“Shh, stop talking.”The girl reached to touch him, but I caught her hand.“I’m not getting a bind,”she finally answered me.“I’m getting a servant. I’m gonna bind him and then he’s my… whatever. I haven’t decided what I’ll use him for yet. I just need him to agree out loud.”
“Let him go.” I blocked her from grabbing the man again, then shoved when she tried to get past me.
“What’s your issue?”She stopped trying to force her way between us.
“You. I wouldn’t bother if you were drinking or he actually wanted to be your bind, but you can’tjust be out here enslaving people.”
“What the fuck is happening?”
We both turned to the panickedman.
“Will you stop yelling? You’re giving me a headache.”She made a face at the man, then sized me up before making another move toward him.
I snatched her arm and yanked her around to face me.“I’m not leaving until you let him go.”
She sighed and shook her arm free.“Alright, fine. I don’t know who the hell you think you are for stopping me, but I’ll let him go. I guess.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much.”The man practically bowed to me before running away.
“Who are you, anyway?”
I turned to see her watching me.“Why do you care?”
She shrugged.“I like you. I’d bind you instead, if you weren’t already a vamp. You’re pretty cute.”
“What’s your name?”I asked, equally curious about her.“I think I like you too. You seem fun.”
She laughed and smiled.“I’m Fiona.”
“Emy?” Ari’s voice came, followed by crunching leaves. “What’s happening?” She emerged from the thick trees.
“I heard people fighting and wanted to help.”
“Oh.” Her eyes went to Fiona.
“It was her,” I added. “She was trying to bind some guy against his will, but I stopped her. And now we’re becoming friends, I think?” I smiled at Fiona’s melodic laugh. I hadn’t noticed before, but it was unusually pleasant.
“I think.” She smirked and held out a hand. “You’re Emy?”
“Emery, but I go by Emy.”
“Emery,” she caressed my hand in place of shaking it, “I love it. It’s beautiful. Like you.” She finally dropped my hand.
“Thanks?” I normally loved getting compliments, but this one was confusing. She’d started off so hostile, then became friendly. Now it seemed like she was flirting?
“Can I call you Emery? You know, if we run into each other again.”
“Sure.” I usually hated going by my full name, but for some reason I didn’t mind when she said it.
“And you are?” She turned to Ari.
“You were trying to force a bind on someone?” Ari’s voice was filled with disapproval.
Fiona shrugged.“Why not? A few months ago I would’ve done the same thing as Emery,” she shot me a fleeting smile, “but things have changed. I wanna get mine before everyone else takes them.”
“Before everyone takes what?”I was already confused.
“The good humans,”Ari answered for her.“I’m assuming?”
