Page 25
“You,” she said, pointing a well-groomed fingernail at me, “left me thinking you were bleeding out somewhere, or dying from poison. None of that was in my head, Bane. I didn't dream of the fucking giant and that rich asshole knocking me out, the golden goose, or, or…” She blanched and Huff quickly climbed up arm and curled up in her cleavage.
She didn’t seem to notice as the anxious energy radiating from her strengthened. I glowered at him, baring my teeth, but it didn’t seem to faze him in the least. In fact, Huff shot me an exuberant smile, two needle teeth showing through his fur.
“Little shite,” I whispered only loud enough for him to hear.
Naturally, he didn’t deign to respond, closing his eye and snuggling his face against the round top of one of her breasts. My jaw clenched. I liked having a best friend, and it was good while it lasted, alas, now I had no choice but to kill him.
Miko’s light periwinkle eyes slowly traced back to me, a haunted look paling her features further. “If they weren't dreams…Oh, fuck. Could that witch really have killed me?”
I leaned forward, elbows digging into my thighs, and clasped my hands together, trying not to reach out and offer her comfort. “I'm not sure…Probably. We haven't exactly tested the theory of what happens when one dies in a fairytale.”
She nodded distractedly, the fingers of one hand idly weaving in and out of Huff's tails, then smoothing a long ear between her thumb and forefinger as if he was one of her ducks she likes to fidget with.
“Honeybee, listen, it’s—"
She cut me off with a disgruntled sound, her hands trembling. “I'm not even going to question the logistics of how we were in a motherfucking fairytale. I comprehend that it is magic or some unknown power, that’s obvious enough. Unless it was you,” she accused eyes turning to slits.
CHAPTER 11
Heechus
BANE
The nerve of this little human.
“You know, I think you’ve bigger bollocks than me.” I snorted, chuckling and arching a brow. “Do you not recall that we met while I was caged with Goosey?”
Her eyes bore into me, never wavering in their ferocity. “How do I know that wasn't all part of the plan?” she questioned. “You did seem awfully sure of yourself, and you were so friendly with the Golden Goose.”
“It's always in one's best interest to be amicable with one’s cellmate, yes?”
“Ugh,” Miko complained, dropping her head back onto the stuffed armrest. “Are you capable of having a serious conversation?”
“Not usually, no,” I replied, a smirk curling the corner of my mouth. “Just ask Huff.”
She rolled her head toward me, never lifting it from its resting position. “Explain it to me. All. Of. It. Not how it's possible but who and why.” Miko narrowed her eyes and my smirk burst into a broad grin. “And let me be clear. I don't trust you”.
I laughed shortly. “The feeling’s mutual, I assure you.”
She sat up and thumped her feet onto the floor. “I always speak my thoughts; this is your first and only warning.” My not-mate paused as if waiting for me to argue, when I didn’t she continued. “There's no denying the attraction between us. But that doesn't mean we have to like each other. So, now that that's covered, fill me in on everything.”
I watched on with envy as she curled into her chair, cradling both palms around Huff while nuzzling her cheek against him just as I liked to do. In this case, all I wanted to do was spike him into the nearest Heechu nest. While Miko was distracted with Little Shit, at once deciding that would be his new nickname, my eyes scanned the shelves of the reading nook, covertly meeting the gazes with each of the Heechus quietly watching on with undisguised intrigue; No doubt fascinated by the interaction as the library wasn't generally a hub of excitement, nor did they ever interact with humans.
Miko cleared her throat. “Bane?”
I pinned her with a glare, jealousy heating my blood and reducing my normal careless-sunshiny-outlook into irrational anger-tinged annoyance. “What?” I growled and her head jerked back.
My shoulders slumped. “Gods. I’m sorry, Honeybee.” I shook my head, rubbing my chest and hating the guilt caving in my ribs. “You wanted to know the who and how, yes?”
Determination glinted in her wide eyes and she nodded.
“Well,” I said, thickening my accent once more, hoping it would help settle her nerves from my outburst. She seemed to like it the first time judging by the spike in her scent as I spoke it. “There is a coven of witches, not just dark witches but also not your average, regular witches either. They’re likely nothing similar to what you've read about in your human books or seen on your TV and movies. In fact, I know they aren't. Regardless, these evil cunts,” I expounded, tracing my eyes over Miko’s curled form, “are the who in your question.”
Miko leaned forward slightly, keeping a hand on Huff so he wouldn’t roll off her chest.
I continued, “They’re Heechu Hunters.” I scanned her face carefully as I explained, waiting for any sign that she was aware of this information already and part of their plot.
Miko flinched so hard that her glasses slipped down her nose and my pulse slowed, relief washing over me. She pushed her glasses back up her nose with an index finger.
