The shaking finally stops, and I sink my body into his.
Was I wrong about him?
Ezra feels safe, his hands feel kind, and his warmth brings me peace.
“Jameson was human, Aurora. He belonged to an organization called the Disciples—”
“The Disciples of Humanity’s Light,” I whisper into Ezra’s shoulder.
Ezra keeps tracing those peaceful circles on my back, making me want to purr in his ear.
He leans back so he can look into my eyes.
“Did he tell you who the Disciples are? Did he tell you what he was?”
“I-I noticed a tattoo of a flower on his wrist and commented on it. He told me that some cult he was in as a child used it for their ceremonies. To keep monsters away. In a fucked-up way, I guess he told me the truth. I just didn’t listen.”
Haunting images of hands wrapped tightly around my neck invade my thoughts while hot, angry tears stream down my face again.
Louie’s there in a heartbeat, nosing at my hand, grounding me with steady warmth and the kind of patience only she can manage.
“Nothing that happened tonight is your fault, Aurora,” Ezra says. “Jameson was, from what I can tell, a highly ranked hunter in the Disciples. He had access to magic and secrets meant to kill the underborne. That’s how he found you.”
“Oh …”
Nothing about this makes any sense.
“Where is he now?”
Louie and Ezra exchange a conspiratorial look, then Louie says, “Ezra took care of that monster.”
He looks away from me for a long moment. When his eyes return to mine, there’s a hint of regret now swirling within the storm.
Ezra exhales slowly, eyes flicking to mine, gauging my reaction.
“Aurora, I must tell you something about myself. Something that may earn me another well-deserved ‘fuck off.’”
He pauses. His throat moves as he swallows, which is super distracting.
“Just know that I would honor your request, but I will never stop protecting you, even if it’s from a distance.”
He waits, allowing what he just said to sink in. I should be nervous. Maybe I am.
But honestly? What more could there be?
It’s been a seriously fucked-up night. My neck is throbbing, and I’m exhausted.
“Can we skip the cryptic shit and get to it? I’d really like to go to bed.”
My little flame of rage flares back to life. I was afraid I lost it after my ordeal with Jameson, but it feels stronger than before.
Plus, I’m proud I took that motherfucker’s dick while he screamed like a little bitch.
Maybe that’s why Ezra’s touch doesn’t disgust me the way it should.
Ezra looks startled. But he doesn’t hesitate.
“I … fuck … I can only consume human flesh. I’ve tried animal flesh, but it makes me ill. For the past few thousand years, though, I’ve dined solely on those who have done terrible things like murder, rape, child abuse, and the like. And before you get any ideas about me being some sort of hero, I only do this because they taste better than other humans. Tonight is the first time I consumed someone outside of my feeding cycle. Jameson had to die for what he did to you, so Louie kept watch while I took my time devouring him. His flesh was so sweet, Aurora. He caused a great deal of pain and death during his short, pathetic life.”
