Page 6

“I said on your feet. We’re leaving.”

Thin arms cross in defiance. “I’m not going anywhere.”

There’s a howl off in the distance. It echoes through the darkness around us. Sumner sits up straighter, looking in all directions. A haunting noise, sure. Little does she know the beasts making that sound are the least of her worries.

The thunderous cry strikes again, closer. Louder. Fiercer.

“Fine. Enjoy being someone’s dinner.” I turn toward my house, only making it a few feet before she stops me.

“Wait,” she calls, rising quickly. I could have counted that down to the exact moment, knowing she wasn’t going to stay out here after hearing that. “What would I have to do?”

The wind blows in my direction, forcing her scent on me. I turn to look at her over my shoulder, eyeing the flesh of her neck. This little predicament might just work in my favor in more ways than one.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

“I won’t do anything sexual for you.”

“Good.” It’s not her body I’m interested in.

She has to walk quickly to keep up with me, nearly tripping over her own feet before we even make it two minutes in.

Annoying and clumsy.

“I’m Sumner,” she says after regaining her balance.

My hands clench at my sides hearing that name out loud for the first time in I don’t even know how long. And it’s coming from her. “I’m not calling you that.”

“Why not? It’s my name.”

“Yeah, and it’s a fucking weird one.” Sum-ner. Who names a child that? Maybe I’m just bitter because of who it belongs to.

“Well, I’ve considered referring to you as ‘the parasite’, since you think you can just bite people. But maybe, given the circumstances, I should know what to actually call you.”

Fuck, she talks a lot. I’m starting to prefer when I thought she was mute.

“Rhenn,” I answer, keeping my tone short in hopes of ending this conversation.

Dozens of rushing footsteps sound off in the distance, growls and grunts falling from the taut lips of the unorganized herd making their way in our direction. Sumner continues forward, unable to hear them yet.

Soon enough, their small figures come into view. The moment she sees them, she throws her hands over her mouth, gasping and stepping back.

“What the hell are those?” She dashes behind me, clinging to my arm like I’m not some stranger.

Blurs of green skin, pointed ears, and jagged teeth trample down the road in front of us, chasing after what I assume is their next meal—a too thin tabby cat. “Goblins.” I shrug Sumner off, not liking the feel of her hands on me.

“Goblins?” she asks. “Goblins?” This time it’s followed by a breathy laugh. “No. No, no, no, no.” Sumner takes several steps back before crouching down by a wall and bringing her palms to her face. “Wake up. Wake up.” Breathing quickly, she scans the area surrounding her, reaching for a rigid stick near her left foot and stabbing it straight into her thigh.

“Jesus.” I take the wooden spear from her, tossing it aside. “This isn’t a dream.”

Sumner inhales sharply as she stares down at her leg, seeing the deep burgundy seep through her thin gray sweats.

I step beside her, my figure shadowing her in the already dark night. “Now get up.”

“Get away from me!” She curls further into herself.

The vermin she’s so worked up over are nothing more than a nuisance. Pests. Yet she’s acting like the world just flipped on its axis. For her, maybe it did. That’s only a bonus.

I crouch down, my patience thinning. Being this close to her, seeing her, it doesn’t feel real. Only one thing is certain, and that’s that the anger is. I don’t need to know her to know how badly I want her to hurt. I’ve wanted it for years. Needed it. But she can’t hurt if she’s dead, so I need her to get her ass up.