Page 14 of Black Hand
“You really don’t remember what happened?” Searching my eyes, he leaned back on the table and crossed his tree-trunk arms across his chest.
“Remember what exactly?” spelling it out slowly for him, I wondered if maybe he was a little special.
The last thing I remembered was helping him jump out of my window. Did he jump after he threatened me, or did he change his mind about waiting to kill me, hit me on the head, and drag me here with him? That would explain everything. It would’ve served me right if that was the case, too.
“Your Council,” he said Council like it was the vilest thing touching his tongue, “performed an execution in their chamber while you watched.” The back of my head started throbbing before numbness spread over my skull and shoulders, but he kept talking. “After ripping the blonde’s throat out, one of them was coming straight for you with his fangs bared when I used the distraction their guards created to get you out of there.”
I could tell he wasn’t telling the truth, at least not all of it, but for some reason I found the idea of compelling him to tell me the whole truth repulsive. Everything came rushing back with crippling clarity. The chasm of loss opened in my chest again, and the guilt doubled me over until I dropped me to my knees. The dreary place blurred through the torrent of tears spilling from my eyes, and my throat felt so tight I couldn’t even sob as loud as I wanted. Only tiny gasps were passing through my mouth, which was open in a silent scream. My body started shaking uncontrollably again and there was nothing I could do to pull myself together.
Warm, steady hands wrapped around my shoulders, the heat of the palms almost burning my chilled skin through the fabric of my sleeveless shirt. Blinking fast, I cleared my vision just enough to see the shifter’s face and the worry clouding his green eyes. Sucking in a shuddering breath, I tried speaking but only one word came out.
“Veronica …”
He waited a long moment, but when nothing else came he spoke warily. “Was that the one who was executed?”
Unable to answer, I nodded jerkily as I fought to suck in a full breath.
“She was your family?” At that point, I wondered if he actually enjoyed this. Torture would’ve been preferred over talking about the one I’d lost. The sadness I saw in his gaze was the only thing that made me continue punishing myself.
“My best friend,” I croaked. “The only family I had left.”
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn.” Hearing my name pass his lips pulled me out of the darkness that was dragging me into the never-ending abyss.
I acutely felt the loss of his warmth when one of his hands lifted off my shoulder, but my eyes fluttered closed when his fingers tangled in my hair and he smoothed it away from my face. My eyes snapped open when he cupped my cheek, the rough skin of his thumb wiping away the tears that kept rolling down my cheeks and soaking into the front of my shirt. My body leaned forward, the need to crash my lips to his and lose myself in the animalistic urge of lust so I could stop thinking about Veronica pushing me to do the stupidest thing ever. Still focused on my tearful gaze, he did the same, leaning forward until our faces were so close I could feel his warm breath on my lips. Then his eyes dropped to my neck where my pendant swayed with my movement and his hand jerked back as if I’d burned him, the movement so full of force he almost fell on his ass.
“You need to feed,” he spat in disgust while jumping to his feet and avoiding my startled gaze.
“I’m good, but thank you for caring.” My emotionless tone made him pause in his dash for the kitchen. “And thank you for saving me.” The tone of my voice told him I hated that he did it. “Why did you attack the Syndicate?” I spoke to his back. “What was that smoke you used to turn them aggressively at each other?” nothing came forward, so I continued. “ Who was it that made you save my life? You won’t answer any of my questions, will you?”
The shifter didn’t answer, nor did he turn to look at me. He disappeared, returning to the small living room with a brown rabbit wiggling in his large hand. I stared at it blankly for long enough that he actually shoved it under my nose, which only made me flinch away from it.
“Take it.” He waved the poor creature in my face. “It isn’t much, but it’ll be enough until you can go find something on your own. I’d like to sleep with both eyes closed tonight instead of worrying that you might want a snack.”
“You can’t be serious.” Slapping his hand away when he brought the writhing creature in front my face again, I scowled at him. “I can control my urges just fine, I assure you. Starving or not, the last place I’d want to satisfy my hunger would be your throat.”
He didn’t look convinced, so my glare deepened.
“Move the damn thing out of my face.” He tensed when I bared my fangs, but I had to give him credit for not pouncing to attack me thanks to my aggressive display.
“We will do it your way.” Frowning at the rabbit in his hand, he shrugged his wide shoulders. “But the moment I feel your eyes on my pulse, I’ll end you. Am I clear?”
“You have no idea,” I drawled, the whole rabbit thing paired with his show of compassion bringing some sort of control to my turbulent emotions.
I was still numb from losing Veronica, and the guilt would be my companion for a very long time, but I decided in that moment that locking up the crippling pain would serve me best. There would be plenty of time to grieve for my friend. I owed her something more than crying over the loss of her life. I owed her revenge. Until tonight, all I’d wanted was to screw the Syndicate in ways that they’d never guess until it was too late. Now I had better motivation.
The Council would pay for her death with their lives.
After I took everything they cared for from them.
Pushing up on my feet, I blew out a breath and straightened my clothing, rubbing at my eyes with the backs of my hands. I would not dishonor my friend by moping around like some fool. She would be disappointed at how pathetic and weak I was if I dealt with the situation that way. Good thing my little rebellions left me with a lot of favors to collect. Ignoring the wary way the shifter was watching me, I headed right for the door.
“Where do you think you are going?” he growled at my back, dropping the poor creature on the floor. I watched it bolt under the sofa.
“To visit a friend.” Turning away and yanking the door open, I didn’t close it because he was already breathing down my neck. “I guess you’ll be coming along then.”
“Until I decide what to do with you, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
My body shook a little and I shivered from the barely contained promise of violence in his deep voice. Unable to help myself, I looked at him over my shoulder. The intensity in his green gaze took my breath away.
