Page 9 of Lost to the Woods

One move. One twitch. And I could let him go.

Iwould.

I wanted him to be a smear on the fucking pavement.

But that was too easy.

“…you’ll wish I’d let you fall.”

I let the moment stretch, let him live in that space between fear and certainty, let him really understand how much power I had over him. For a second, I thought he was about to piss himself. How fucking embarrassing.

I pulled him up and let him go with a shove. He stumbled, gasping, hands clutching at his throat, eyes wide as he fought for air. He staggered back, shaking, turning to Bunny like she was going to save him. Like she was going to tell him I was insane, that this wasn’t okay, that she was on his side.

Well, Iwasinsane.

But she just gaped at me, as though she didn’t know whether to be terrified or turned on.

There it was.

That look.

The moment doubt seeped in. The moment she wondered why her heart was pounding harder for me than it ever had been for him.

The moment she realized something was missing.

And that I could give it to her.

4. Bunny

When I finish getting ready, everyone is already crowded in the entryway. Ghost is doing the most, leaning against the far wall by the door like he’s having a GQ photoshoot—arms crossed over that broad chest that I know for a fact is fully tattooed. At this point, most of him is ink.

Like, who gave this man permission to be so infuriatingly attractive?

He put on a zip-up hoodie and his combat boots to complete the look. He’s like a walking urban legend himself.

“Take off that stupid mask before you scare the townspeople,” I toss, doing my best to act casual.

“Really?” He scans me from head to toe—bunny headband, flowy pink dress with puffy sleeves and corset bodice, thigh-high sheer white stockings, and platform Mary Jane shoes. “You gonna tell me what to do with your fluffy ears on?”

I make a face and take off my headband, then jump up to put it over his hood. He gracefully pushes off the wall, and he looks ridiculous, all terror in black with my bunny ears on. Still stupidly hot, though.

“Cute,” Ghost whispers ominously. “Keep playing with me, Princess. See where it gets you.”

Unimpressed Dev runs through the plan again, like we’re third-graders on our first field trip.

Kendra chimes in. “Ghost should narrate the footage.” She laughs, flipping her honey blond hair seductively as she looks at him. “Your voice gives me chills… the good kind.”

Ghost chuckles—a dark, raspy sound that I always loved—but doesn’t even glance back at her. “That so?”

“Oh my God, yes!” she almost moans.

I try not to scowl.Trybeing the keyword.

He notices. Of course he does, because those dark eye slits are always on me.

Kendra acts oblivious. “You could read IKEA bookshelf assembly instructions and I’d let you screwallmy bolts,” she gushes, and I swear if she bats her lashes any harder she’s gonna lift off like a drone.

“Did he pay you to drive me crazy on this trip?” I ask venomously, hoping I don’t foam at the mouth.

---