I didn’t know whether to sigh or laugh. “You really are immature, Halo.”
“Hey, that was four hundred years ago, okay?” he muttered. “I mean, not that I feel any different now, but…” He shrugged. “It ended up being a good thing anyway, right?”
I couldn’t deny that much, even though his original intention wasn’t as pure as I thought.
“You know, I still don’t know the specifics of how that thing works,” I said. “I remember one of the Knights mentioning that the barrier burns anyone who isn’t allowed inside, but he might have been biased so I don’t know if it’s true.”
Halo’s smile faded. “It’s true.”
“What? Wait, burns them how?”
He stared down the street, not looking at me. “It sets them on fire. It’s clear magic infused with fire magic, my strongest natural element. So whoever has an energy signature the barrier doesn’t recognize… Well.”
“It - Halo, that - ”
“What? Do you have a problem with it now?” he asked, facing me.
I honestly didn’t know what to feel. It was what Commander Sterling had suggested, and the entire purpose was to protect our tribe, but...
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It just seems a little extreme.”
Halo shrugged. “There were dangerous people trying to hurt us back then, Kass.”
I would have missed it if I blinked. Something dark flashed across his eyes. It seemed like Halo was gone for a moment, back in the past. His normal self returned a second later and he continued.
“All I did was solve a problem. I was only trying to help people. And it’s not like it’s unsafe now. Remember? Luce and those other foxes said the guards let them in.”
I didn’t doubt that, despite his comment about getting back at Sterling and everyone else, he had our tribe’s best interest at heart. He truly did love Cinderhollow and its people, even if they didn’t feel the same towards him.
I nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
His brows raised. “That’s surprising to hear, coming from you.”
“I’m trying this new thing where I try to be more critical of my actions.”
“I see. Well, I like it.” Halo grinned and brushed his hand against my arm. “Being critical of your actions looks good on you.”
The strange flash of darkness in his eyes was completely gone now. I wondered if I’d imagined it. Part of me wanted to ask, but the way Halo dragged his nails gently up the sensitive skin of my wrist made me shudder and push the question aside. Being here in the moment with him was more important than whatever happened in the past.
We had all the time in the world now; I could always ask him later.
* * *
After some shopping toreplace Halo’s torn shirt and my lack of a jacket, we returned to the motel room.
“Is it just me, or are the people in the present time like,reallytall?” Halo complained as he flopped down on the bed. “I swear there were more people my height four hundred years ago. Especially other omegas.”
“Therehasbeen a lot of different shifter species mating over the centuries,” I pointed out. “Maybe that has something to do with it.”
“Probably a giraffe shifter out there fucking everyone, or something,” Halo muttered.
I chuckled as I finished putting away the clothes in the closet. I hoped the fabric didn’t absorb that musty motel scent by the time we left - whenever that would be.
As if reading my mind, Halo asked. “Hey, not to sound ungrateful or anything, but do you think we can find another place to stay that’snota motel room?”
“A place?” I said. “As in… a home?”
He shuffled. “Well, yeah.”
