“I don’t need your protection. You’re a monster.”
That really depends on the definition of monster that’s being used. “I’m fae.”
But so are the gyfnosau, so she’s not that wrong, but she’s not that right either. However, it’s not a discussion to be had in the open while I’m bleeding.
I steer out of the park and onto the street. I’m about to open up the bike when she snatches the key out of my hand.
“This is my building.” Her fingers are sticky red in the streetlight, and she fumbles the key.
I stop the bike. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” She looks up at me. “Why are you helping me, you’re one of them?”
“I’m not.” I swing the bike into a parking spot and turn it off. “Not exactly.”
Does she not realize that she is fae?
A cop car turns onto the street. If she wants to make my life hell, she’ll get their attention. But what is she going to tell them? That she was attacked by faery dogs and then attacked me?
“Think very carefully about what you do next,” I whisper.
She swallows. “What are you?”
“I told you. I’m fae, the true kind, not the monster kind from the outer realms.” She’s stares up at me with wide blue eyes that glint gold when they catch the light, like I’m speaking the old tongue, not modern English. I might as well tell her the truth, so I add, “you’re fae.”
That’s why she could see the gyfnosau. The human cops won’t, they’ll die and leave a bloody mess that someone will probably explain away with biker gang violence. That’s what usually happens. Us riders may have contributed to that myth as it helps us cover up what would otherwise be dangerous for humans to know.
The cop car slows even further as it sees us.
We need cover. I lean down to kiss her. Our lips meet and I feel like I’ve taken a shot of tequila straight from the bottle. Her lips part, and I take the invitation to taste more of her.
For a second, she’s illuminated by the headlights of the cop car. My injured leg is hidden by her body but if I have to climb off the bike and make nice with the cops, it will be all over as they’ll want to know where the blood came from.
Then the light is gone, and she shoves me away.
“Why did you do that?”
“So the cops didn’t ask us questions.” And to keep her quiet. “You going to invite me in?”
I can see the hesitation in her eyes. I don’t blame her. Getting attacked by gyfnosau is an inauspicious start to anyone’s night, but I wouldn’t mind ending it in her bed.
“No.” She breaks free and stands. The contents of her bag spill onto the street.
She curses. I watch her pick things up, before sighing and getting off the bike to help. Not because I’m nice, but because I want her off the street and safe inside.
I want to be off the street.
I grab up the last few items. “Can we please go in? Now.”
There are at least three cop cars circling the park, and I have no idea how many gyfnosau are waiting for the chance to take a bite out of both of us. They’re hungry and seeking something from faery to fill them up.
She looks up. “You’re bleeding.”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
She swallows and looks at her bag. I know she’s weighing her odds.
“If I wanted to hurt you, I’d be taking you tomyhome. We’d be safer there.”
