“So Gunner’s taking you somewhere tonight?” Grace said, pulling her from her thoughts.
At the mention of the massive knight, Luna’s belly erupted into flutters. The same kind that fired to life when he fed her. They stayed the whole time he held her afterward as well. God, they grew stronger every day.
“Yep.” She chewed her lip and glanced up at Grace. “Do you think we’ll go outside? Maybe I’ll need a sweater.”
Grace grinned. “You like him?”
Luna nodded as she looked through the clothes that had arrived today. “He’s kind.”
Every night, after he’d been out hunting, he knocked on her door, freshly showered and smelling delicious. As soon as she laid eyes on him, she couldn’t stop herself from moving closer. He let her hug him, then he’d lead her to the bed and hold her while she fed.
Last night, after he’d lain with her a while, she’d almost asked him to stay. She liked being with him.
Who was she kidding? She more than liked it. When he went back to his own room, she wanted him to come back.
Maybe you’re transferring your dependency on Sir, and his blood, to Gunner.
Was that all it was, this…this need to be near him?
She ran her fingers over the softness of the black sweater she’d chosen. No, that wasn’t it. It couldn’t be. She’d never missed Sir when he was gone.
But you didn’t feel emotion then either.
Even without emotion, she knew she didn’t want to be around Sir. He caused pain. Gunner gave her the opposite.
She ran her hand over the sweater again, then brought it up to her face to rub on her cheek. She’d never felt anything so soft in her life.
“I know you’re used to doing everything yourself, but if you need anything, if you want to talk or ask me something…anything, I’m here for you,” Grace said.
Luna smiled at the other female, but it was hard to meet Grace’s eyes. “You’re so kind to me Grace…you have…god, every reason to hate me. Now that I’m starting to understand emotions, feelings, the reality of what I did…” Her throat tightened, cutting her off, and her eyes stung.
Grace closed the space between them. “I don’t blame you, Luna. I would have done the same in your shoes. I’d do anything to keep my family safe. Anything. I think we’re more alike than you think. I want us to be friends, okay? We look out for each other here. All of us, especially the females in this room. We’re here for you, whatever it is. We have your back.”
Mia, Eve, and Meredith all moved closer as well.
“We’re glad you’re here, Luna,” Mia said.
Eve smiled at her gently. “We’re your sisters now.” She chuckled softly. “Mia’s the sweet one, Merri’s the mother hen, and Grace is the big sister who will kick ass for you.”
Meredith scowled. “Mother hen? Gee, thanks.” Her gaze came to Luna. “Well, Eve’s the quiet one who secretly leads everyone astray. That female is a bad influence.”
Eve nudged her. “I am not! I’m the friendly one.”
Grace cackled. “Since I’ve been here, it’s always you that comes up with the secret plans to get the guys to do what we want. You are an evil genius.”
They all laughed, and instead of crying, Luna found herself joining them. She’d been doing that more often as well. It was exhilarating. She’d been using the internet a lot to help her identify her emotions. Putting names to the way she felt. Exhilarating was the best she could find for laughter.
Grace’s words moved through her, warm and comforting. She didn’t deserve their forgiveness. But right then, she really wished she could be part of their family. She wasn’t, though, and eventually, she’d have to leave. Spencer was somewhere in this city. He was alone, and he was all she had left. She needed to find him.
“Thank you…for everything. Coming here, meeting all of you, you showed me what kindness truly means, that it exists,” Luna said, grinning, that tight feeling in her throat trying to sneak back. “I hope we’ll still be friends, even when I’m gone.”
Grace frowned. “Gone?”
Yep, now her eyes were stinging again as well. “I can’t stay forever. I’ll have to leave eventually, like all the other demi who come here,” she said as she sat on the end of the bed to pull on her boots, taking an extra moment to get it together.
When she glanced back up, the females were all watching her, eyes soft.