Page 21 of Such a Feral Little Lamb
From the tone of the voices in the corner, I think Mason is wearing Nia down. That or she simply can’t stop him. I glanceover as he pats her shoulder. She goes entirely still and only relaxes when he withdraws his hand.
“You’re not,” Dane retorts.
“It’s not up to you.”
“You’re on my team. It is up to me.”
I clench my jaw. “What’s your plan, then? We need to find out more about these zombies. We can’t go back with nothing.”
“If someone has to go with him, then I will,” Dane replies, and I like that even less than the idea of staying cooped up here all day. “I’ll get the information we need, and I’ll decide what we do with it.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“It is now!” Dane’s shout echoes up to the rafters, and Autumn flinches and moves back. Even Blake has his mouth open in surprise, but I don’t move a muscle.
Fuck him. He’s not my friend or my lover and he is fucking certainly not my boss. I can’t trust him enough for that. It’s obvious that him going with Mason would be the worst idea, since Mason clearly annoys him, and yet—
“Ready to go?” Mason asks, suddenly beside me. I’m certain his calm tone could be infuriating under other circumstances, but right now it’s a soothing balm in the face of Dane’s burning anger. “We’ve still got a few hours of light, and I think I caught their trail.”
“I’m coming with you,” Dane says before I can answer.
“You are not,” Mason replies. His tone is cool, eyes flinty.
Dane glares at him.
“I don’t want you. I want Isaac.”
Those three words are weighted. I’m not the only one to notice. Blake’s face colours with anger.
Dane goes still. “That’s not how this works.” He’s trying to control himself. I can see it.
Rae steps subtly in front of Autumn, and Otto is on his knees on his sleeping bag now, ready to leap aside should a fight erupt.
Mason’s not as tall or as broad as Dane, and though he’s wearing a long, black coat with a jumper beneath, I don’t think the outfit is hiding so much muscle. But there’s a glitter to his eyes as he takes Dane in, and I find my heart is racing again.
“It’s how it works here,” Mason says slowly, each syllable clearly spoken. “I want Isaac or none of you at all.”
Dane exhales noisily through his nose. I’m not really trying to piss him off. This is the best way to find out what’s different about the zombies here, and if Masonisinvolved, I’m sure I can get to the bottom of that, too.
But Dane doesn’t trust me, does he? He wants to fuck me, maybe even wants to keep me, because I know some of this display is about that, but he doesn’t trust me to do anything alone.
“You have your things?” Mason asks me, his tone friendly again. He seems to have decided to pretend Dane doesn’t exist and, all in all, it’s not the worst strategy.
“Yeah,” I say. “We’ll be back…?”
“Just before sunset. If they’re restless again tonight, they’ll be out after that.” Mason gives me another smile, then turns it on the rest of the team. “I promise I’ll bring him back in one piece.”
I exchange glances with Rae and Otto. No point in them coming looking for me if I don’t get back. No, that will be a clear sign to get out of here and work out where to hide until the train returns. Otto takes the sentiment with a discontented expression, but sleep might mellow his mood.
Dane swears and paces as I follow Mason out of the church. His anger makes my skin prickle. Mason glances back at me when we’re in the graveyard, halfway down the path.
“It will be fine,” he says, and despite my misgivings, a small part of me instantly believes him. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Eight
Nowthatwe’reouthere, I find it difficult to just ask Mason what is truly going on. His direct stare is disarming, and I’m on edge too, expecting a zombie to pop out and grab us at any moment. The sun might be bright overhead, but shadows loom as we descend into the town proper, and my gaze dances from side to side, searching for any movement.
“They won’t be out in the day,” Mason says. He leads me down to the square again, and I pause at the sight of the butcher’s shop. My stomach lurches. Last night’s attack was so clearlytargeted. The buildings on either side are intact, but boards have been dragged off the butcher’s and the windows are completely smashed.
