The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,91

with need and hunger.

“I’m freezing, and you’re walking around in the snow, barefoot,” I said, desperate for a distraction. “You’re absolutely the insane one.”

He stopped walking, his humor disappearing as he stared at me.

“I was kidding,” I said quickly. “I don’t think you’re insane. I’m jealous and wish I could stay warm like you.”

“I like that. That’s what I want,” he said.

“Huh?”

“Your honesty. With me. With yourself. Whatever you were thinking when I was walking toward you made your scent change. It didn’t match what you said. I can never tell if you’re lying to me or yourself in those moments.”

“Right. Unconditional trust.”

“Wrong. Unconditional honesty. Give me that, and I’ll go try to sleep.”

“I think I’m supposed to get something out of these deals too, aren’t I? You’re getting honesty and sleep out of this, and I’m getting nothing.”

“Fair enough. You get one ‘Fenris, stop pushing me’ a day while you’re giving me unconditional honesty.”

“You’ve already been respecting my requests not to push.”

He started moving again, prowling closer to me. The smile didn’t change, but his gaze did. I shivered again, feeling more like prey and less like a predator.

“Fenris, cut it out.”

He didn’t stop. Instead, he leaned in and inhaled deeply, teasing the side of my neck with his soft exhale.

“No.”

I fisted my hands as the dark thing inside of me responded to the challenge in his tone.

“I’m trying to help you, Fenris. Please, stop.”

“And I’m trying to help you, Eliana. I don’t think stopping is helpful anymore. I think you need more pushing. So I’m going to push, and you’re going to be honest about what you’re thinking and feeling.”

“Fine. You want to act like a sleep-deprived bully and lose all your friends? Go ahead. I’m not making that deal with you.”

“That’s your fear talking,” he said. His hands gripped my sides, and he slowly pulled me against him so we were flush.

I couldn’t stop shaking.

“Let me go.” The words were a broken rasp.

“Unconditional honesty.”

“I wanted to lick you. I still do. The way you smell reminds me of the cakes I dream about. I think all the time I’m spending with you is why I dream about them. I want to feed on you so badly right now that it hurts. But not as much as the idea of turning you into my dad.

“There were nights he would wail in his sleep. I’d hold him through it all then spoon-feed him oatmeal in the morning. I didn’t go to school those days because I was so terrified that when I came home, he wouldn’t be there. That I’d be alone. Maybe I won’t break you. Maybe I will. But I absolutely will break someone when I give in to this thing eating me from the inside because I’m so hungry that once I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop until I’m bloated with the energy of everyone near me. And when I am? When I come back to myself? I’m not sure I’ll be able to live with myself. So I’m damned either way.”

Speaking my deepest, darkest fears helped ground me enough to pull away and look at Fenris. His eyes were closed, but I could feel his pity.

Placing a hand on his chest, I stole it from him.

“Go home, Fenris. Go to bed.”

His form shimmered as he shifted. As soon as he disappeared, I called Jenna and started walking.

“I found him at the tree. You’re right. He’s not acting like himself. But I made a deal with him, and he’s heading home to go to bed.”

“Thank you so much. Do you want me to come find you?”

My hunger twisted inside of me at the idea of Jenna seeking me out.

“No, I can follow my tracks out again.”

“Are your teeth chattering?”

I grimaced. “A little. I’ll be fine once I’m in the car.”

“We won’t forget how you helped.”

Shivering, I said goodbye and hurried back to the parking lot. All I needed was the peace of Fenris’s cabin, a nap, and some chocolate to take the edge off of my hunger.

However, I didn’t stop shivering even with the fire roaring and chocolate in my belly. Tiredly, I sat in the chair and stared at the flames.

My breathing slowed, and I gave in to sleep’s welcoming embrace.

Lost and alone, I restlessly walked amid barren trees. The feeling that I needed to find something drove me to keep moving even as my middle cramped. The pain grew with each step, and my gaze desperately searched the branches, but