Rooster lets out a breathy chuckle, the bastard.“Yeah?That’ll be the day hell freezes over.”He shrugs, unfazed, then flashes a shit-eating grin.“Can’t you take a joke?”
I throw him across the compound with a force that makes the earth shake beneath us.He stumbles, but somehow, the idiot lands on his feet like a damn cat.His eyes glint with amusement, but he’s wary.
“Not today,” I mutter, my eyes fixed on the door ahead.
It’s not just the door to a shack.It’s a reminder of everything we’ve done, everything I’ve done.I roll my neck, trying to shake off the tension gnawing at me.
Rooster is still watching me, half-grinning.“Don’t get soft on me, Vex.I know you’re notthatguy.”
My focus is now locked on the door.“I’m not,” I say, my voice hard, but there’s doubt creeping in the back of my head.I hate that it’s there.
Ignoring Rooster, I knock, the sound echoing through the still air, loud and final.There’s a long pause, too long, and I can feel my patience thinning.When no response comes, I wait another beat, then push the door open.The creak of the hinges slices through the silence.
Tessa is sitting in the chair, her back straight as a board, chin raised in that defiant way she’s always had.The moment our eyes meet, I swear, I can feel the heat of her anger on my skin.She doesn’t say anything, but I can almost see the fury radiating off her in waves.
Her eyes burn into mine, the kind of look that could gut a man if it had the chance.The space between us feels as if it’s charged with a thousand unspoken words, her gaze cutting deeper than anything else.
“You’re here,” she spits out, her voice dripping with contempt, and I know damn well she’s trying to make me feel every ounce of her hatred.
Stepping in, I close the door softly behind me, but I don’t move any closer.Not yet.I wait because I can smell her fear as well as her anger.
“Are you okay?”I ask, my voice is soft.Her rage is palpable, but so is her vulnerability.
Tessa waves a hand in the air as if she’s brushing off the question and makes a dismissive sound.“Pfft!”She’s pissed, but I can see a flicker of something behind that defiance.Something more human, more fragile.
“May I sit on the chair near you?”I ask, keeping my tone calm, even though every part of me wants to be anything but.
She nods once, and with a deep breath, I keep my hands held out at my sides, a non-threatening gesture.I take the seat opposite her, keeping the distance, respecting the space she’s carved out for herself.
“The funny thing is,” I say in a low, almost hesitant voice.“I was going to tell you.You’re the first woman in a long time who’s caught my attention.”
Tessa’s eyes flicker for a second, but then she narrows them, her lip curling into a half-smile that’s more bitter than anything else.“You were going to tell me you’re a...”she pauses, clearly weighing her words, before finishing with a scoff, “...a freak?”
I don’t flinch, but the word hits harder than I want it to.“I’m not like Ranger,” I mutter, shaking my head.
Her brow furrows, but there’s something behind her tough exterior that softens just a fraction.“What are you then?”
Dropping my head, eyes averted, the weight of her question is heavy.A beat of silence stretches between us, and I hold up a finger, trying to make this as less of a shock as possible.
“I promise not to hurt you,” I say, but my voice has a rough edge, a warning.“And please, try not to scream.”
Slowly, I raise my head, the motion deliberate so she can prepare.When I do, I see her eyes widen, then freeze.My fangs have lengthened, sharp as knives just below my jawline, and my eyes are white, the pupils and irises completely disappearing, leaving nothing but a blankness that matches the monster inside me.
She stands so fast that the chair clatters to the floor behind her, the sound echoing loudly in the small room.Her hands fly up in front of her as if she’s trying to shield herself from the sight of me.She stumbles backward, her face pale, lips parted in shock.
The high-pitched scream that rips from her throat fills the space, and I flinch, even though I know it’s coming.It’s the kind of scream that stings your soul, the kind that makes you realize just how much of a freak you are.
Before I can react, Rooster bursts through the door like a damn wrecking ball.“What the hell is—”
“Get out!”I roar at him, the growl in my throat sending him skittering back out of the room.
The door slams shut behind him, and I’m left in the heavy silence with Tessa, her body trembling violently.My gaze softens, but I don’t dare approach her just yet.
Carefully and without haste, I retract my fangs, the sharpness dulling, the length disappearing, the thrum of power ebbing away.When they’re gone, I know my eyes are returning to their normal shade of brown, the monster momentarily caged.
But the damage is done.Tessa is still shaking, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and I can feel every ounce of her fear in the air between us.
“V-vampire?”she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper, her body still trembling as her eyes dart between my mouth and the door, trying to figure out if she can make a run for it.
