Page 57 of Hounded

“Okay…” Indy dragged the word out. “Introverted, then.”

I frowned.

Indy bounced his shoulders. “It’s a valid observation. But you don’t need to be self-conscious. You’re gorgeous.” The way his golden eyes softened as they met mine should have extinguished the fire in my gut. In another life, it might have, but his compliment rang hollow.

“Another valid observation.” My gaze sharpened into a glare. “Aren’t you astute?”

The words cut through the air, so piercing evenIfelt their sting. Indy flinched, and I could have kicked myself for hurting him. I loathed the moment I sounded like a demon spewing condescension. I was demonic, though. Sometimes that line blurred.

Indy raised his hands as he looked me over withrenewed bewilderment. “My bad,” he said. “This went different than I expected.”

I thought he would let me go before he added, “But if something’s bothering you, you can tell me. I like to talk… and listen.”

“I don’t have anything to say,” I told him.

“You sure? You seem upset.” When his hand grazed my arm, I knocked it away in a reaction so fast it was practically explosive.

“I’m fine.” My teeth flashed in a snarl, and Indy swayed back, abruptly pale.

I was worn out. Bone tired and aching from everyone touching me, groping me, making me look handsome or proper. I didn’t want to be Moira’s pet or a dog on her leash. I didn’t want to be assaulted and used, but everyone seemed determined to turn me into an object. Even Indy’s advances were too much. He’d lost the right to come so close to me and, if he was the only person I could keep at arm’s length, I just might.

Indy’s throat bobbed through a hard swallow. “Loren, I…”

He was going to apologize again; I could feel it, and I didn’t have it in me to hear those words one more time.

“Would you stop pretending you know me?” I asked, hugging the damp towel and tiny bottles to my chest. “Quit acting like we’re something we’re not!”

Indy’s face regained its color, then flushed red. “Whatarewe, though?” he asked. “You’re the only person in my life; you must be important.”

Tell him,I thought.Tell him everything.

As if I hadn’t tried that before.

And after I explained that he was a fiery bird and I was a hellish dog, I could tell him the foulest demon in Hell was about to sic an immortal soldier on him, and that a fight with Whitney was not a fight I won.

Indy stood before me, and I knew he hurt. I knew I’d caused it, and some wicked part of me felt powerful because I wanted someone else to suffer for a change.

I skirted past him so I didn’t have to see the damage I’d done. He didn’t follow or question as I called back, “I’ll come by tomorrow and fix your shower.”

By the time fresh air hit me, all thoughts of vindication had gone, and I felt ill. With danger on the horizon, I should have been keeping Indy close, not pushing him away. How could I turn my back on him now? But I did, I was, staggering down the hill away from the bathhouse, awash in sunshine, clear skies, and misery.

How could I have gone through so many lifetimes with Indy and only be getting worse at it?

Practice was not perfecting me; it was tearing me apart.

21

Loren

My hound was howlingby the time I made it to the parking lot. He clawed at my brain like it was a closed door, whining and raising a ruckus that burst out of me the moment I was inside the cab of my truck.

A wild cry ripped up my throat, and I pounded my fist against the steering wheel. It was lucky I didn’t break the damned thing.

I slumped in the upholstered seat, my chest heaving and my eyes burning while I did my best to glare a hole through the headliner. I was failing at this. Failing at everything.

I couldn’t keep Indy alive. Couldn’t protect him. Couldn’t save myself from the fate I’d bought in blood.

And now Whitney was gone, handed off to Nero like property passing from one hand to another. At the Howl for Hope gala, Karst had been surprised to learn we were human. Moira’s response to that rang truer than ever before.

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