Page 26 of We Hunt the Night

“I didn’t smile at him!” I snap. I actually smiled at something Wini said. I didn’t invite Lock to sit at my breakfast table, and I wasn’t happy he did. It ruined my breakfast.

“You did. I poisoned his lunch because of it, and he is still sick. That’s on you and, yes, you should feel bad.” He sighs.

“Is this a confession book about how insane you are?” I whisper. I’m kind of impressed. I had Vale down as the nutter, but all this time it was Kane. The secret nutter.

“No, it’s a book about you and how fucking annoying it is to be bonded to you.” He binds my mouth again. Insane and a kinky fucker. I don’t know what to make of him as he keeps reading a list of all my faults this week. After he’s finished the book, I glare at him, and the rope falls off my mouth. “Say sorry.”

“Sorry you didn’t get over forty thousand words. Next week, I’ll do better.” I smirk.

“How did Black touch you?” He grits out. “It shouldn’t be possible, but it happened. Tell me how.”

“I don’t know,” I admit honestly, because I really don’t have a clue. “Now, will you untie me?”

He stares at me for a long time. “Seems like you don’t have a clue about a lot of things, and that doesn’t make any sense. How could you forget?”

“Well, why don’t you just tell me? What’s with all these stupid games between us? Just tell me the truth.”

“I can’t.” He bites out. “You may have forgotten, and I can’t find myself speaking a word of it without feeling like my throat’s going to close up.”

“Who the fuck has been putting spells on us?” I bite out.

“I don’t know,” he mimics me. “Frustrating, isn’t it? I can’t stop thinking about you, and I can’t tell you why. I can’t breathe a word of it.”

My skin feels warm as he stares at me for a long moment. “Did you really poison Lock?”

“Yes. Do you care?” he challenges.

Honestly no, but telling Kane that seems like a really bad idea. He might go around poisoning people I do like. “Do you feel remotely bad about punching the shit out of him the other day?”

“No.” He stands up and walks to the door.

Oh, he isn’t leaving me here like this. “Don’t you dare leave, Kane!”

“Well, getting rid of the bathtub didn’t work, and it makes me sleep badly, knowing my bonded is sleeping on the floor. I have more problems of yours to sort out, and I need to know exactly where you are. You can sleep like that. See you in the morning, bonded.”

I scream at him as he leaves me in his bed, and he walks straight out, laughing. I hate the fucker.

Chapter 16

The dream is different this time. It doesn’t feel terrifying like the last time, but it is the same. Not a normal dream—something that feels like so much more. I can’t seem to control my body as I stir a spoon around a pot of boiling hot soup. I can even smell the rosemary and chicken, the carrots and potatoes in it. I can feel the warmth on my face, but as I lift my head, I see my reflection in the glass. I’m younger than I thought. I must be about eight or maybe seven. No, I’m seven. My hair is down in thick locks, just as untameable as it is now. This is a memory—but I’ve never seen it. “There you are.”

I turn to see Black coming into the kitchen of a house I don’t recognize at all. It isn’t the home I grew up in. This kitchen is more like a cottage, with its high beams and brick walls. Black shakes his head like a dog, and he flashes me a boyish grin. Because he is a boy. Black must only be about twelve, and it’s startling to see him this young. “Come outside?”

I roll my eyes. “You know I can’t. Your aunt will be mad if I leave the pot alone.” The boy’s aunt is a good woman but strict and scary.

“She won’t. She loves you.” Black winks. “And I’ll sweet-talk her.”

Sweet-talking our parents is a thing that only Maz is good at, and he knows it. My mama says he can charm even a mouse, and I don’t think she is wrong. Like it’s normal, like we have done it a million times, he comes over and slides his damp hand into mine. He leads me out, talking about how good dinner smells, but all I can focus on is him touching me. Even now, even as a kid, he knew he could touch me. How could he forget that? How is it possible? His eyes are so bright and alive, and I have never seen him like this, even for a heartbeat.

“Come on, it’s raining.” For some reason, that makes me happy as he pulls me with him, and we go outside without our coats. The rain is heavy and thick, but Black laughs, stealing all my attention again. “It’s a storm. How brilliant.”

“You’re the only person who likes the rain, Black!” I laugh. I look up, seeing Maz, Kane and Vale sitting in the window, their legs hanging out as they watch. I don’t like Vale, but he is one of them and I have to put up with him. Black just laughs more, and he pulls me to him to begin dancing, of all things, his hand clasped in mine. We both laugh as he dances around in the pouring rain.

“I could dance in the rain with you forever!” I shout over the storm.

“Well, you will. Because we will be bonded,” Black shouts back. He sounds like that is what he wants…but the future-Black does not.

“Yes, we will,” I say with certainty. I’m so confused as he continues to dance around with me, spinning me to music I can’t hear. I doubt he can either. I feel nothing but happiness—home. Dancing with Black feels like home.

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