She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. That, in essence, was what other people meant when they said they were sorry for her loss. But there were varying degrees of conviction. Some were genuine, others just wanted to get away from the uncomfortable emotions as quickly as they could.
But Mist didn’t understand platitudes, so when he said that, it was because he meant it. And being what he was, having experienced things she couldn’t imagine… His words meant everything.
She frowned suddenly. “When did you come back? Your friend made it sound like you were gone.”
His amber eyes shifted away. “I never left.”
“You didn’t?”
“I perched on the roof and told myself to go, but I could not.”
“Why not?”
One shoulder lifted slightly. “I wanted to watch over you. You weren’t supposed to know I was there, but I saw you through the window, and you had left it open…”
And he’d been concerned she was in danger, so he’d woken her. “Mist…”
Swallowing her customary lack of courage, she reached out and took his hand, threading their fingers together. He tracked her movements with a sharp gaze. He may have been in human form, but in every other way, he was still the Hunter.
“Thank you for coming back.”
“It would be better for us both if I could leave.”
“Maybe.” She dared to meet his gaze and offered a weak smile. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
He didn’t smile back. He just looked at her.
He was so handsome in this form, with his warm, desert skin and round, normal pupils. His fingers ended in blunt nails and there was nothing on his back except smooth skin and muscle. No wings, no tail.
It would be so easy to be with him like this, to forget what he really was and where he came from.
But this wasn’t truly him. Yes, his human form was part of who he was, but it was only a small part. If he could stand here, holding her hand and listening to her story without batting an eye at the fact that she was glowing like a bioluminescent jellyfish… then shouldn’t she do the same for him?
She took a breath. “Will you… shift for me?”
His eyes narrowed, and she didn’t miss the distrust and hurt that flashed in them, though it was quickly masked. She had put that look there, and while she didn’t blame herself for freaking out, it was time to get over it and make things right.
“Please?”
Slowly, he did. His eyes became yellow instead of amber, and the lemony glow filled the entire orb save for a vertical-slitted pupil in the center. Then, ashy gray bled over his skin, and when it reached his fingertips, claws grew from them.
His wings appeared at his back and unfolded, and she saw his shoulders relax as if he felt more comfortable with their weight. She wondered if it threw his balance off without them. His tail snaked out and wrapped around her ankle, the soft rope sliding up to her calf where it dangled off the counter, but this time it didn’t scare her.
Okay, so he scared her a bit. He was just sobig.
Her flat was old and had high ceilings, but his tall wings made them feel low. His hand was twice the size of hers, and when he curled his fingers around, her palm disappeared completely.
Heart racing, she lifted their joined hands and studied them. Her pale, glowing skin against his dark skin made her think of a Yin-Yang symbol.
“These look really sharp.” She tilted their hands so she could see his claws in the light cast from her body.
He said nothing, watching her with that hunter’s gaze.
She glanced up. “Can I see your teeth?” His lips were the same soft, kissable ones he had in human form, only they were nearly black.
He bared his teeth, and her eyes widened. No wonder he’d made that mark on her neck.
“Wow, those look even sharper.”
