“So you got out,” he said, sitting up. The sheet that covered his body pooled to his waist, showing off even more bruises along his chest. “My jaguar thought you were dead. When that man picked you up, the one like Red… you didn’t move.”
Eva pulled a chair closer, placing her hand on the bed, palm up. He looked at it like it was a scorpion. “I’m not dead. Well, technically I’m undead.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, making him smile.
“Blood sucker,” Hunter said, still eyeing her palm as if it were a trick. “That’s disgusting.”
“It wasn’t something I chose, but it is what I am now.”
“My mum always told me your type was evil.”
Eva shook her head. “It’s actions and morals that define someone as evil, not their Breed.”
“Maybe.” Hunter’s eyes brightened, his animal teasing his irises. “You’re the same chick from the Vaults, the one who distracted Red. Did Red know you were with those people? Why didn’t he stop them? Why…”
Eva smiled, realising how young he looked when he wasn’t so defensive.
“Do you think he will be angry with me? I fucked up, like really fucked up. He’s done everything to help me, and I went against his training. Is he going to kick me out?”
“Hey, hey,” Eva interrupted as she tried to soothe his panic. “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.”
The bedroom door opened, and Eva didn’t need to turn to know who it was, not when she felt it in the warmth that spread like wildfire inside her chest. That at the distinctive scent of blood.
Giving Hunter one last soft smile she stood, only for him to finally reach for her hand. “Do what the doctor says, and I’ll be back soon, if that’s okay?”
Hunter nodded, nervously flicking his gaze to Kace who had approached silently to the bed. Blood covered the majority of his arms and chest, the liquid still wet.
What, the actual fuck?
“Don’t worry, I was just leaving,” she said as Kace muttered something quietly to Hunter, her ears unable to catch as she hurried out of the room.
She needed to go for a walk. Or bake. Or anything to distract herself from that man. Except fate must really hate her, because she felt his presence behind only seconds later as a hand encircled her upper arm, tugging her to a stop.
“I’m only going to ask you once,” she said, refusing to face him. “Let me go.”
He spun her towards him, her hands coming up to slap his chest, ignoring the blood. “Why were you in Hunter’s room?”
“Because I wanted to see how he was.” The words came out cold, clipped. “I didn’t realise I needed your permission.”
His brows dripped, scowl deepening.
“You have five seconds to release me, or I’ll damage something you’re pretty fond of.”
He leant down, his breath warm against her cheek, and Eva fought the shivers that threatened. “You wouldn’t, you enjoy it too much.”
She wasn’t cutting off her nose to spite her face. She wasn’t.
A blush burned its way across her cheeks, and what was even more frustrating was the fact her body was only capable because of the blood she had took from him.
“Ah,” he muttered, lashes dropping to cover the expression in his eyes. “There it is.”
She frowned, Kace hard to decipher. “What do you want from me?”
He seemed to hesitate, head cocked to the side as he studied her. “I don’t know,” he whispered, releasing his grip.
“Hey, you guys coming?”
Blood squelched between her fingers when she clenched them into tight fists. Kace didn’t pull back, but he did turn his head slightly to reply over her shoulder.
“Yeah, we’re coming.” He seemed to dip his head once more, his lips so close to her skin. “After you,” he said with a hint of challenge.
