“You have a mirror in your room, I assume.”
“Of course.”
“I’m sure that’s all the ego boost you need.” Oh Trinity. Shut up, Ana!
“I could say the same to you, pretty girl.”
He thought I was pretty? That wasn’t the word men used for me. Striking or interesting were the usual. My features were too sharp, even harsh in some lights. But it felt nice to hear him say it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” We entered the gloom of the forest. “You ran a long way and maintained your speed. It’s an asset that saved you again today. The ratakan would have torn you to shreds.”
A shiver passed over me, and I snuggled closer to Drayven. “I know.” Goose bumps pricked my skin. “It’s definitely colder here.”
He hugged me tighter, and the heat from his body seemed to go up a notch. “As the ratakan spray wears off, you’ll feel the cold more acutely. The Carvers created it to incapacitate prey and allow an easier kill.”
“Who are these, Carvers?”
“Evil geniuses,” Drayven said dryly. “I don’t agree with their practices, but without them, we’d be playing a guessing game when it comes to the Horrors surrounding us.”
“What do you mean?”
“As Hunters, part of our job is catching Horrors for the Initiative—a program run by the Carvers. They take them apart to figure out how they tick. Horrors are constantly evolving, and what works one decade might not in the next, so the more we know about them, the easier they are to kill. You’ll see when you take the Anatomy of Horrors.”
“That’s not on my schedule.”
“It will be soon. You’ve been fast-tracked. Your name is on the Hunter orientation schedule for next month. All you need to do is pass grading.”
“Will I be with you?” I sounded a little too hopeful. Dial it down, Onyx.
He peered down at me, his mouth mere inches from mine. “Trust me, you don’t want to be on my team.”
His breath fanned across my lips, warm and sweet like honey. If I lifted my chin a little more, I could taste him. Would the contact make my mouth tingle? Was this real or an effect of the ratakan spray?
His eyes darkened. “Yes, you definitely don’t want to be on my team.”
“Why not?” My question was a whisper.
“Because if you’re on my team, I won’t get to be Mr. Nice Guy.”
“I’d rather be with you than with Damascus.”
The ghost of a smile hovering on his lips died, and his jaw tensed. The moment between us lost.
Was he grinding his teeth?
“Drayven?”
He exhaled sharply through his nose. “Sterling is a good hunt leader.”
“He’s also a murderer.” Dammit. The spray obviously hadn’t worn off yet. “Forget I said that.”
The crunch of bracken beneath his boots was too loud in the silence.
His heartbeat quickened against me. “I know of his life before coming here,” he said finally. “I’m sorry if his actions touched your life in a negative way.”
There was something in his tone, an understanding, a sadness that spoke of true empathy. “What did he do to you?”
