Page 65 of Fangs
“If you don’t stand up, I’m going to pick you up,” he said.
“Go away,” I said woodenly.
He smirked. “You think I want your brother to cut off my balls?”
He’d said that before—right before I tricked him and ran away. If my brother didn’t cut his balls off for that, I was pretty sure it was an empty threat. I wanted to tell him Wolf probably didn’t care anymore, but I didn’t have the energy.
“C’mon, Ember,” he said evenly, “get up.”
I tried to yank my arm away. “Go. Away,” I repeated. “I’mfine.”
He didn’t release my arm, and his eyebrows raised. “You’refine? You’re laying next to a grave in the wet mud without a jacket, and it’s barely above freezing out here.”
“It’s not gonna kill me,” I said numbly.
He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “I’m having’ flashbacks to Moab,” he grumbled, but he slid an arm under my legs and another behind my back and carefully lifted me. “You and your brother are somethin’ else.”
I didn’t fight him. My head thudded into his chest. He wore a soft flannel shirt instead of the camo uniform and tactical gear he’d been wearing when he fished me out of the river. I felt a flicker of curiosity, wondering what he was talking about, but then it died.
He started striding down the small hill, stepping carefully in the wet mud and slush. “How long has it been?” he asked quietly, but I didn’t answer. “Does Wolf know?” He paused again, waiting, before continuing. “Gonna guess that means no.” He was quiet for a while before asking, “You love him?”
My mouth suddenly came unstuck. “No, I just like laying in the freezing mud.”
He let out a startled laugh. “Alright, smartass, that was a stupid question. I’m sorry,” I felt his steps falter. “Ah fuck, ok, Freckles, please don’t throw me to the wolves.”
I looked up to see Mac storming toward us with a purpose that seemed dangerous.
“Hey, man,” Lee said evenly, “I tried to get her?—”
Mac reached out as if he were about to wrench me from Lee’s arms, but Lee evaded him with graceful movement.
“She’s not hurt, but she’s cold and covered in mud,” Lee said, somehow not backing down from the murderous look in Mac’s eyes. “Is there any hot water here?”
“I’m fine, Mac,” I muttered.
Mac glared at both of us for a long moment. “No,” he said, “but Madame’s old place has a tub.”
“Can we go there?” Lee asked.
Mac hesitated but finally nodded.
He led the way, and Lee followed. The people we passed gave me wide, concerned looks. Mac stopped, and I realized he was giving one of the older kids a message to pass on to Wolf.
“Tell him I’m here, too,” Lee added. “I’m Lee.”
The kid looked between Lee and Mac hesitantly. Mac glared at Lee but finally nodded, and the kid took off.
“I’m only lettin’ you stay ’cause it’ll keep Wolf off my ass,” Mac muttered.
“Can’t promise that,” Lee responded, his lips twitching upward.
Mac glanced at me again, frowning as he scanned all the mud. “Did you fall?”
“She was lying in the mud in the cemetery,” Lee said quietly. “I figured I probably shouldn’t let her stay there.”
Pain and understanding flashed across Mac’s face. “Come on, we’re almost there.”
Madame’s house had been gutted, and all her furniture had been distributed to people in need. Nemo had moved all her records and books to his place. There were talks of making her house into a multi-family unit or maybe a school, but it still sat empty. Now that half the hold had been killed or exiled in the uprising, there was no longer a housing shortage.
