Page 32 of Kentucky Nights
I loved Daphne as much as I could, but what I am already feeling for Dru? It’s so much deeper than love. The notion of love doesn’t come close to the enamored infatuation that is heavy within my body, in my stomach, clawing its way to what’s left of my humanity and latching on.
I’m completely desperate for her in ways that are beyond comprehension.
The more I focus on her, the more I can sense her. I feel her in my home. I can’t tell which room she’s in because our bond isn’t strong enough yet for me to track her in that way, but she’s there.
If we were mated, I would be able to perceive any and all emotions she has. In turn, it means she would be able to feel everything I feel, and that might scare me more than dying ever has.
She’d be able to finally have the weight of the loneliness I’ve been bearing for all these years. She’d know intimately the most vulnerable part of me—the part that has been aching formore.
Dru would be able to feel how much I wanted to die. There would be no escaping that. Not wanting death is so new to me, I’m not sure if I believe it yet. I’ve convinced myself that living isn’t important for more years than most will ever live.
The old pickup truck grumbles to life. The thick purr reminds me of when the first automobile was invented in the 1870s. I remember being in awe of such technology. I never thought I’d live to see the day cars were invented.
And now there are too many types of vehicles to keep track of.
Never thought I’d be alive for that either.
The squeak of the windshield wipers brings me back to reality, staring out of a cracked windshield being pelted with rain. I can’t see two inches in front of me. Luckily, I could drive the path in my sleep. The brakes squeak when I come to a stop, pressing the button I have for the tall metal gate to swing open.
When I’m through, the mechanical door swings shut, locking the bar in place. The road dips from the uneven path, causing me to bounce in my seat as this old girl trucks up the hill, tires slipping and sliding every few feet.
“Kentucky!”
“Kentucky’s here!”
“Come on, ladies!”
I grin when I hear their thoughts slamming into me. “Hey, everyone. Meet me at the row barn. Get out of this storm,” I shout out the window, rain pouring into the cab and soaking my pant leg.
Pulling into the barn, the rain finally stops beating the rust off my truck. Lightning dances gracefully through the ominous dark clouds, a ballerina performing a powerful show for all to witness.
Slamming the truck in park, I do something I don’t typically do; I use my enhanced speed. Ripping the tarp off the hay bales, I stack as many as I can before blurring to the rows and filling the feeders. Dispersing the hay is easy with my claws, dividing it up perfectly amongst the cows.
“Thank you, Kentucky.”
“Thank youuuu,”is mooed from another corner.
“Thanks!”a smaller voice chirps.
“You’re welcome. Try not to go outside, okay? It’s getting nasty out there, and some of you are about to give birth. Play it safe, ladies.”
The entire group moos in unison.
“Great.”
I pop the tailgate down and take a seat, staring down at the house that holds my fate. Thunder shakes the ground, causing the truck to slightly quake. Bolts continue to shock the sky with their anger, a blinding white shooting through the clouds.
Rain fills the gutters, and small creeks drain across the yard. In all my years, I’ve never seen the climate so mad before. The storms are worse, devastating entire states, obliterating people’s homes. I haven’t seen a tornado rip through these parts in atleast a decade, but it wasn’t anything serious. Lately, I’ve been wondering if that streak is coming to an end.
I’ll have to keep an eye out tonight and guard the house. I refuse to let anything happen to Dru, storm or not, her life will never be at risk.
The wind howls, reminding me of a wolf signaling his pack. The memory of those shifters hiding Dru comes to mind, and I snarl, wishing I could kill them all over again.
My eyes focus on my new lasso hanging on the side of the barn. I might have taken a few shifter spines and fused them together, creating the most lethal weapon I’ve had besides Romeo.
They’re my trophies.
And if Dru wants, she’ll be able to hold her abuser’s spines in her bare hands, proving who the weak ones really are.
