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The air was crisp, but the late afternoon sun had a little warmth in it. Exhaustion hit me, so I lay down on the grass. I’d just wait out the serum here.

I thought about Amy and Marina…of Imogen, as I stared up at the clouds.

My mind raced. So much had happened in such a short time. Already, I didn’t recognize myself, my life, and this whole nightmare had barely just begun.

How was I going to do this? I felt inadequate and ill prepared. I was just me. I wasn’t some crime-busting badass. I was definitely going to get myself killed. Something soft and furry brushed my hand. I glanced down. One of the little wild rabbits that lived in the field was pressed up against me. I gently stroked it. “Hello there.” Several more hopped over.

Friend.

It was harder to read wild creatures, but that was the gist of what I was receiving from them. They considered me a friend; they trusted me. I lay still and closed my eyes, trying to control the rising fear.

Somehow, sheer exhaustion most likely, I drifted off.

“What the fuck are you doing now?” a familiar male voice snapped.

I jumped. I hadn’t heard him approach. I kept my eyes closed. I’d known Draven would make an appearance when I came out here, hadn’t I? That’s the real reason I chose this place to rest, because this was the place where I first saw him. He’d approached in his wolf form then, and he’d made it very clear he hated me.

“I’m resting,” I said, sounding as weary as I felt. “And you scared away the rabbits.”

His boots thumped against the ground as he moved closer, and I heard the creak of leather as he sat.

“It’s dangerous lying out here. You’re still recovering.” There was a pause. “And what is it with you and little furry animals?”

“They’re drawn to me because of my power. They trust me and feel a connection with me. And my arms are almost healed thanks to Else’s balm,” I said, opening an eye, then closing it again. “You’re not naked. Shame, you look good with nothing on.” I blushed, but there was no taking it back now.

He went silent.

“You’ll have to excuse some of the shit that comes out of my mouth. I’ve had some truth serum because I found another dead body on our property. One of the missing witches. We took the serum to prove we didn’t do it.”

I heard him move closer. “And did it?”

“What?”

“Prove none of you did it?”

“Yep. We aren’t murderers, Draven, despite what you think. And I have no plans to hurt you either, even though you’re annoying.”

He sat beside me. “You think I’m annoying?”

I opened my eyes and lifted to my elbows. “Yes. You’re stubborn too.”

He smirked. “I like this. What else?”

I could get up and leave. I could run away so he didn’t hear all the things I thought about him, but this feeling was like being drunk, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop myself from saying all the things floating around my head. “You’re hot, but you know that. How could you not? You have this wild look about you that’s all sexy and growly, and I like your lips. You’re a great kisser. When you kissed me, it was the best I’ve ever had in my life.”

His throat worked. “Anything else?”

“You scare me,” I said and felt my face burn hotter still. I wanted to shut myself up, but I couldn’t. I sat up and tried to stand, but Draven grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap before I could run, holding me in place.

“Let me go,” I whispered.

“How do I scare you, Iris?”

I tried to fight it, fight to get out of his lap, but again there was no escaping his hold, and no stopping the words from coming. “I’m scared of how I feel around you.” I tried to get up again, but he wasn’t going to let me. “Please, don’t do this to me,” I pleaded.

“I’m not doing this to be an asshole, Iris. I’m doing it to cut through all the bullshit. Tell me how you feel around me.”

“I want you.” My voice broke as the words tumbled out. “I feel this connection between us and it’s…it’s so big and terrifying. I want to reach out for it and run away from it at the same time.”