Page 28 of Our Dark Winter Wish

His brow raises, almost disappearing into his hairline.

‘I’m not disembowelling anything, Arch.’ His hands go up as he steps back. ‘That was never discussed. If it were, I would have caught and killed it so you could pluck and scoop out its insides.’

I can’t help but laugh at him, still backing away and looking at the creature as though it were some hideous monster.

‘You’ve done worse,’ I remind him. ‘And to living things. Not a dead bird.’

‘I did worse to people or things that deserved it. Besides, you’re the weird one who likes tearing things open to see their insides. You do it.’

The bout of laughter that comes from me is deep and from my belly. But I roll my eyes and start plucking the thing, carefully separating some of the feathers that will be useful for fishing flies or stuffing pillows.

Beyond the kitchen, Dorian’s human male form sits in an armchair. His eyes are closed, and his head is slumped over.

He’s dead. Again.

But the body will remain as it is, awaiting its host to return.

‘Dorian is still stalking Pixie, then?’ Shaw asks, pulling out a bottle of rum and a couple of glasses. ‘The fact she hasn’t noticed his skulking every time she thinks she’s being sneaky and climbing out of the window is impressive on his part. He’s not exactly inconspicuous.’

‘Oh. She’s aware he’s there now. From the emotions I felt through the mate bond, I’m inclined to think she finally managed to fuck him completely in his shadow form.’

‘How the fuck could you know that?’

‘Well. She was angry for a bit. So I’m guessing that was when she found out he was a huge stalker. Then she was all soppy. So, I’m assuming they had a bit of a heart-to-heart. Then there was a lot of… well… anxiety, lust, shock, pain, and then some very happy sensations. Followed by extreme pride. So either she finally managed to fit his cock, or she took a massive shit and was very relieved it was out.’

‘She’ll be walking wonky for days.’

‘Nah. She’s built for us. That girl can take anything.’

Feathers fill the air as I continue to pluck, and soon, the beast is naked. I work quickly, keen not to have her walk into the sight of me pulling guts out of tomorrow’s dinner.

‘So you feel her emotions even more these days?’ Shaw asks. ‘The Mate Bond is really evolving, I take it.’

His words are nice enough. But the undertone drips with displeasure. And something I’ve never really heard before.

I think it’s jealousy, but I can’t be sure. Shaw has felt many things. Rage. Hatred. Possessiveness. Indifference. And lately, joy, happiness and peace. Jealousy has never been something I have seen Shaw exhibit. He’s never cared about anything or anyone enough ever to be bothered about jealousy. But he is now, and that makes me nervous. A bloodthirsty man like him. A warrior with nothing to fight except his feelings and thoughts. Who knows what may happen if he allows jealousy to get the better of him.

‘It’s changing as time passes,’ I reply, shrugging and focusing on the bird. ‘It’s different for everyone. For now, I can feel her emotions. In a year, I might not. For a while, I may be able to speak to her in her mind, even if we’re miles and miles apart. Then that may fade, and instead,she’llbe able to feelmyemotions. It changes over time.’

Despite being beyond proud and delighted with how our bond is developing, I attempt to sound as though it's nothing. I love feeling her emotions. Dorian loves it, too. He’ll be able to feel it forever, though. Unlike me. It may be gone tomorrow.

But Shaw can’t feel her. He has no Bond or link with her, which drives him mad.

I look up at him as he stares at the ground with a deep furrow on his brow.

‘I’ll fetch some firewood,’ Shaw declares. ‘Pixie has no doubt been to the lake again and then running around in the snow. She’ll be freezing and soaked through.’

‘And yet she doesn’t get sick,’ I reply, my blade cutting through the bird so I can hollow it out. ‘Perks of being a goddess, I guess.’

‘Never mind being the earth goddess. She’s too bloody stubborn to get sick. A fever wouldn’t even bother trying to take her down. I’ll be back in a minute.’

‘I’ll come with you. Hang on a sec.’

‘Your hand is up a dead animal’s arse. Just carry on. I’ll fetch it so the fire’s roaring when they come home.’

He leaves, the front door closing behind him as he goes to fetch more wood.

And I stand in the kitchen alone.

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