I’m hers.
She leans into me, cheek against my chest, arms wrapping around my ribs. I hold her, counting her heartbeats, watching the sun peel apart the clouds through the broken roof.
For a second, I think we could stay here forever.
But the world is waiting, and the Hunt never really ends.
She pulls away and stands, wobbly but determined. She wipes her face, smears away the blood, and looks at me with eyes that have seen the end and survived.
I zip up, fix her dress, and brush the hair from her forehead.
“Ready?” I ask.
She nods. “Let’s go show them what’s up.”
We step out into the morning together.
No one will ever touch her again.
Not unless they want to die.
And my father is first on that list.
Chapter 15: Eve
Wemakeitoutof the woods just as the sun starts to bleed across the field. My knees are raw, the white dress stuck to my legs with cold sweat and mud, every muscle in my body threatening mutiny. Colton holds my hand like it’s the last parachute on a crashing plane, grip so tight my fingers tingle.
He leads me back to the field, but it’s empty, so we just turn and head back to the Academy.
Neither of us says a word. There’s still so much adrenaline flowing through me that the silence is nice.
Healing.
To be completely honest, as barbaric as the terms of the Night Hunt is…
I loved it.
The thrill of running, hoping and dreading being caught is something I’ll never experience again.
And to top it off, Colton did exactly as he said. He didn’t hurt me. And my fuck was it the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced in my Goddamn life.
The campus is empty. The staff must have instructions to look away. We pass through the quad, up the back steps so we don’t run into anyone.
His dorm is an entire wing and music floods into the hall from under the door as he nudges it open and leads me in.
The rest of the Boys are already inside, chattering about the Hunt and how there is already video of the chase on the private server.
They grab beers from the fridge and flop onto the couch, barely acknowledging us as we come in. There’s a minute where the only sound is the click and hiss of cans and laughter.
Then Julian raises his beer, just barely, and tips it at Colton. Bam does the same. Rhett only nods, but his eyes linger, like he’s checking to see if I’m going to combust.
There’s a rhythm here. I can’t see it, but I feel it. Like a script they’ve all memorized. Comradery, brotherhood and just a smidge of mistrust.
Bam wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and says, “We’re grilling at my place tonight. Bring her if you want.”
Colton grunts. It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no, either.
Julian glances at me, his stare cold but not cruel. “She’s tough. Nice job, Eve.”
