Getting out of bed, I looked over my shoulder at him.
“Why do I have to shower and you don’t? You could join me.”
I loved the way his gaze heated at the thought.
“I will shower later when I can kneel at your feet and taste you until you beg and say my name. Then we will return to the bed and I will—”
I held up a hand.
“Nope. You’re just teasing me now. You better deliver on all your promises or you’re the one who’ll get bitten next.”
Even under the straining confines of his pants, his dick twitched. I grinned and walked away, already thinking of what I’d bite first.
It wasn’t until I was headed downstairs that I remembered what awaited. Leaving. The idea scared me, but not with the complete hopeless terror that had ruled my life for so long.
I still knew there was a very real chance I could die out there. But I’d also heard what Nancy was saying yesterday. I couldn’t keep hiding from my reality. Like the drinking, hiding wouldn’t make the truth go away.
Emily had hot cinnamon rolls waiting on the counter for me when I appeared.
“Any chance you’d rather stay here and help me make more of these today?” she asked.
The dark circles under her hopeful eyes made me feel guilty. Instead of sitting, I moved around the counter and hugged her tightly.
“I need to go. I don’t want to be the person I’ve been since I got here, anymore.”
“But you’re not.”
“I’m starting not to be. But I need to finish. I need to face the reality of what’s out there and stop hiding from it. Let me do this.”
She pulled back and looked into my eyes before nodding.
I gave her another quick hug and grabbed my roll to go since Merdon had already finished his.
“We’ll be back before dark,” he promised Emily.
“Okay.”
She looked so sad and unhappy as I started for the door. I couldn’t leave her like that.
“Hey, would you mind if I screamed a little during sex?”
Her expression went blank before disbelief then humor painted her features.
“I’ll pound on the walls if I want you to take it down a notch,” she said. “I’ll make sure it’s loud enough that you’ll hear it over the bed squeaking.”
I laughed as I left and hoped I’d return in the same mood.
Merdon carried my bow and a quiver I’d never seen before so I could finish eating my roll. It sat heavy in my stomach and churned with my worry, but I didn’t regret eating it. If I was going to die today, I’d die happy. Merdon and I were good. So were Emily and I. Even Mary had pretty much forgiven me for my bad behavior, even though the behavior that set her off hadn’t been my fault.
I licked my fingers clean then took my things from Merdon.
“Are you worried?” I asked him.
His gaze lingered on my face before he focused on the road once more.
“I will always worry about you,” he said. “I worry less knowing that you will listen.”
I grinned slightly.
“I think I like getting bossed around in bed. I’m not sure about daily life, though.”
His scowl deepened.
“Do not test me, Hannah.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
We reached the wall and found the volunteer fey already mingling there, having quiet conversations. Brenna and Thallirin were still missing.
“How many humans will be on this trip?” I asked Merdon, my gaze on the excited Tasha, who was talking animatedly to Uan.
“Five. You, Tasha, and Brenna will ride in the two trucks with Garrett and Ryan.”
It reassured me to know there wouldn’t be many of us. That meant more fey paying attention to our safety.
As soon as the missing members joined us, Merdon picked me up and jumped over the wall. The sudden drop to the other side didn’t help settle my stomach. I tucked my face into his chest as he ran and waited for the second jump.
Matt was waiting inside Tenacity’s walls when we arrived.
“Morning,” he called. His observant gaze caught on me. “You look like you’re doing better, Hannah.”
“I am. Thank you.”
He nodded and handed Ryan two keys.
“They’re all yours. We’re ready to welcome whatever stock you want us to watch over for you.”
“How’s the last haul of feed holding up?” Ryan asked.
“Good. That farmer has been a real help in educating all of us on how to care for the cows. This plan to share knowledge is a good one. The three fey who’ve been coming over daily