice.
The door clicked shut down the hall a moment later.
“I guess the night is not over yet, Fen.” The hound snarled at the name, which made my lips twitch.
I lost the smile when I finally understood who was lurking in my home. Anger burst through me like a volcano going off. Pushing past Fen, who was still at my feet, I stomped to the front door and yanked it open, almost ripping it off the hinges. It put me face to face, well more face to chest, with the one person I never wanted to see again in my life, even if I lived ten thousand years. Cold, emotionless eyes scanned me from head to toe before I had time to blink. How the hell did he do that, pissing me off without saying a word?
“Look what the cat dragged in.” With a cocked hip, I glared at Fenrir. “Whatever it is you want, the answer is no.” I closed the door in his face.
“Open the door.”
“Go away.”
“If you don’t open the door, I’ll break it.”
“I can always kill you to make up for it.”
“You can try.” I was either still lightheaded from being slapped around by that shifter earlier or there was amusement in his voice.
“Go the fuck away, Fenrir.” His power started pulsing through the closed door, prickling my skin. The idiot was seriously thinking of breaking his way in. I yanked it open again seething. “What?”
“We need to talk.” He left me gaping at his back when he shouldered his way in as if he owned the place. “You have humans here.” The fae stopped in his tracks, turning in a slow circle like he was expecting humans to jump at him from somewhere. “And shifters.” His too-pretty face twisted in a grimace when he sniffed the air, the platinum hair his illusion gave him sliding over his shoulders.
“None of your business. What do you want. Speak, or get the hell out.”
“The compound I was going to search for clues on how to track Roberti was wide open and littered with body parts.” Those too-blue eyes flashed with something I refused to name. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?”
“I couldn’t care less about you, Roberti, or anyone else for that matter. I’m a free girl now that Alexius is dead. Your shitstorm does not concern me.”
“You know you are covered in blood from head to toe, right?”
“It’s a new thing I’m trying. Like a face mask, you know? It does wonders for your complexion, you should try it. Now get the fuck out of my house.” I jiggled the door in case he didn’t know which exit to take.
“And your hound is bathed in blood, too.” As if that was a compliment, the damn hound preened, going so far to even yelp in excitement.
“It’s his playtime.” Snatching the first thing I could reach, my car keys, I tossed them over Fenrir’s shoulder. “Go fetch, Fen.”
Both the Fae and the hound narrowed their eyes on my grinning face.
“Using my name, even shortened, for your hound is childish … even for you.”
The black pants he wore didn’t hide his powerful thighs when he took a stubborn stance, his feet shoulder-width apart and his arms crossed over his broad chest, which stretched the black long sleeved t-shirt he had on within an inch of its life. The emblem of the Academy over his left pectoral emblazoned in gold was mocking me, so my rational brain took a hike.
“Me? Childish?” I barked out a humorless laugh in his face. “Look at yourself, Fenrir. You use illusion to hide yourself, and that makes a mockery of what you are. And for what?” He stiffened, and I knew I should stop but that ship had sailed the moment he stepped foot in my home.
“Tell me something.” Internally I was screaming at myself to shut up, but it had been a long day, so my brain and my mouth had cut ties a while ago. “How does it feel to watch Francesca swoon over Zoltan, huh? Does it rub you wrong to see them together, or when her whole face lights up as soon as he walks into a room? Tell me!” Screaming at him, I took a step forward with my fists clenched at my sides. “Does it hurt? I hope it rips you apart inside. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
“You never let me explain, Myst. It’s my duty …”
“Get out!” My body vibrated from the rage swirling through me, making my sword materialize in my hand. Even the hound inched away from me as he eyed me warily.
Fenrir stood emotionless, staring at me with an unreadable expression for long enough I thought I’d have to physically throw him out the door. The only reason I didn’t say another word was the lump tightening my throat, and I just couldn’t push it down enough to speak. No amount of swallowing would shove that bitter pill away. I trusted him once. He cured me of that insanity the moment he jumped at the first opportunity to accept a duty to bond with another female. Too bad she wanted nothing to do with him. Karma was a bitch, but only if you were.
