not to touch you.”
He remained by the door, still shaking lightly.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep alone.” I hated admitting it, but it was true.
“Why?” he asked softly.
“Because I don’t know who I’ll be when I wake up.”
“Be who you are now.”
“I don’t even know who that is anymore.”
“You’re a hunter. A warrior woman who helps kill hellhounds. Who protects and gathers for her family.”
I smiled slightly at the fact that he’d already heard about what had happened while he was gone. Fey were terrible gossipmongers.
Thallirin returned to the bed and pulled me close to his chest.
“You’re also like me. Lost in a new world, looking for something to anchor you. Something to make your life whole again. But you can stop looking and find peace, now. You are mine, Brenna, and I am yours.”
The simple statements wrapped around my heart. I yawned hugely and closed my eyes. Thallirin made me feel safe even when what I’d feared was myself.
“Sleep, Brenna.”
The faint sound of knocking woke me enough that I felt Thallirin untangle himself from my hold. Making a small noise in protest, I loosely grabbed for my personal fey body pillow. He chuckled, kissed my brow, and left.
I pouted with my eyes closed, drifting in that in-between state of sleep and awake. A soft murmur of voices pulled me from that pleasant, hazy state of being. Forcing my eyes open, I crawled out of bed to see who was there.
Zach grinned at me the minute I shuffled my way into the entry.
“You look like hell,” he said.
I squinted at his silhouette in the afternoon light.
“Since I only managed a few hours of sleep, I’m not surprised. What’s up?”
“We’re doing a cow run.”
“A what?”
He shook his head at me.
“Get dressed and come see. You can sleep later like a normal person.”
Thallirin looked at me, letting me decide what to do.
“Fine. I’ll be ready in a minute.”
I went back to the bedroom and started pulling on clothes.
“You can sleep more,” Thallirin said behind me.
“Nah. He’s right. If I keep sleeping now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“Damn straight, I’m right,” Zach called from the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes and closed myself into the bathroom while Thallirin dressed.
After a quick breakfast bar, Thallirin and I followed Zach out of the house. The first cow I spotted was wandering down a street. It mooed at us as we approached.
“Can we eat it?” I asked, eyeing its large belly.
“Not yet. According to the fey, every cow still alive was pregnant.”
“Really?” I glanced at Thallirin, who gave a brief nod.
“They were in a cement building away from the others. Someone had been caring for them. We think maybe one of the newcomers.”
“We have about thirty head of cattle.” Zach grinned at me. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
“Should I look for a cowboy hat for you next time we’re out?”
“I’d be much obliged.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Anyway, it’s dangerous having them all in one place. Drav talked it over with Matt, and Matt agreed. Tenacity will look after half the herd. We won’t be able to eat any until after they give birth. Richard and Matt were talking about a butchering plan. They want the cattle to sustain us long term, but we need to be sure we can sustain them. Not only are we going to need to raid towns for supplies, we’re also going to need to start raiding farms for feed.”
“Fun,” I mumbled.
Near Richard and Julie’s place, we found the majority of the cows grazing in an empty lot. Many of the fey were watching the animals, too. It wasn’t until I was staring at the walking hamburgers that I thought to question how the fey had even gotten them in here.
“It wasn’t easy,” Thallirin said. “The cows are heavy and don’t hold still.”
“The fey carried them over the wall,” Zach clarified. “Richard and Ryan are at Tenacity, now, engineering doors to get in and out. Want to come with us and check it out?”
I didn’t. Not really. Because if I went back to Tenacity, I couldn’t keep putting off deciding what to do about Van. I would have to talk to Matt and face Van. However, my desire to continue to avoid the situation was what prompted me to agree.
Zach beamed at me.
“I knew you wouldn’t want to miss out.”
I forced myself to smile while my stomach churned.
Zach ran off to let Garrett know we’d be going along.
“Are you still wondering who you are?” Thallirin asked.
Glancing at him,