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“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, my voice quieter than I intended. He hasn’t been this close since that first night in the forest.
“You’re here for me. Not the other way around. And right now, you have something I want.”
Movement catches my attention as he speaks, a flutter crossing his eyes. Ignoring his comments, I reach for his face, examining his irises. There’s nothing but flecks of lighter and darker ash, though, I could almost swear there was something more.
“Seeing shadows?” Rhenn asks, placing his own palm against my cheek to rub his thumb along my jawline. His breath smells like citrus. The rest of him smells like the woods, cedar and pine. I find myself leaning closer, wanting to breathe him in. He lets me, pausing only a moment before wrapping my hair in a loop around his fist and tugging back.
His nose brushes against my neck. Such a light touch. It strikes a flutter down my spine, forcing me to exhale. Only then do I realize what he’s doing, and it’s too late.
“Back off!” I panic, pressing against his shoulders. My fighting only causes Rhenn to tighten his grip on my hair, pulling my head to the side.
A burn like fire raptures at my skin. It stings fiercely, transitioning to an almost cold sensation. The pain is quick, followed by an aching discomfort.
His grip is strong, not allowing me to break away. My hands fly, hitting his arms and chest. It doesn’t faze him. He won’t let go, and I can feel as he sucks against my neck, draining me. “Stop!”
Each of my hands are soon bound by his, held tightly at my sides, and he finally pulls away. My stomach rolls when I see the line of red trailing down his chin. I feel physically sick, and he seems so unbothered by it, running his tongue across his bottom lip. “You have no idea how good you taste.”
Yeah, I’m going to throw up.
Rhenn lets me go and I run to the sink, turning it on full blast and pressing down against its rim.
This isn’t real. This isn’t real.
There’s a chuckle behind me that makes my entire body tense. He’s so quiet, I hadn’t heard him move.
“Are all humans this skittish, or is it that you in particular are as pathetic as you are worthless?”
What the hell is this guy’s problem? What’s his deal with me?
I swallow my fear, put on a brave face, and turn to him. Rhenn may terrify me, but I’ll never show it. “If you ever get close enough to touch me again, I’ll end you.”
“Wouldn’t that be fun to watch?” There’s a sense of amusement playing at his normally hard-set mouth. “There’s just one problem.”
“What’s that?”
Rhenn’s features darken, his eyes shifting lower. He reaches out, gripping the pendant of my necklace in his fist. “You’ve already done that.” The chain breaks from my neck as he pulls it away. “Now it’s my turn.”
CHAPTER SIX
SUMNER
My fingers ache in protest, each one successfully drained of circulation and white at the tips. I shift the weight of the grocery bags from one hand to the other, regretting every decision that had led me to shop for both food and clothes in a single trip.
Although, it did save me the embarrassment of needing to check out for a second time, which was its own personal hell. The currency here is totally impossible to understand.
Crescents are iridescent stones, each carved with a unique symbol on either side. Their colors vary depending on their value—silver, rose gold, pale blue. Unlike normal stones, crescents are thin and light, making them easy to carry. The conversion from the dollar I know to them, though, a lot less easy.
Mentally preparing for another two blocks of zero feeling in my hands, I round the corner, not expecting there to be a jogger directly on the other side. We collide into one another and I stumble back, everything I hold falling to the ground between us.
“Shoot, are you okay?” the man asks. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Internally sighing, I crouch down, ready to gather my stuff so I can go back to the guest house, slip into my new fuzzy pajamas, and eat the entire box of cookies I bought. “Yeah. Fine.”
“Here, let me get that for you.” He lowers beside me, snatching up everything before I’m able to.
“It’s fine. I don’t need your help.” We both stand and I’m able to actually see him for the first time. Very tall, messy brown hair, even darker brown eyes.
“Hot day to be carrying such a load. You live nearby?”
