Page 41 of Insatiable Hunger

Lazarus dropped his fingers, nodding. He quietly leaned back, laying across the blankets as I remained on my knees next to him, cupping my bleeding hand. I leaned forward, preparing to pour my blood onto his wound, when he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. I gasped, glancing over to his face as he spoke. “Try not to be too rough,” he winked, smiling.

“Thought you liked it like that,” I wheezed, slightly nervous. Lazarus released a soft laugh, obviously just as anxious as I was. “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle this time.”

He inhaled deeply, trying to calm his breathing as I held my closed palm over his stitches. I slightly opened my hand, allowing my warm blood to pour across his skin. Lazarus flinched, startled by the odd feeling. “You okay?” I whispered. He nodded.

I continued to let my blood drip from my open wound onto his, watching as it seeped into the stitches and soaked into his pores.Please work. Please.I flipped my hand over, gently rubbing my red stained skin along his, ensuring every inch of his injury was covered.Please, mother of magic, bless my blood. Let my magic flow through his veins and heal him. Please.I lowered my hand, resting it on his abs as he stared up at me, his irises twinkling.

“Alaska.” He ran his hand along my cheek, tucking my damp hair behind my ear. “It’s okay if it doesn’t work.” My emotions became overwhelming, bubbling beneath the surface as a single tear fell into his hand. He sat up, both his hands now holding my face. “Hey, why the tears? I’m not dying.”

I chuckled, spitting my tears, wiping them away with my clean hand. “I just want you to be okay. I want us to be able to leave this town. Together.”

Lazarus ran his thumb along my cheek, wiping my sadness away. “Darling, there isn’t a force on this earth that can keep me from you. I would walk through fire for you.” He kissed my forehead. “I am yours and you are mine, until the end of time.”

“Until we’re ghosts,” I teased him. He laughed, nodding.

“Until we’re ghosts. I love you, Alaska.”

I tilted my head, smiling. “I love you, Lazarus.” Our lips met, exchanging a passionate, fiery kiss.Please, let this work.

Chapter

Thirty-Nine

ALASKA

Izipped up the entrance of the tent, quietly closing it behind me. Alastair, who had been laying just outside in the grass, rose to his feet, rushing to me. “Hey handsome.” I stroked his head as he wagged his tail. The wolf sniffed my hand, noticing the wrapped cut. He shot his golden eyes up at me, whining. “I’m okay, I promise.” He snorted, unamused by my new injury. “Hey, where’s Ruby and Jinx? Can you take me to them?” Alastair huffed, trotting away as I followed him.

My eyes scanned the woods, noticing countless tents, filled with the oddest mix of people. They were all so different, dressed in a variety of clothing and hunting gear. Some had camouflage paint smeared across their sun-damaged skin, while others were covered in tattoos. As Alastair and I walked by, they would stop whatever they were doing and stare, plastered with a cautious, weary expression. I could feel my fingertips beginning to glow with apprehension. Alastair growled, noticeably on edge, as we traveled deeper into the campsite. I crossed my arms and tucked my fingers in my pits, trying to conceal my magic as the cool rain hit my face.

“Finally.” I stopped, realizing whose voice I heard.

Sitting in a dusty old lawn chair across from a large campfire was Ruby, tucked beneath a large serape blanket. She had her broken wrist wrapped in a fresh sling that hung close to her chest. Her ankle was wrapped in layers of bandages, her platform boots missing from her feet. Sitting next to her was Jinx, practically unscathed and wrapped in her own blanket, drinking something from a dark blue camping mug as she held Ruby’s good hand. It was beyond exciting to see them both sitting there, smiling as the shadows of the warm fire danced across their faces. I wanted to burst into tears at the joy I felt.

“Where’s Lazarus?” Jinx asked with her hands.

“He’s resting in the tent,” I signed back with a smile.

Ruby raised a brow, shaking her head. “Mhm, I’m sure he’s exhausted.” My cheeks flushed at her teasing tone, her eyes glowing in the night.

“Welcome.” Ahote’s voice startled me; I hadn’t realized he was here, sitting across from the two women. His long black hair was braided, hanging across both his shoulders beneath a worn leather hat. He moved a large stick, poking at the logs in the fire, shooting flecks of burning embers into the air as they danced with the dark smoke. I noticed numerous faded tattoos on his wrinkled skin—black, indigo, and deep blue markings like the designs etched across the skin of the various strange people wandering the camp.

Sitting next to Ahote was the same old man from the gas station outside town, glaring at me as the orange hue of the fire strobed in his jaundiced eyes. My smile fell, my stomach twisting at the sight of him, holding a rifle. “Have a seat.” Ahote motioned to an empty chair next to Jinx. “We have much to discuss.”

An unnatural, distant loud shriek made me jump. Alastair growled, listening as Ruby and Jinx froze in fear. Ahote, seemingly unbothered, continued to stare into the flames,waiting until the sound faded away to speak. “You must be wondering what that was.”

“No shit,” Ruby snapped, returning to her chair. Ahote’s dark eyes shot to her.

“That, young lady, was the cry of a Wendigo.” The fire cracked, the three of us staring at him, unsure of what to say.

“W-what is a Wendigo?” I asked, leaning forward in the lawn chair. “Is it thatthingthat chased us the other night?”

Ahote inhaled, retrieving his stick from the fire. He stared at the burning tip, blowing the tiny flame out as a small trail of smoke began to rise from it. “Yes and no.” Ruby and I looked at one another, our eyes piercing the night, the three of us visibly on edge. “The creature that chased you the other night was a Wendigo, but not the one you just heard.”

“Wait, are you saying there’s more than one of those things out here?” Ruby was becoming upset, her good hand lightly glowing. The hillbilly next to Ahote gripped his rifle, threatened by her power. Alastair stood, growling at the old man.

“Easy.” Ahote raised his hands; one to calm the wolf, the other to prevent the old man from moving his gun. “There is no reason to resort to violence. Please.” He motioned to Ruby, and she exhaled, soothing her emotions as her hand began to fade. Ahote turned to the old man, waiting as he reluctantly lowered his rifle, grunting.

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted the moment, “but you said there’s more than one of those things? The Wendigos. How can you just sit here, carefree, knowing they’re out in these woods?”

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