Page 165 of Fangs
“You okay?” he asked.
“Did you follow me?” I snapped instead of answering.
“I was just gonna make sure you got back safe, but I started gettin’ worried.”
“Did Wolf tell you to follow me?” I demanded.
“He wants to keep you safe?—"
“If you’re going to be overbearing assholes, you could at least behonestabout it,” I hissed, pushing past him and storming out of the cemetery.
I thought I heard him chuckle, which made me angrier. He followed me back to the clinic but didn’t come inside. I darkly hoped he got eaten alive by mosquitos, but the clinic’s quiet felt oppressive as I washed my face and teeth. I flicked the light off, climbed the ladder, and mechanically changed into my sleep clothes before climbing into bed. It wasn’t much longer before Wolf and the others got back.
Tuck greeted them from the porch, and Wolf asked if he was successful. My face heated as Tuck explained that I saw him in the cemetery.
“Was she okay?” Wolf asked.
“She wasn’t cryin’, just standin’ there. I probably should have left her alone, but she didn’t move for so long I got worried. Once she saw me, she got mad. Said we were ‘overbearing assholes.’”
Someone said something too quiet for me to hear.
“Kai, cut it out,” Wolf’s voice was sharp. “You’re not helpin’.”
“All bets were off as soon as she started treatin’ Sable like shit,” Kai shot back.
“Why don’t you yell a little louder? I’m not sure theentirehold can hear you.” Lee said dryly.
Their voices quieted to a low mumble where I couldn’t make out any words. I stared at the ceiling, embarrassment and anger and hurt and pain all fighting for my attention. When Wolf came up the ladder to check on me a few minutes later, I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. He hovered over me for several seconds before going back downstairs.
My eyes opened, staring unseeing at the ceiling, alone once again.
27
Iwasn’t sure what woke me.
I opened my eyes, and my heart stopped at the sight of a shadowy figure standing over me in the moonlight. I stared at them, my body locked in frozen terror, and tried to convince myself it was Wolf or one of his crew. I couldn’t see a face because they were standing with the moon behind them. Nothing happened for the longest few seconds of my life. Then, the shadow moved. I sucked in a breath to scream, but liquid suddenly poured over my head, choking me. I lurched up to sit, coughing, and screamed as soon as I could breathe.
Below me, commotion exploded. The ladder rattled as someone climbed up to the loft. I tried to open my eyes, but the liquid ran into them, forcing me to close them again. I tried to wipe my face, but my hands were also coated, and as I gasped in a breath, I gagged on the scent of blood.
“Fuck! Emmy!” Wolf’s shout sounded frantic. He swore again as he crashed to his knees beside me and yelled, “Sable!”
I was shaking, trying to hold my breath, and desperately trying to wipe the blood out of my eyes. Wolf was trying to help, wiping my face with rough fabric and demanding to know if I was hurt.
“Someone’s here! Someone—” I gagged again at the smell, realizing with horror that it wasn’t just blood. It was Madame’s scent, too.
I lurched sideways, barely managing to be sick on the floor instead of my mattress, steady hands catching me and holding me up.
“We’ve got you, Ember,” Sable’s calm voice murmured, and I felt his cool hands searching my face and head for an injury. “No one is here.”
“Is she hurt?” I heard Wolf snarl.
“I don’t think so?” Sable replied, his voice terse.
“Get it off,” I gasped as soon as I managed to stop retching. “Get it off!"
“What happened?” Wolf snapped, but he sounded more worried than mad.
“Please, get—get it—off!” I choked out, still desperately trying to wipe my face, and my hair wasdrenched.I retched again, my head swimming as I fought to breathe.
