Page 49 of Trapped By Claws
Yes.
Sweet night…
I hugged him, my chin pressed to his shoulder as I placed my hand over his.
Was he even awake?
His hand tightened over mine.
My heart pounded faster, my tongue thickening in my mouth. "Am I bothering you?"
"No. But I still don't want to talk. I need to think. Forgive me."
I squeezed his hand in response, then rested my cheek against his shoulder. He was a fair bit bigger than me. My being the big spoon was almost comical, but I wanted to comfort him. Even with all the questions that rose within me. Even knowing he was the reason I was down here. I just—I felt bad for him.
Tagger climbed up on us both and snuggled in. His tail flicked at Corvin's cheek before he tucked his tail around his hindquarters.
No trace of the striking cologne Corvin wore remained. We all smelled like fish, blood, must, and smoke. Yet it didn't make me want to pull away.
I just wanted him to feel better.
At last I fell asleep.
No dreams reached me.
When I woke, something felt changed. My eyes flew open.
Corvin and Tagger were gone.
CERTAIN
Isat up, fear surging through my veins. "Corvin? Tagger?" The blankets had been tucked around me, but they slid away as I jumped to my feet.
Even without the lack of response, I knew they were gone. The cavern felt empty without them, even with the stew simmering on the woodstove.
A piece of paper sat on the table under my spoon.
My spoon was fixed? The end was blackened from the flames, two of the runes burned away. But…he'd fixed it?
Somehow.
I picked up the paper then. It showed two stick figures and a small stick blob, one holding up a hand and the small stick blob, the other figure standing. Stay, maybe? Was the stick blob a hand? He and Tagger were going somewhere, but they'd be back?
I shook my head, dragging my fingers through my tangled hair. Worry flared within me. Not simply for Mama. Not just for me. For them.
Nothing had better happen to that stupid fae shifter or his ridiculous otter. I clenched my fists, tears leaking down my cheeks.
Sniffling, I wiped my face and tried to find something to occupy my time. There was no way out right now. I almost thanked the Creator for that. Because that kept me from having to make a choice. A choice I should never have to make.
I belonged with Mama, taking care of her and making sure that she was all right. Even if I had been on the verge of telling her I'd had enough and we were going to settle down or I'd find my own path. And yet, thinking of leaving Corvin here—I pushed the thoughts away, my heart hammering.
He wasn't my mate. I was just a human.
I paced, examined the mini-crossbow, found the spare bolts in my pocket, and then made sure it was all in working order. Not that it would do much good here, but it soothed me to do something familiar.
I then read to distract myself, barely absorbing the words. He'd asked me to swear to stay. And I hadn't really answered him. He hadn't been angry either. Yet guilt rose within me.
What was wrong with me?
