Page 20 of Fangs
“I’m always alone,” I choked out, “and I hate it.”
“Not anymore,” he said in a low voice.
I shivered and pressed my face against his neck, trying to soak up his warmth. A hand pressed against my forehead again.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Godsdamnit.”
He shifted me over, and cold air filled the space his warm body had occupied. I shivered, trying to focus in the dim light. Who…where was I?
“Don’t leave,” I whimpered.
“I’m not leaving. I’m getting some snow,” a male voice answered.
“What?” I mumbled, trying to focus.
A body appeared at my side, startling me, and my lungs turned to stone when I met Juck’s gaze. I tried to make myself smaller as I studied his face. What mood was he in? If I didn’t get it right, I’d pay for it.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Nothin’,” I whispered, dropping my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizin’?”
Fuck, this was a trap. I didn’t know. What had I done? I couldn’t remember.
“I don’t…I didn’t mean to,” I tried, my voice shaking.
I didn’t look at his face, careful to keep my eyes down, but I tried to keep an eye on him in my peripheral vision. His hand moved toward me, and I braced myself for the blow.
“Ember, I am not gonna hurt you.”
Fear sizzled down my spine. He knew my name? How did he know my name? Did I tell?—
Something cold pressed against my face, and I jerked away.
“I know it’s cold,” he said, “but we gotta bring your fever down.”
Something was wrong with me. What was wrong with me? Fuck, was he going to drug me again?
“I’m fine,” I pleaded. “I don’t need, please don’t—” My gaze searched our surroundings for the small lockbox he kept the narcs in. “Please don’t drug me. Please. I swear I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
Icy cold pressed against my face again, and I tried to jerk away, but I couldn’t move. I was trapped.
“Please,” I begged, tears gathering in my eyes, “please don’t drug me.”
“I’m not gonna drug you,” he snapped.
Oh fuck, now he was mad.
“I’m sorry. I’m s-sorry,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.
The painful cold pressed against the side of my neck, and I cringed.
“I’m just tryin’ to bring your fever down,” he said in a gentle voice that made me more scared. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Freckles.”
I tried to stay alert as Wolf taught me, but a hot, heavy blanket suffocated my mind. I tried to speak and must have gotten words out because someone answered, but I couldn’t understand it. My body shivered, and I couldn’t make it stop. I needed to make it stop. I needed to keep myself under control.
“I don’t want…I don’t…” I blinked at the face above me. Words had been slipping off my tongue, but I had absolutely no idea what I’d been saying.
