Is it sad that he’s my Prince Charming? That no other man will ever hold a candle to him? That I accept every dark deed he’s ever done and encourage him to commit more.
Perhaps it’s me who’s the worst of us, because while he may be a psycho killer, he’s never encouraged me to give in to my base desires.
And I all but demand it of him.
Eager for Hunter to return, I try to distract myself and go up to the rooftop to inspect the chicks, frowning when I see that two of them didn’t make it.
Hunter accounted for this and assured me we’d be fine losing up to forty percent of the hatchlings, but it still feels like a gut punch.
The chicks help me feel somewhat close to normal, which I know I’ll never be, but the illusion is so tempting.
I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Hunter approaching.
“How is he?” I ask.
“Still surviving.”
I ball my hands into fists. “I’d like to remedy that.”
He frowns, which isn’t typical. He’s not one to flaunt his emotions, and the one he shows most is anger. But it’s rare that I even see that.
“Let me take care of him,” he offers.
My brow pinches together. “You? As in alone?”
“I can give you the revenge you crave.”
“But that’s not enough. I have to be there.”
I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I like it even less when he looks away.
“What are you not telling me?” I demand.
“I’ve told you everything.”
“About Brett.”
“He’s looking thin, keeps to himself. There is a guy he trades with. After I’m done with Brett, I’ll keep an eye on him to see what misdeeds he’s guilty of and if they require judgment.”
“If everything is fine, why are you trying to convince me to stay behind?”
“I’m very particular about my work, and slight deviations could make the experience less satisfying. You are much larger than a slight deviation.”
Offended, I move past him, too angry to formulate a reply.
“I could take pictures, if you’d like.”
Fuck silence. I pivot on my heels to face him, glaring daggers. “I want to be there—Ineedto be there. Don’t take this from me!”
“Dead is dead, and I’ll make sure he suffers for what he’s done to you.”
“That’snotenough! It willneverbe enough. I need to see it—to experience it—to do something more than watch.”
“You want to torture him?”
“Not start to finish, but maybe I can cut off one of his ears or something.”
“And you think that will sate you?”
