Page 263 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

“What do you mean?” But his nose twitched, and he realized the man wasn’t as human as he looked. There was a scent, something he couldn’t place.

“You’ve got a bit of wild in you.” He sniffed again, his dark eyes flicking to Bailey. “Not sure what.”

“I could say the same about you.” He studied the man, then sighed. “I’m Bailey. I really like snow leopards.” If he was wrong, he sounded like a weirdo.

The man laughed. “I like that intro. Nice and safe. Eli, I like wild pigs.”

“Wild pigs?” He couldn’t picture Eli as a pink pig, but maybe he was thinking about farmed pigs, not wild pigs. Were all pigs pink?

“Hairy, tusky, dangerous when pissed.” Eli glanced at him and sighed. “You were thinking pink, bacon pig, right?”

“No…yes.” He ate some mashed potato. It wasn’t the worst he’d ever eaten, and he didn’t have any other choice. It wasn’t like he could duck out for a burger.

Eli shook his head. “Always the same with you lot.”

“My lot?”

“Cats and dogs, you think you’re so good. But we’re all the same.”

“There're others in here?”

“Not at the moment. Just us. And you need to keep yourself in check.”

“I can’t.” His leg bounced under the table. “I need to…you know.”

“Don’t we all.” He cleared his plate and shoved it away. “Let the others in your cell go to sleep, pull the blanket over and do it.”

Bailey had thought about that, but the idea of hiding under a blanket was more than a little depressing. How would that be satisfying? “No running?”

Eli shook his head. “It’ll get you through. You have to.”

“Or?”

Eli shrugged, but there was a chill in his eyes. “How long have you got?”

“One year.”

“Trust me, when you take that first run after a stretch, it’s better than sex.” Eli stood. “I’ll see you around, kid.”

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