“Not at all.” My eyes begin to lower as I try to keep focused on the fire.
Cameron’s light laughter shakes against my side. “Well, try to pretend you do.”
A smile pulls at my lips, and for a few seconds, I do try to pretend she’s someone worthy of trust. It isn’t hard to believe she’s a kind person.
Carver’s beautiful lavender eyes narrow on the two of us snuggling on the log. He stands abruptly. I watch him as he strides off into the night just like the others.
A line creases my brows. His odd behavior churns curiosity through me.
Is he jealous? Is that what jealousy looks like? Is he... turned on?Images of him hiding away in his tent to stroke at himself quickly come to mind. I force myself to think of anything else.
A swirling calm begins to drift through my mind. It pulls all through my tired body. Muscle by muscle, my body goes limp.
Her magic.
I lift my chin until I’m looking up at the glittering stars, struggling to keep my eyes open. Her palm pulls my head to lean into her shoulder again.
“You’re okay,” she says quietly.
My lashes flutter, sleep pulls at my consciousness.
“What are you?” I mumble.
But my thoughts slip away before she ever replies.
* * *
I wish I could say I dream. I wish my mind gifted me beautiful things to believe in. Only hours of emptiness come. It’s peaceful and nice.
My body jostles awake. A chirping sound filters through my thoughts early the next morning. My eyes open as Nollix tugs hard at the zipper of my tent.
My tent... ?
“Wake the fuck up, thief.”
Three shadows block out the morning sunlight.
It takes me a second to realize my face is buried in a thick blanket, Cameron’s lean body sprawled out at my side.
I roll away from her, sitting up before I’m even fully awake.
“Found a way to detach you two.” Nollix glares down at Cameron, and I peer at the three of them hovering.
Cameron sits up slowly, her squinting and tired eyes held on the Wild Hunt. She’s right to be apprehensive. As powerful as I think Cameron is, these three are deadly.
“We made an appointment with a Warlock this morning,” Jeriko says with a smile that makes me think of the devil himself.
“A Warlock?” I kick the blankets off, and my attention settles on Carver.
“Warlocks will be able to break this bond.” He nods to the space between Cameron and me.
A strange feeling of loss fills my chest. It presses in on me until I swallow it down hard.
What if I don’t want the bond broken? What if I like having someone to hold me and help me sleep at night?
My arms fold slowly over my chest as I realize I’m being irrational. I can’t keep this woman like a pet. Even if she is a really good pet.
"Why are you so eager to get rid of me?” Cameron scrubs at her face. “Am I so bad?”
