“I don’t know, but this isn't normal. There's no scent, no residual energy, no broken lock or busted latch. If it weren’t for the brick and the bootprints, I’d think I was imagining it.”
“He knows where I sleep,” she says quietly.
My body tenses around her, arms locking like steel around her back.
“You won’t be sleeping here anymore, Lumi. You’re coming back to the cabin.” I tell her. “He doesn’t just know where you sleep. He was inside your house. He made you tea?—”
“He what?”
I wince. “When I got to your apartment, there was a cup of chamomile on your nightstand. Still warm. I—I shattered the mug. I’m sorry.”
“Chamomile? Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. My nose isverysensitive.”
Her body tenses in my arms.
“Why is chamomile significant?” I ask, bracing myself.
“I have over 20 boxes of different flavored tea in my cupboard. Chamomile is the only flavor I drink.” She sniffles. “I keep all the others because they were Anna’s.”
“They’ve been watching you for a while.” Another growl shakes my chest. “This wasn’t random.”
“You haven’t noticed anyone new hanging around your building? At work?”
“No, and I usually pick up on that kind of thing—especially after what happened with...” she trails off.
“There was a note on your table. I didn't get the chance to read it—I was too worried about you. The front said: "I could have.”
“Let’s go back inside?—”
“We’re going to the cabin.”
“I am going back to the apartment to check that note. You can do whatever you want.”
I tilt my head slowly, antlers catching the moonlight. Her gaze catches on mine—and I feel the moment she truly sees what I am—a creature.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Oh? ” she snaps, pushing against my chest. “I wasn’t asking for permission.”
I catch her wrists before she can pull away.
“Then what do you suggest?” she demands. “That I just follow you and ignore the note sitting in my apartment?” I’m not going with you, Andrik. I need to see it for myself.”
My claws tighten gently around her wrists. I dip my head close enough that my breath grazes her cheek.
“You want to know what I suggest, Lumi?”
She doesn’t answer.
“I suggest you stop giving him exactly what he wants.”
“Excuse you?” she snarls.
“He’s playing a game with both of us. He didn’t leave that tea just for you—he left it for me to find. He wanted me to see what I missed. How close he got. He wanted you confused and scared, and now you’re about to do exactly what he hoped for.”
“You’re not going to manipulate me into this,” she shrieks.
