I wince. “I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s fine.” He squeezes my hand. “Adelaide was the worst. I’d see her standing there constantly. I’m not sure if it’s because she was the youngest, or because she was the reason.”
We splash through a deeper section, the water rising to our waists.
“Why did you think I was another hallucination?” I ask, remembering our first conversations through the wall.
“Can you blame me? A beautiful voice appearing in the darkness after years of isolation? It seemed too good to be true.”
“Beautiful, huh?”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
I smile. “What would you have done if I had been just another voice in your head?”
“Enjoyed the company, I suppose. Your particular brand of sarcasm is a definite improvement over the guilt trips my other hallucinations specialize in.”
“Glad to hear I rank higher than your guilt-induced delusions.”
“Top tier hallucination, that’s you.”
We round a bend, and the tunnel widens slightly. The water level drops to our knees, making walking easier.
“Your turn,” Kier says.
“For what?”
“To share. Fair exchange and all that. I told you about mine, now you tell me yours.”
“What do you want to know?”
“You’re the Beta of Shadowmist. Strong, fierce, gorgeous. How is it you’re single?”
I nearly stumble. “Who says I’m single?”
“You did, back in the prison. Are you now telling me there’s some poor bastard waiting for you back home?” His tone is teasing, but I notice the faint clench of his jaw in the glow of the flashlight.
Damn, I did too.
“No,” I admit. “There’s no one.”
“That’s what I thought. So what’s the story there? No eligible wolves in Shadowmist?”
I roll my eyes, though he can’t see it in the dark. “Plenty of eligible wolves. Just none I’m interested in.”
“None?” His voice lifts, playful, but when I glance at him, I see his brow pinched. “Not one worthy suitor caught your eye?”
“I don’t do relationships,” I say flatly.
“Ever? Or just currently?”
“Ever.”
“Any particular reason? Or just not a fan of companionship, cuddling, mind-blowing sex, breakfast in bed?—”
“I have my reasons.”
“Care to share with the class?”
